Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1888-01-14
AppREss no CONGRESS
By Citizens of PocatellO, In Mass Meeting
Assembled.

tatives of the United States in
Congress assembled:
We, the citizens of the United States,
residing in the town of Poeatello, in
Bingham county, Idaho Territory, in
mass. meeting assembled, do most
respectfully represent to Your Honor
able Bodies:
That the town of Pocatello is situat-
ed at the junction ofthe Oregon Short
Line and Utah & Northern railways;
that it is the naturalization for head
quarters for both of said railroad
lines; that the machine shops and
round houses of said lines are there
situated. That the present population
is now about 1900; that said town
is situated within the limits of the
Fort Hall Indian Reservation; that
the railroad company has heretofore
secured about forty acres of land from
said Reservation upon which the
present town is built; that the said
town is a natural business center and
supply point for the surrounding coun-
try; that the increasing business of
the railroad company demands more
room and employees,
That, at present, the buildings of
this town are built in such close prox-
unity, in most instances 3 buildings
on lot % by 125 feet; that owing
to the crowded condition of the houses
in this town, and having no sanitary
arrangements for our protection, when
the heated term comes on we are
liable to have an epidemic of some
kind of contagious disease in its
worst form; that owing to the insult
ficient water supply of this town in
case of a confagration it would be
impossible to save anything and would
throw the wives and children of hard
working, honest American citizens
out into the inclemencies of the wealth
er; that it is impossible to secure land
for building, or business purposes as
things now are; that it is necessary
for the health, convenience and we'll
being of the present resident of said
place that sufficient land be set aside
from said Reservation to make room
for building such additional shops
and structures as the railroad com
pany may desire to erect business
houses or residences thereon.
That the Indians on said Fort Hall
Reservation have heretofore, at q
conference held at Ross Fork, the
headquarters of this Reservation, in
last May, 1887, agreed and expressed
their willingness with a committee
appointed for that purpose to part
with their title of 1850 acres of said
land in the vicinity of Pocatello as
may be necessary for the conveniences
of the people there residing, to be
laid off in lots and be sold at auction
to the highest bidder and the money
so accrued to be set aside for the
benefit of said Indians.
We would also respectfully submit
that the land asked for is entirely un-
fit for agricultural or pastural pur.
poses, and we believe it entirely void
of minerals, or precious metals; we
therefore, most respectfully ask that
your Honorable bodies take such ac-
ton as will secure 1000 acres by pur-
chase from the Indians for townsite
purposes; and said land so set apart
be sub-divided into lots and sold in
accordance with existing laws of the
United States in regard to townsites;
and that the proceeds of said sales
be set apart for the benefit of the
Indian tribes now occupying said
Reservation in accordance with the
understanding in regard thereto, here
tofore arrived at; and we most res
pectfully urge the opening of the
said TOWNSHIP, under the Townsite Act
as now existing, so that it is within
the reach of every honest, poor Amer
lean citizen who desires to secure him
self home; to secure such home we
most respectfully urge your Honor
able bodies prompt action in the
premises, as the welfare of the people
here residing, and the future prosper
ity of this section of Idaho depend
greatly upon immediate granting of
this, which we submit as our reason
able request.
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