of overflowed lands on the sea-shore; and another act appropriating ten per cent of all moneys received from the sale of swamp, overflowed, and tide lands to the school fund.
The swamp-lands which offered the greatest inducement to speculators were found in the Klamath Lake basin, which was partially surveyed in 1858. A resurvey in 1872 gave a greatly increased amount of swamp-land, and changed the character of the surveys materially.[1] This was owing to a decision of the supreme court of the United States, that the shores of navigable waters, and the soils under them, were not granted by the constitution to the United States, but were reserved to the states respectively.[2] The amount selected and surveyed as swamp-land in 1874 was nearly 1G7,000 acres. In 1876 it was over 300,000, with a large amount remaining unsurveyed. A considerable proportion of these selections were made in the Linkton district, about Lower Klamath, Tule Goose, and Clear lakes, and about the other numerous lakes in south-eastern Oregon, and they led finally to the settling-up of that whole region with stock-raisers, who, when they have exhausted the natural grasses, will dispose of their immense possessions to small farmers who will cultivate the soil after purchasing the lands at a considerable advance on the price paid by the present owners.
As late as 1884, swindling schemes on a vast scale were still being attempted.[3] The history of the land grants shows that the intention of congress was to benefit the state, and encourage immigration, but these benefits were all diverted, bringing incalculable injury to the community. Seldom was a demand of the legislature refused.[4] In 1864 congress passed an act
- ↑ Or. Laws, 1872, 129-33, 220-21, 128-9; U. S. Sen. Misc. Doc., 22, 42nd cong. 3d sess; Portland Oregonian, Jan. 27, 1873; Rept Sec. Int., 1873, 223-35, 257-93.
- ↑ See Or. Legisl. Docs, 1874, p. 17-18; S. F. Examiner, Oct. 18, 1874; Salem Mercury, Feb. 5, 1875; Albany State Rights Democrat, Jan. 22, 1875.
- ↑ See S. F. Chronicle, Feb. 29, 1884.
- ↑ In 1864 the U. S. senate com. on land grants refused a grant of land to construct a road from Portland to The Dalles. Sen. Com. Rept, 34, 38th cong. 1st sess.
