Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-06-30
FROM WASHINGTON CITY.

/ Acting Land Commissioner Powers has
rendered decision in which he orders
cancelled on the ground of fraud and col
fusion about twenty-three timber and
stone entries Of valuable tim Der lands in
the Vancouver land district, WASH. and
now held by J. b. Montgomery Of Port
| land, Or, to whom the lands were trans
ferred Immediately after final proofs
were made.
The board. consisting of engineers of
the army and three engineers from civil
life, appointed to examine and report
upon the feasibility Of boat railway or
some other method of improved naviga-
ton ut The Dalles has submitted its re-
port to the War Department. Up to the
present time the department has refused
to make it public, because the report was
ordered by Congress and, it is claimed,
must be made public in Congress-
Enough is learned about it, however to
know that the boat-railway proposition
has received black eye; also the canal,
which, it is claimed, would cost too much
money. The only scheme recommended
by the board il said to be portage rail
way. 1t viii! be almost impossible for
the Oregon delegation in Congress to
overturn this report.
The Department OF State has not been
informed of the reported purpose of the
Chinese government to retaliate upon
the United States, evidenced by the re-
ported prohibition OF the purchase, use
or sale OF American kerosene in the prov
ince of Annoy. Even il there has been
such q prohibition, 1t ia not believed at
the department that ii can be regarded
N aaa uIat,te1 In, ~ ,,f IL
iatlon, but rather as an exhibition OF the
extremely conservative character OF The
Chinese, whose resistance to such an in
noyation as the use OF kerosene mas
have been strengthened by some rece t
casualties Moreover, 1t il fact that a
mere Niceroy OF province would scarce
ly be authorized to institute policy of
retaliation, which would rather be init
ated by the imperial government itself.
Secretary Smith was asked the other
day what would be the probable policy
of the Interior Department in reference
to the approval OF lists of Northern Pa
ciiic lands under the grant which was
not earned in the time specified, but yet
to which the company assumes title. The
Secretary seemed to be of the opinion
that, the lands having been earned. the
company Wuuiu undoubtedly Dt Entitled
to them, and that in the approval of the
lists, unless the statutes said that they
could not be approved If not earned in
time, he supposed that he should not
take that question into consideration.
He intended to follow the law, no matter
what the assumption might be Of parties
interested. He added. "There IL no
doubt that the building OF the road was
a great improvement. 1t has been OF
vast benefit to the country, and the gov
eminent has had the advantage OF SELL
ing it's lands, and the country has been
settled and developed. OF course, the
road has been built and the lands have
been earned, shall look into the law
on the subject before making approval,
and shall act on the law, whatever it is. !"
twas suggested that quite large party
IN Congress was anxious to forfeit these
lands. The Secretary said that he had
heard Of it, but that he would have to
follow the law Congress had enacted
rather than anything that may be in
prospect. The probabilities are that the
lists will be approved and any efforts
made to forfeit the lands will be defeated
by the Democratic administration, as it
seems to be regarded that the road, even
ii it did not complete its line in the time
specified, made every effort TO do 20, and
its intention was amply shown from the
fact that the road was really built.