Page:Looters of the Public Domain.djvu/304



In my opinion, this man C. A. Smith, although possessed of millions, is. without question, the most selfish, covetous and avaricious landgrabber with whom I ever had dealings—ever ready and willing to do business with me when I had lands to offer that he knew had been obtained fraudulently, because, as he figured, he could get them cheaply, and in the hope of securing such lands at a figure less than one-half their market value.

On the other hand, whenever I had large tracts of land to offer that were acquired legitimately and of great value, he would invariably nose around in an effort to learn what there was in it for me. and whatever the value of the land, or how small my commission, he would spend more time than the difference in our estimates trying to get me to come to his terms.

Two deals in point were for lands in Humboldt county. California. The first, or that owned by Hooper Brothers, and known as the California Redwood Company, included in its holdings 12,000 acres of the very cream of that great lumber belt, with a shingle mill in operation, seven miles of railroad, locomotive and logging cars, together with full equipment, all of which I offered to Smith for $900,000. and on which amount he knew I was to receive a commission of

Page 298