The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1899-11-18
WILLIAM RYAN
AND FOREST RESERVES.
Two weeks ago this paper published

Two weeks ago this paper published
a statement connecting William
Ryan'S name with the creation of a
new forest reserve beginning at a
point where the Clark's Fork river
emptes into Pend d'Oreille lake,
thence south to the Occur d'Alene
river; thence east to "a point in Mon
tana; thence north to the Clark's
Fork river Mr. Ryan denies that he
advocated the creation of this new re-
serve, but admits that last August he
learned indirectly that the creation of
such reserve was being considered by
the secretary of the interior Mr..
Ryan makes further denials which IN
spirit of fairness THE SILVER
BLADE gladly publishes.
Editor SILVER BLADE:
SIR:-In THE SILVER BLADE of
the 4th inst, in an article headed
''The Story of the Forest Reserve, /"
you make certain mistatements rela-
tive to my connection with the effort
to change the boundaries of the Priest
River Reserve, which, in justice to
myself, | cannot permit to pass I'M
contradicted.
You say: "We are informed that
he (Ryan) advocated before Commits
soner Hermann the creation of a
new reserve, extending south from
where the Clagk's Fork river empties
into Lake Pend d'Orellle to the Occur
d'Alene river: thence east to a point
in Montana; thence north to Clark's
Fork river, in lieu of that portion of
the reserve he wished to have elimi-
mated. OF this reserve he wished to
be uperlntendent." This statement
is absolutely false and your informant
is most cheerful liar, who can easily
discount Ananias. never mention
ed such thing to the commissioner
at any time. / never imagined such
a thing and never even heard such
thing talked of until last August,
when l learned indirectly that the
creation Of such a reserve was being
considered by the Secretary of the In
terror.
You say further: Grinding this
did not meet with general favor, he
then outlined the above map for the
commissioner, assuring him that the
proposed extension met with the APP
probation of the county in general"
This is another unqualified falsehood.
never drew such map as you pub
lish. | never suggested such an en-
largement,lof the reserve and never
even heard Such a move was contem
plated until casually informed of it
about two months ago.
The change that I did advocate be-
fore the commissioner would restore
to settlement 1875, 720 acres of the best
timber and farm land in Kootenai
county, and would include in the re-
serve in lieu thereof an equal area OF
the rugged and inaccessible country
on the summit of the divide between
Priest lake and the Kootenai river,
which is positively Of no value for
for purposes of settlement.
The map which l did outline for
the commission showing the changes
which I did advocate is now in the
possession of Mr.. James Glendenning
superintendent of forest reserves, and
anyone DESTROYS of learning the truth
of this matter is welcome to examine
it.
In conclusion I will say that I have
Away, and at all times, opposed thu
enlargement of the Priest River re
serve and have used my best endeav
ors to have the best portions Of it re
stored to the public domain.
Hoping you will have the Nourtes,
and fairness to give this letter a plac'
in your columns, | remain
Very Respectfully,
WILLIAM RYAN.
CoEUR D'ALENE, Nov. 10th, lo9