USA > California > Kings County > History of Tulare and Kings counties, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the counties who have been identified with their growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 21
USA > California > Tulare County > History of Tulare and Kings counties, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the counties who have been identified with their growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 21
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The county contest this year was confined to the election of an assemblyman, Mr. Brown receiving 1042 votes, while Mr. Webber received 1072. J. M. Foster, Socialist, received 95.
In the vote for congressman, J. C. Needham (R), received 1180 votes; F. P. Fellz (D) 883; W. M. Pattison (S), 103, and J. W. Webb( Pro.) 55.
The Republican electoral tieket received 1198 votes; the Democrat ticket 859; Independent Leagne 12; Socialist 112, and Prohibi- tion 71.
ELECTION OF 1910
The increased vote east at this election illustrated the growth of the county in population and annexation, for the total vote cast for the candidates for governor was 2997. Hiram Johnson as the Republican nominee, carried the county by 351 plurality over Theo- dore A. Bell, whose vote was 1149. Stit Wilson, Socialist, received 305, and Meade, Prohibitionist, 43.
The contest over the assemblyman was between W. J. Webber (D), Frank J. Walker (R), and W. R. MeQniddy (Pro.). Mr. Walker won on a narrow plurality of six votes.
For the first time since the county was organized the Repub- licans put forth a new candidate for sheriff in the person of Lyman D. Farmer, a young man who was the deputy of Sheriff Buckner at the time of the convention. Mr. Farmer was pitted against George E. Goodrich (D). Farmer won the election with a majority of 247. F. Cunningham (D) for clerk was re-elected to the office, defeating A. F. Florey (R) ; J. L. C. Irwin (D) defeated Frank E. Kilpatrick
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(R), for district attorney; D. Bunn Rea (R) was elected auditor over James Manning (D); L. C. Dunham (R) was elected treasurer, de- feating H. L. Conklin (D) ; George W. Murray (R) had no opposi- tion for the office of assessor; M. B. Washburn (D) was elected tax- collector, defeating J. Worswick (R); J. M. Bowman (D) defeated Perry Griswold (R) for recorder; Mrs. N. E. Davidson (D) was elected superintendent of schools, defeating W. J. M. Cox (R) ; J. Clarence Rice (R) defeated J. D. Hefton (D) for coroner and public administrator; A. J. Neilsen (R) was elected county surveyor, de- feating J. M. Thomas (D).
The supervisors elected were: T. E. Cochrane and A. F. Smith, Republicans, and J. L. Hall, Frank Blakeley and William Vaughan, Democrats. The defeated candidates were: W. S. Burr and James Butts, Democrats; J. M. Dean, Socialist, and Styles MeLaughlin and H. D. Barton, Republicans.
Justices of the peace elected were: J. W. Ferguson, G. L. Meadows and II. J. Light, Democrats, and C. M. Smith and Jesse Harris, Republicans. Constables chosen were: H. M. Bernstein, John Bartlet and C. C. A. Henden, Republicans, and Perry Gard and S. Blank, Democrats.
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CHAPTER XXIII IRRIGATION
The history of irrigation in Kings county dates back to 1872, when its present territory constituted a part of Tulare county. The lesser benefits of irrigation had been demonstrated by private parties in different parts of Tulare county, who made efforts to get water from the rivers out to their orchards and gardens on a very limited scale. But these primary efforts were all sufficient to prove the magie effect of irrigation on the rich desert soil which had lain dorm- ant through the embalming summer sunshine of past centuries. Eager settlers were rushing into the country and when they saw what water put to the soil would do; when they saw the prolific streams of Kings river, Kaweah river and Cross creek sweeping down to the basin of Tulare lake; and when they cast their eyes eastward and upward to the illimitable fields of snow and ice cradled among the stupend- ous heights of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, the object lesson was easy. Nature's mighty resources lay plainly before them, offer- ing the first grand inspiration for organized effort to harness these resources for the reclamation of the desert.
The first successful attempt to irrigate on practical and extended lines was made in 1872, by M. D. Bush, V. F. Geiseler, R. B. Huey and a number of other citizens, who projected the Lower Kings River ditch, covering territory north and east of the town of Lemoore. This ditch company was incorporated in 1873 by the enterprising pioneers of Lemoore and vicinity and its snecess was an object lesson that inspired the settlers of adjoining districts. When the people saw what water applied to the soil would do, there was a firm resolve to get it at all hazards. The first erops raised on lands irrigated by this ditch furnished labor for many hard-up settlers and the straw from the grain fields was largely used as fodder for the stock of the conntry which proved a God-send to many a "Sandlapper."
Soon after the above company had demonstrated probable snc- cess an enterprising citizen named Daniel Spangler planned to build an irrigating canal from Kings river to what was known as the Lone Oak district, which was designated by a single oak tree standing ont on the plains about four miles southwest of the present city of Han- ford. From this "Lone Oak" to the point where Mr. Spangler in- tended to tap Kings river to supply his canal with water was a dis- tance of abont twenty miles. Later the People's Ditch Company of Kings river was formed by an association of farmer settlers which took over by mutual transfer the Spangler projects. The People's Ditch Company was incorporated in February, 1873, by Jesse Brown,
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W. W. Boyd, George W. Camp, C. Hyatt, Peter Kanawyer, and a score or more of other settlers all eager to be identified with the great work of transforming their desert acres into homes of future productiveness and wealth. The actual work of making the ditch was commenced that year and proceeded as rapidly as possible consider- ing the limited means of its incorporators. F. J. Sibley was the engineer who located and surveyed the course of the ditch nearly on its present permanent line. It was first intended to build one branch of the ditch into Township 21 south range 20 east, but said branch was never completed beyond the sonth boundary line of township 18 South, range 21 east, a short distance from Armona. The season of 1874 found between three and four miles of the ditch constructed and this was from the point of intake on the river to a point below the structure known as the "Burris check." Very little irrigating was done that season. During the months of May and June of that year the water from Kings river ran through the old channel known as the Burris slough, sontheasterly into Cross creek. During the fall and winter of 1874-5 work was proseented quite rapidly, so that in the spring of 1875 the company was able to con- trol and distribute systematically considerable water to its stock- holders for the irrigation of crops. When the water was turned into the lower portion of the ditch, considerable difficulty was experi- enced in getting it through on account of the porous nature of the soil. It frequently happened that forty to fifty cubic feet per second would flow for days into subterranean cavities. This would so soften the ground, sometimes for a half mile, that it was dangerons to drive a team over the field near the ditch. At the end of the irri- gating season of 1875 it was found that the ditch was far from being completed according to the plans and specifications of the engineer. In places it was not down to grade and in other places not up to grade and in very few places of the width originally proposed. The company was first incorporated for $10.000, but this amount was soon found to be inadequate to complete the great undertaking. Under existing laws assessments on the stockholders could not be collected in sums large enough to complete the work in a reasonable time. So the capital stock was increased to $30,000 in 1875; this latter sum not being equal to the demands, the same was increased to $100,000. After the struggles, privations and great self-denials of these sturdy pioneers the ditch was finally completed as it now exists, about the year 1878 or 1879. During the early years of the work assessments were called for so frequently that many of the stock holders were unable to meet them and their stock had to be sold for the assessments. The whole number of shares of capital stock issned was subscribed for and the assessments kept up for a while, but prior to 1881 more than one-third of the stock issued was sold for assess
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ments and bought in for the company, because no one living in the country on land covered by the ditch at that time had money to buy the stock. In 1912 the total number of shares outstanding and which have not varied for twenty-five years, is sixty-three and thir- teen-sixteenths shares. These shares are now held by more than two hundred persons. The largest number of shares now owned by one person is not over five, except that the Settlers Ditch Company now owns sixteen and one-half shares. About 1890, shortly after the passage through the state legislature of what was known as the Wright Irrigation Bill providing for the creation of irrigation dis- triets throughout the state, the Tulare Irrigation District was formed and its promotors bought from the Settlers Ditch Company its right to take water from the Cross creek and floated its point of diversion to a point on Kaweah river about ten miles northeast of Visalia. Thus having sold its water right, the Settlers Ditch Company pur- chased from the Peoples Ditch Company the sixteen and one-twelfth shares of stock to resupply its ditch. The advantage resulting from the change was that the stockholders of the Settlers Ditch Company were able to have water for irrigation for a longer season each year.
In the early '90s the Riverside Ditch Company was incorporated for the purpose of appropriating water from Kings river and for taking it from a point just above the lower headgate in the Peoples ditch. This ditch extends westerly along the south bank of Kings river for a distance of about ten miles and supplies water for irri- gation to several thousand acres of rich land lying south of Kings river. It operates as an auxiliary factor to the Peoples ditch, many of the latter's stockholders owning stock in the Riverside ditch and many land owners along the Riverside ditch renting water from stockholders of Peoples ditch.
SETTLERS DITCH
In June, 1874, an association of farmers organized the Settlers Ditch Company, with the intention of supplying mostly a tract of land in township 18 south, range 22 east, being east and northeast of Hanford. Major Thomas J. MeQuiddy, George W. Cotton, C. O. Butler, George Slight, J. M. Cary, Jeremiah Lambert, Orrin Jef- fords, J. W. Brown, Alex Taylor, John Urton, Joe Perrin, Ely Bock, C. H. Robinson, Jack Wickham, were the leading men in promoting the interests of this enterprise and incorporating it under the state laws of California. William R. McQuiddy was the first secretary, Attorney W. W. Cross wrote the articles of incorporation. The new company bonglit instruments for surveying and William R. MeQuiddy acted as surveyor for the preliminary work of locating the ditch head at the mouth of Cross creek, after which John S. Urton took charge of the engineering and made definite location of the ditch lines and staked
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them out ready for the construction gangs, composed of the stock- holders who worked on different sections of the ditch as apportioned by the management. Actual work in excavating was begun in the fall of 1874 and proceeded under difficulties through the winter and spring of 1875. Hard pan was found at the upper end of the works, which necessitated a raise in the grade, this calling for a dam or weir in Cross creek to elevate the water supply to the new grade of the ditch. It was also found necessary to make a out two miles above from this channel across to Main stream so as to insure water at all times when there was water therein. This ent was 1600 feet long and in places had to be cut down through hardpan. On De- cember 1, 1875, the ditch was practically completed as far south as the county road running east from the north line of the city of Hanford. The water was turned into the ditch about December 1, and the stockholders began to use it on their lands with great rejoicing over their deliverance from the arid conditions of the past. To celebrate this important event a meeting was called at the Eureka schoolhouse. Nearly every person in the community was present, and the good cheer and enthusiasm of all told the story of their triumph over the adverse conditions through which they had passed. One of the principal actors in this celebration was Lyman B. Ruggles, who had bought out George W. Cotten a few months previous. The speechmaking, the songs composed for the occasion, and the banquet of the best eatables that the country then afforded, made this cele- bration a very enjoyable one for all. Memory turns back from these days of plenty to those days of salt grass, bacon and beans, with so little money, and such a scarcity of credit, and wonders how in the world they ever accomplished such herculean tasks. It was surely a journey through the wilderness, without grain or hay for horse- feed, simply salt grass, and very meager food for men. What was true of the brave men who builded the Settlers' ditch was true of all the other pioneers who from 1872 and later built the other ditches which now carry the living water to their luxuriant homesteads. The Lower Kings river, the Peoples' Ditch, the Last Chance, and the Lakeside Companies were all manned by men of splendid conrage, great endurance and a sublime faith that sustained them and led them on in the face of all kinds of hardships and privations to ulti- mate success. This history may not give every name entitled to credit for the early development of Kings county soil, because they may not all be recalled to memory, but those not named are no less deserving a place in the record of a righteous service to mankind.
THE LAST CHANCE
In 1873 the Last Chance Ditch Company was formed to take water from Kings river to supply the rich lands in the vicinity of Grange- ville. The system was abont completed in one season and proved
1
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very successful to the territory for which it was intended. The first board of directors of the Last Chance consisted of William L. Morton (chairman), William Ingram, C. W. Hackett, O. H. Bliss, J. R. Hein- len, Justin Esrey, L. Gilroy (secretary), J. G. Moore, George Smith. (surveyor), G. H. Hackett, L. Waggner, G. S. Foster, G. T. Thornton, M. S. Babcock, W. A. Caruthers, O. L. Wilson, W. R. Sullenger, John Kurts, E. Erlanger, L. Lowery, John Martin, W. H. Whitesides, William Sutherland, Lewis Haas, Jonathan Esrey, James Sibley, Perry Phillips, George W. Cody, E. Giddings, J. H. Shore, A. S. Ayers, C. Railsback, E. M. Cleveland, Jesse Brown, W. W. Parlin. C. M. Blowers, John Chambers were among the sturdy pioneers and stockholders of the Last Chance enterprise who plowed and scraped on beans and bacon that the desert might bloom as a blessed heritage for future generations.
In the year 1874 the Lakeside Ditch Company was organized. but did not get to doing much until 1875, when it built a canal thirty feet wide and three feet deep to cover the nnirrigated lands sontheast and south of Hanford. The company appropriated three hundred and one cubic feet per second from Cross creek, a branch of Kaweah river. The first board of directors consisted of Robert Doherty Samnel F. Deardorff, C. W. Clark, George A. Dodge, Perry C. Phillips, J. Whiting, Jacob Marsh. Other members and stockholders of the company who were identified in the promotion and actual construction of the Lakeside were: Claude Giddings, George W. Clute, William Kerr, William Covert, John Rourke, Thomas MeCarty, Pat- rick MeCarty, John McCarty, E. J. Dibble, F. McNamee, S. D. Brewer, Joseph Peacock, Andrew Blend, W. H. Winnie, A. M. Stone, Simon Stone, John Sigler, R. S. Wait, Oscar Clapp, J. C. Rice, E. P. Irwin, J. G. Herriford, David Dodge, Caryl Church, Henry Hildebrand, George McCann, M. A. Hill, George Doherty, William Doherty, John Smith, James McClellan, Frank Mcclellan, J. T. Gurnsey, E. Twinning, C. B. Dodge, L. C. Hawley, William H. Dodds, J. V. Dodds. The Lakeside ditch serves a large district, which is largely devoted to dairy and stock interests.
Some years later Carr and Chamberlain built a canal to cover a fine tract of land formerly lake bottom on the north side of Tulare lake. This canal is served by water from the Peoples' ditch and hence is not a primary factor, but simply an extension of the irriga- tion system.
LAKELAND CANAL AND IRRIGATION COMPANY
In the year 1903 the above named company was formed with the intention of appropriating water from Kings river a few hundred yards above the Peoples' Ditch Company's point of intake. The leading men in its organization were Dr. N. P. Duncan. J. Frank
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Pryor, Dr. R. E. Dixon, J. D. McCord. The project contemplated the irrigation of lands about the present city of Corcoran and those lake bottom lands then and thereafter to be reclaimed. The opera- tions of the company have been held in abeyance on account of litigation so that its prospective good results have not yet been realized. R. D. Hunter, E. E. Bush, F. C. Paulin, Stoddard Jess. C. W. Gates, A. Il. Brawley are the more recent promoters and enstodians of the company's interests. The final success of the undertaking means much to a large area of very fertile land south and east of Tulare lake.
BLAKELEY DITCH
In the spring of 1899 F. Blakeley, Ili Clauson, Max Lovelace, R. E. McKenna, Jack Rhodes and Stiles MeLaughlin associated themselves together for the promotion of what is commonly called the Blakeley ditch, contemplating the irrigation of a tract of fine land west and northwest of Tulare lake. The company appropriated 100,000 inches of water from Kings river at a point abont one-half mile below the lower bridge. After three miles of canal had been constructed, Mr. Blakeley on his own account extended the system so that its ditches measured thirty-eight miles.
The Empire Water Company was created to distribute water over the lands of the rich district known as the Empire ranch. Also the Mercedes Pumping Company was formed prospectively to water land west of Kings river.
THE KINGS CANAL AND IRRIGATION COMPANY
This company was promoted by Henry Cousins, Il Clauson, Frank Blakeley, Max Lovelace, Stiles MeLaughlin, a Mr. Ogle and others about the year 1900 and contemplated the irrigation of lands east of Kings river and north of Tulare lake as well as future lands reclaimed by the receding of the lake. It is supplied by the same appropriation of the waters from Kings river and served by the same dam as the Blakeley ditch and in fact is twin to the latter named ditch. It is about one hundred feet wide in places and the system embraces about twenty-eight miles of ditch.
RAINFALL FOR TWENTY-ONE YEARS
The history of a locality would not be complete without containing a record of those "heavenly blessings" furnished by the weather god. Ilerewith is presented an authentic rain table kept since 1591. showing the measurement of rain by the month, as ganged at Hanford :
Year 1891-92-June, 0.00; . Fuly, 0,00; August. 0.00; September, 52;
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October, 0.00; November, .40; December, 1.92; January, .41; Febru- ary, .99; March, 2.27 ; April, .19; May, 1.26; total annual, 7.96.
Year 1892-93-June, 0.00; July, 0.00; August, 0.00; September, 0.00; October, .26; November, .38; December, 1.46; January, 2.83; Feb- rnary, 1.22; March, 2.53; April, .13; May, 0.00; total annual, 8.81.
Year 1893-94- June, 0.00; July, 0.00; August, 0.00; September. 0.00; October, .02; November, .20; December, 1.34; Jannary, .87; Feb- ruary, .40; March, .33; April, .09; May, 20; total annual, 3.45.
Year 1894-95-June, .72; July, 0.00; August, 0.00; September. .53; October, 25; November, 0.00: December, 3.00; January, 2.79; Feb- rnary, .97; March, .96; April, .50; May, .38; total annual, 10.10.
Year 1895-96- June, 0.00; July, 0.00; August, 0.00; September, 0.00; October, 1.05; November, 0.00; December, .35; January, 1.70; February, 0.00; March, .55; April, .76; May, .15; total annual, 4.56.
Year-1896-97-June, .0.00; July, .11; August, .02; September. 0.00; October, .61; November, .72; December, .68; Jannary, 1.56; February, 1.86; March, .11; April, .95; May, 0.00; total annual, 6.62.
Year-1897-98-June, 0.00; July, 0.00; August. 0.00; September. 0.00; October, 1.80; November, .21; December, .48; January, .38; Feb- ruary, .89; March, .03; April, .91; May, .41; total annual, 5.11.
Year-1898-99-June, 0.00; JJuly, 0.00; Angust, 0.00; September, 1.44; October, .11; November, .08; December, .75; January, 1.04; Feb- ruary, .17 ; March, .30; April, 2.66; May, .26; total annual, 6.81.
Year-1899-00-June, .26; July, 0.00; Angust, 0.00; September, 0.00; October, .96; November, 1.18; December, 1.23; Jannary, 1.61; February, 0.00; March, 1.26; April, 1.33; May, 2.27 ; total annual, 10.10.
Year-1900-01-June, 0.00; July, 0.00; Angust, 0.00; September, 0.00; October, :25; November, 2.21; December, .22; January, 3.30; Feb- ruary, 2.82; March, .67 ; April, .27; May, 1.39; total annual, 11.13.
Year-1901-02-June, 0.00; July, 0.00; Angust, 0.00; September, .57; October, .51 ; November, .80; December, 24; January, .40 ; February, 2.17 ; March, 1.43; April, .50; May, .08; total annual, 6.70.
Year-1902-03-June, 0.00; July, 0.00; Angust, 0.00; September, 0.00; October, .32; November, 1.52; December, .63; January, 1.28; Feb- ruary, .57; March, 1.76; April, .80; May, 0.00; total annual, 6.88. Year-1903-04-June, 0.00; Jnly, 0.00; Angust, 0.00; September, 0.00; October, .05; November, .32; December, .13; Jannary, .56; Feb- ruary, 2.15; March, 3.07; April, .36; May, 0.00; total annual, 6.64.
Year-1904-05-June, 0.00; July, 0.00; Angust, 0.00; September, 2.00; October, .74; November, 0.00; December, 1.24; Jannary, 1.45; February, 1.16; March, 2.20; April, .48; May, 1.05 ; total annual, 10.32.
Year-1905-06-June, 0.00; July, 0.00; Angnst. 0.00; September, 0.00; October, 0.00; November, 1.37; December, .41; January, 1.81; February, 1.54 ; March, 4.77 ; April, .76; May, 1.76; total annual, 12.42.
Year-1906-07-June, 0.00; July, 0.00; Angust, 0.00; September,
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0.00; October, 0.00; November, .39; December, 3.49; January, 3.51; February, .67; March, 2.39; April, .32; May, 0.00; total annual, 10.77.
Year-1907-08-June, 0.00; July, 0.00; August, 0.00; Septem- ber, 0.00; October, .68; November, 0.00; December, 1.74; Jan- uary, 1.92; February, 3.03; March, 0.00; April, 0.00; May, .56; total annual, 7.93.
Year-1908-09- June, 0.00; July, 0.00; August, 0.00; September, .91; October, 0.00; November, .66; December, .31; January, 4.35; Feb- ruary, 3.21; March, 1.66; April, 0.00; May, .15; total annual, 11.25
Year-1909-10- June, 0.00; July, 0.00; Angust, 0.00; September, 0.00; October, .19; November, 1.57 ; December, 2.56; January, 1.87 ; Feb- ruary, .08; March, 1.47 ; April, .05; May, .24; total annual, 8.03.
Year-1910-11-June, 0.00; July, 0.00; August, 0.00; September, 1.51; October, .30; November, .23; December, .72; January, 3.37; Feb- ruary, 1.46; March, 2.94; April, 0.00; May, .50; total annual, 11.03.
Year-1911-12-June, 0.00; July, 0.00; August, 0.00; September, .04; October, .09; November, .23; December, .55; January, .51; Feb- ruary, .02; March, 3.15; April, .27; May, 1.52; total annual, 6.38.
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CHAPTER XXIV
EXIT AND RETURN OF TULARE LAKE
The most interesting natural phenomenon that has transpired in Kings county since its organization is the vanishing and reappearance of Tulare lake, a body of fresh water, for years the largest in area of any lake west of the Rocky Mountains. This lake at one time within the memory of some pioneers yet living covered one thousand square miles of territory, extending from Kern county northwesterly to near Lemoore. From 1854 to 1872, a period of sixteen years, the area of this lake changed bnt little. But along in the '70s, irrigation from the streams that poured into this basin which forms the depression in the great Tulare valley, the borders of the lake gradually receded. It is the opinion of Dr. Gustav Eisen, who knew the lake in 1875 and who made a study of it again in 1898, that the use of the waters from the streams by the farmers cansed the gradual recession. In a well-written . article on the subject Dr. Eisen relates that recession was rapid at the end of the first three years of irrigation farming. The tapping of Kings and Tule rivers, and Cross creek which is fed by the Kaweah river, and the spreading of the water ont upon the plains through great systems of canals and laterals caused the southern end of the lake to shrink materially. The shore line in 1854 represented the diagram of an oyster, but by 1875 the southern end had shrunk until it was abont a mile in width. At that time the lake was a great hunt- ing and fishing ground. Sail boats and a steamboat plied its waters. At certain points a man could wade ont for miles and not reach beyond his depth. From 1875 to 1880 the lake grew smaller and smaller and in 1882 the border had left Kern county entirely. In 1888 it had become almost circular in shape. From a body of water almost eighty miles in length in 1858, by the time Kings county was formed it had shrunken to abont two hundred and twenty square miles. The process of evaporation assisted in aiding the irrigationists to meover the bottom and as that appeared it baked and cracked under the influence of the summer sun until, checked and fissured, it invited the attention of the land seeker, for by placing solid wooden shoes sawed out of plank on the feet of horses, teams could be gotten upon the land and lovees could be built and erops put in. Wherever planting was done in this uncovered lake bottom it was discovered that the soil was rich, especially at the deltas of Kings and Tule rivers and Deer and Cross creeks. The uncovered lands belonged to the state under what was known as the Arkansas act passed by Congress in September, 1850. This act provided that swamp and overflow lands such as were of no valne in extending waterways and
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