Page:The Pacific Monthly volume 21.djvu/158

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Some good illustrations by Thomas Fogarty add their value to the book. A. C. McClurg & Co., Chicago, $1.50.

is a recent contribution to Western literature and is attracting attention by reason of the sweeping nature of its exposures of fraudulent public-land operators and their methods. Its authors are S. A. D. Puter, (dubbed by the newspapers "King of the Oregon Land-Fraud Ring"), and Horace Stevens, until recently connected with the Government Land service. The work is practically a frank confession by Puter of his share in the "looting" of the public lands on the Pacific Coast during the past twenty-five years. Puter, one of the few important looters ever to actually serve a term in prison for his offenses, whiled away much of his two years' stay in the Multnomah County (Oregon) jail, working on the manuscript of his book. The last six chapters in the book, and the introductory, were written by Mr. Stevens, who also revised Mr. Puter's manuscript. Two distinct types of aggressiveness are represented in the authorship, so widely at variance that it seems strange there should be any amalgamation of sentiment. Puter is the personification of the class that had come to regard the public domain as its legitimate prey, while his collaborator has stood for the law that has run the plunderers to earth. It is an odd fact that while Puter was engaged diligently in some of his illegal enterprises, Stevens was equally active in ferreting out the crimes, so that their composite story has a unique historical advantage, affording details from both sides, unusual accuracy being the natural result. With an interesting subject for the foundation, (though the ordinary acquirement of land titles seldom gives rise to startling episodes), the authors have graphically and vigorously presented their facts. Some of the chapters, indeed, have the fascination of romance; this is especially the case where they describe the efforts of land operators to baffle the Secret Service branch of the government. The book is the most detailed and authoritative review yet published of land-fraud operations on the Pacific Coast. It is illustrated with a great number of portraits and woodland scenes.

Parts of this book go beyond the revelations so far made in the courts. Sensational charges and statements are very bluntly and freely made. Thus far, however, the authors do not seem to have been troubled by anyone seeking legal or other redress because of the imputations contained in the book.

That revenge formed a part of Puter's motive is shown by his own admission. For years he had been engaged In these nefarious pursuits with others more prominent than he in business and political affairs, who, considering that they could no longer afford to be associated with him after his