Casper Daily Tribune Newspaper, May 11, 1924, Page 9

VOLUME 33. Che Cas THIRD NEWS SECTION per Sunn CASPER, WYO., SUNDAY, MAY 11, 1924. Residents of Town Without Townsite to Stand Pat Against Ruling.of Fed- eral Court at Cheyenne By C. A. DAVIS. ‘ 3 Can you imagine a town of almost one. thousand souls facing arrest? * That is what confronts every citizen of Lavoye, Wyo., populous oil town of the Sait Creek-Teapot region. Judge T. Bs Kennedy of the federal court at Cheyenne, Wyo., recently ruled that they vacate the town forthwith, or be subject to arrest for court. United States District Attorney A. D, Walton of Cheyenne has an- nounced that he will enforce’ the or- der, but the residents will refuse to observe “moving day” and formal notice has not yet been served. Just exactly what will be the re- sult {8a problem. ‘The attorney representing the townspeople. tells them to “stick,” while it is threaten: ed that anyone who advises: the resi- dents to remain will be cited for con- contempt of tempt, The townspeople absolutely refyso to budge: They have many _ busi- nesses and homes built there, and they are prepared to fight to the last ditch, The 111 fated town ts a little over two miles from the famous, Teapot Dome, which has produced infinitely more gossip than it has oll, and is ab t the #ame distance from the Mutual Off company’s lease where ‘Teddy Jr., sent the trusted marines two years ago to take forceful pos- ion in the name of the U. 8 Y, using his authority as assist ant secretary of the navy, so the town is located in a notorious dis trict, jatural Deaths Unknown ye is ed for many other It has never had a natural death, True a couple of her citizen ship have gone over the great di vide, but one “died with his boots and the other committed suicide. oth were taken away for burial #0 ¢ town has not been able to start cementry as yet. It is like a town down in Arizona whe the residents e healt! that they had to ) enable them to start town was before a birth uls its water for y and claims to be, the only town of its size in.the United States that is without a townsite, although We have any number of ownsites without towns. The real trouble is that the town old It h is located over a deposit of ol] on the Salt Creek lease, which is forty miles from Casper, arid the Ohio Ol company c ims thitt the town ham. Pers its operations, being supported in its contention by the courts, The case is a long drawn out at. fair, a story of numerous legal battles, and there have been — so many reports of ejection that if a Week passes without some new threats the residents do not feel na- tural. However,*the matter: is’ very critical at present and there will un- doubtedly be some definite steps taken in the course of a very few days. Lavoye Refused Title The townsite is on government oil land, under lease for petroleum de- velopment purposes to the Ohio Oil company, and was filed on by Louis P. Lavo: who started the town site. The interior department ruled against Lavoye's claim to the pro: perty but in the meantime the town, oceupying a cen| location in the oll district tinued te boom and grow. Acting on the interior de. partment’s ruling the department of Justice then took a hand in the con troversy and sult was instituted by the United States government to oust Lavoye and his tenants. The recent court order was the result, but earlier in the year the towns- people, despairing of protection through Lavoyo's filing, organized a townsite association, repudiated all connection with Laypye and filed on their townsite land direct By reason /of having been tenants of Lavoye the court, hoavever, held 1 the brunt t Lavoye. ntroduced effort to pre imittee was that they should also fe of the ouster ruling A bill nealn been an has also aa in erve the townaite sent to Washingtun and there {s still hope that the town may be saved, But a few weeks ago the situation became mort critical when a portion of the town was destroyed by fire one evening. The post office was burned and before. ten o'clock next morning remdve the office town some miles jtop of this there came a the effect that L. P, Lavoye ‘had absolutely no rights to the land. Almost Lost Heart For the first time in the history of the town many of the residents of Lavoye almost lost heart; apparently e¥ery possible chance of saving the town was lost.'The courts had rul- ed against Lavoye, who had filed on the townsite; the department of the interlor had ruled against the town and they had lost their post office; the railroad refused to give them service and an oll company was gs everything possible to secure sion of the land under claims dy upheld. At this critical moment, like Joan of Arc, a leader of the weaker sex took the helm and {s apparently leading her followers to victory With no weapon but a little weekly Paper this frailewoman rallied the citizens together and they have taken up the fight from an entirely different angle with a good chance of success. The E the word was received to to post ree n rival ay. On decision to itress, Jane Snodgrass Johnson, an ‘attractive little woman with a strong personality, insisted that the fight be carried direct to Washington where the ‘matter could be laid before Wyoming congress men and the Department of the In- terior. Committee Secures Action It took but a few days to get an active committee to working along this line, and the matter was soon ken up at Washington with sur- Prising results. In the meantime the citizens took advantage of -squat- ters rights ‘and filed on their res- pective locations. The. department of the Interlor has reconsidered the matter and has given the Oil com. panies a certain length of time to show why the town is not a neces- sity, the post office has been re- turned and life once more goes on in the same strain in the busy little oll center. With the realization that the townsite is not Incorporated and is not directly under the jurisdiction of any oll company, while it is forty miles away from the county sent, a large number of people of question Van’s Filling Station MIDWEST AND TEXAS GAS OILS AND GREASES R. N. Van Sant Motor Sales McKinley and Yellowstone Phone 1406 able reputation drifted to the town and gun pl re common _ocour- ences. A al 's have occur However, it is-the general sent! ment of the business men to estab: ish and maintain a ‘law abiding town and since the arrival of a local deputy sheriff the coroner has not found it necessary to make as many trips to the district. $ Charch Projected - © The town has no church build- ings neither has a church service ever been held in the past two ycars in the history of the town. Possibly no other town of its size can make this claim. However, a number of the Better thinking citizens rec: {Continued from — many shooting ay Crihune 68. ===: THIRD NEWS SECTION Advance Notes On Theaters- -Advance Notes On Amusement Offerings LAVOYE--WHERE MOVING DAY W Above—A view df the business parked on the street indicate the acted in the town. The just marking time to see whether t reserve. At Left—A glimpse of the rig scene shows both the rigs on the Salt Creek field and the northern portion of Teapot Dome. the Teapot reserve will Creek wells. The rig to the extre: force of arms by the Marines two At Right—Jane Snodgrass J who was. instrumental i She has written magazine tions. The samen articles GET THE HABIT BY CALLING THE TRIBUNE ROAD CONDI volume of business which is tr residents of district of Lavoye. The many cars ns- is thriving oil field center are remain, or are moved oft the $ adjacent to the townsite. This ess of the formation indicates that to a certain extent be drained by the Salt e right is the one taken over by years ago. hnson, the editress of the local paper keeping up the courage of the townspeople for many of our leading publica- FOR NEWS OF TIONS IN STATE BY SPARK PLUG Leaning on the Tribune fo r accurate information upon anything under the sun is becoming a habit with Casper folks and the Tribune enjoys it. When a championship glove battle is in progress anywhere in the world, Casper people flock to the street before the Tribune comed by a blow by blow r the \world series more wagers are won or lost in front of the Tribune building, than in any other spot in the city. ttling bets upon politi cal and subjectiof law by calling the editorial department of this .news- paper, is becoming the usual thing, and the Tribune is glad of it. Wyoming's Leading | Newspaper has now stepped into the field with a new free information service for Casper people.. The Bureau of Tourist Information is an. experi: ment and a successful one. ‘The new department was opened for the first time May 1, and enjoys tha istinction of being the only bureau th edification of the tour and are wel- eport of the fight. During operated by a newspaper in the stat ming. In a‘ single we Tour Bureau served approximately four hundred individuals, who» dé aired information upon the condi tions of roads in Wyoming and in many instances in other Parts of the Tribun the west, and middlewest. Road bulletins are printed by the Tribune three times each week, giving detail the exact condition of the central Wyoming highways at the time of ‘the publication of the bulletin. They are distributed by mail to every automobile de re pair shop, and service station in (Continue IT’S HERE IN CASPER! Chevrolet’s Master Creation E NEW DeLuxe Sport Tourin DON’T FAIL TO SEE AND RIDE IN THI WONDERFUL LITTLE CAR It Is Completely Equipped NOLAN CHEVROLET CO. 322 South David Street Phone 2100 in }4 For Coming Week AS ORDERED BY COURT WARNE AND CROSBY Offer for This Week The Flat Rate Charge For the Following Combination Grind Valves Tune Motor Check AH Gas Lines Check Vacuum Tank Check Timing Check Ignition Check Spark Plugs L Make of Car Price pSV Ey | alpen aS ------------ ----$10.00 Buick 6 --__- -$12.00 Cadillac ~~ Chandler Jewett —- Dodge Hudson Nash 4 Nash 6 Oakland ~~ Olds 4 -___ Olds 6—37A Olds 8 ~~ Packard 6 Paige 6—44 ____ Studebaker. Light § Studebaker Special Studebaker Big § Where Parts Are Neces: sary They Will Be Billed Additionally Other Carg Priced Proportionately | Warne & Crosby Motor Company 436 West Yellowstone Phone 2610 TRIBUNE’S CLASSIFIED ADS BRING RESULTS, NUMBER 42.