“It sure is, especially when the land must be examined for coal and mineral deposits, and the work is carried on, or has been completed, in all the prairie and Rocky Mountain States. You Easterners have no idea of the importance of the Department of the Interior, which has charge of the public lands.”
“The only time we ever hear of it is when some land-grabbing scandal breaks out,” Phil declared.
“And the worst ones never have leaked out. But it’s getting harder for the rich syndicates to gobble up square mile after square mile of valuable land. Some day it will be impossible, and no more priceless water rights will be given away.”
“But how can the syndicates get the land, when a homesteader is only allowed to file for a hundred and sixty or, under certain conditions, three hundred and twenty acres at the most?” queried Ted.
“By getting individuals to file entries, and when they have received the land, turn it over to the syndicates.”
The fervour with which their companion spoke surprised his hearers, and Phil asked, guilelessly:
“You have been in the reclamation service, haven’t you?”
Casting a swift glance at his questioner, Andy flushed and snapped a curt “Yes.”
“Why did you leave it?”
Again their companion flushed, but this time angrily.