 However, the land was very rich in timber, which meant that timber companies would pay much more than $2.50 an acre.To circumvent the requirements of the land grant, Edward Harriman, president of the Southern Pacific Railroad — which then owned the O&C — hired former surveyor Stephen A. Douglas Puter to round up people from saloons in Portland's waterfront district, escort them to the land office, have them register for an O&C parcel as a settler, and then transfer it to Puter's men.The accumulated parcels were then sold in large blocks to the highest bidder for timber harvest.