So far as the money feature was concerned, Smith assured me that he would be only too glad to advance whatever amount was required, provided, however, that I should enter into an agreement with him to attend to all the details incident to the perfection of title.
His proposition met my approbation, and I expressed myself accordingly, whereupon he sought information concerning the probable cost involved by the undertaking.
This I could not state definitely, informing him that it would depend largely upon circumstances. As to the land itself, we knew exactly what the Government price was, as well as the land office fees, but when it came to a question of compensation for the entrymen, prices would vary to a certain extent, as some would demand more than others for their rights.
Mr. Smith was positive that in no instance would the expense of this character be exorbitant, basing his ideas upon the theory that comparatively few men had the necessary $400 with which to make final payment, however valuable the claim might be, and he felt that I would be able to get all the locators I could utilize for sums ranging from $100 to $200 each.
I agreed with Mr. Smith that his figures were doubtless correct, and being mutually satisfied, we entered into an agreement whereby I was to secure from 8,000 to 10,000 acres for him, or as much more as I could get, of good yellow fir timber land, practically in one body, as near to market as possible, and to run at least 50,000 feet of merchantable lumber to the acre, and which was not to cost him over $6 an acre, he agreeing to advance all funds necessary in getting title.
He then gave me a letter to Frederick A. Kribs, his financial agent, who was then in San Francisco, at the same time stating that he would abide by whatever trade I made with Kribs; also, that as soon as I had located a tract and closed a deal with the latter, he would proceed to Oregon and have a definite understanding with me upon the subject, in the form of a written agreement.
Upon my arrival in Portland, I consulted my partner, Horace G. McKinley, in regard to the deal discussed with Smith, and asked him if he knew of any desirable tract that we could get hold of. McKinley declared that he was aware of a large body of land that would exactly fill the bill; that Townships 14 South, Ranges 2, 3 and 4 East, Willamette Meridian, in Linn County, Oregon, had only recently been surveyed, and were covered with one of the heaviest and finest bodies of yellow fir timber in the State, but if he wanted to get in on it we would have to act promptly, as the Northern Pacific Railroad Company had its cruisers on the ground at that time, estimating the timber with a view of making forest reserve selections of it under the "Scripper Act" of June 4, 1897, so we decided to go right to work and get in ahead of the Northern Pacific.
We followed out the plan along the lines originally suggested by Mr. Smith, and were successful in securing a majority of the entrymen required in Portland, the balance being picked up around Brownsville, Albany and Roseburg, Oregon. We had a mutual understanding with each and every person taking up a claim that we would pay all expenses incurred, including that of going to and from the land; going to and from the land office; the land office fees and the cost of the land, and further, that we would allow them $100 each, after they had made final proof and turned over their deeds, which were to be executed in favor of whomsoever we might designate.
The entrymen were taken to the Roseburg land office in bunches of ten or more, as we found it convenient, having arranged previously with the Southern Pacific Company for something like a one and one-fifth fare for the round trip, where groups of ten or upward were transported at one time.
The descriptions of the lands filed on were secured from the Mealey brothers, residents of the Sweet Home country, under a contract to allow them $10 a claim, or quarter section, they guaranteeing each 160 acres so furnished to estimate no less than 10,000,000 feet of good timber. These two brothers, William
