The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1896-01-09
Washington. D. C., Jan. 4, 1896.

Washington. d. c., Jan. 4, 1896.
Secretary Smith today took up and
considered bids for the irrigation work
at the Fort Hall Indian reservation.
He considered all the facts presented
by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs,
and his final conclusion was to author
ize the Commissioner to enter into q
contract with the Idaho Canal company
to construct the works at their bid OF
$4,000 according to the Government
specifications. In regard to the de-
murrer filed by the attorneys for Muir
ray, one of the bidders, against award
ing the contract to the canal company.
on the ground that the time set by tho
Government for the completion OF the
work would not be sufficient to complete
II properly, the Secretary says that
he Murray could, with the knowledge
that he could not complete the contract
in the time specified June l, 1890 have
added the amount of penalty for such
time as he would have run over that
date to the amount of his bid, and In
that way have protected himself. The
penalty prescribed by the Government
was $50 per day, and in three months
would have amounted to only $500. As
to the contention that Murray had not
had time in which to make complete
survey of the route of the proposed
| that he Murray had had as good q
| show as any of the other bidders.
/ Taking it all together, the Secretary
was generally of the opinion that the
| demurrer did not carry much weight
| and should therefore be disregarded.
| The Idaho Canal company was the only
bidder to agree to all the specifications
| of the Government and was also the
i only bidder to deposit a check as
guarantee of good faith. The Secretary
was of the opinion that they made the
| strongest case, when all the bids were
4 Tod 60
Commissioner to enter into contract
with them for constructing the works
/ ADVERSE TO THE N. P.
Secretary Smith today confirmed the
Commissioners decision in favor of the
defendant in the case of the Northen
Pacific Railroad company against Will
lam Nj. Gribble, from the Lewiston,
Ida, land district. The land in ques-
ton is within the indemnity limits OF
the company's grant and was selected
by it as an indemnity for lands lost
elsewhere. This selection was allowed.
but the testimony showed that 1t was
occupied by bona fide settler at the
time of selection, and was therefore not
open to such selection. The company
lselection is to be Cancelled and Gribble's
entry is to stand.
UTAH MATTERS.
President Cleveland signed this after
noon the Cannon bill transferring to
the new State of Utah the furniture
and fixtures formerly the property OF
the United States under the Territorial
Government
The Comptroller of the Currency Is
sued today the abstract of December
2 reports made by the Utah Nationa
, banks. 1t shows the increase of 5000.
2 900 in loans and discounts an increase
( of $73. 900 in specie and an increase o.
, nearly $4,000 in lawful money reserve
4 There is a decrease of nearly 5000. 00
: in individual deposits and of per cen
e in the average reserve.
: The report of the Nevada bank
t | shows a decrease in reserve from 22.2
: per cent to 1915 per cent. a materia
( increase in individual deposits, and In
e crease of $4,000 in total specie held.
!. POSTMASTERS.
$ Fourth-class postmasters appointe
t today: Cora, Latah county, Ida, Mrs
!. l.. ]. Hughes, vice F. w. Webster, re
h signed; Dubois, Fremont county, A.
r Werty, vice C. G. Smith, resigned.