The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1900-02-01
Boundaries as Outlined Would be
Obnoxious.
IDAHO DELEGATION PROTESTS
The Reserve as Proposed Would do These
Counties Incalculable Injury.

There is move on foot to include
improper territory in the proposed
forest reserve in Washington, Boise
and Canyon counties, but Idahos
delegation is fighting vigorously the
proposed outrage and it is believed
the unwarranted plan will be reduced
to proper limits. We cannot believe
congress will be so blind to the best
interests of the sections concerned as
to create such q reserve Such an
act on the part of congress would be
without precedent and would block
the wheels of progress in these coun-
ties. In order that our people may
know what Idaho's delegation is do
ing, we quote from its protest to
congress as follows
I'VE desire 10 protest with all the vigor
and energy at our command against the
creation of this reserve under any cir
from the standpoint of preservation of
the forests on account of the water sup
ply or 10 prevent floods or for any other
reason that we can conceive of
The region in question EN- braces some
of the oldest and best estabi> he'd S-tll--
ments of our State There are some 81
post offices in this proposed reserve.
There are more than 100 school houses
and school districts There is per-
manent population settled within this re-
serve of many thousand people. The
following towns are located within TINS
proposed reserve. to-wl: Weiser, county
seat of Washington county, popu ation
about 1000; Payelte, population about
1000; Emmett population 800; New Ply
mouth, population about 300; Salubria,
population, 300; Quarlzburg, population
200: Placervil e. 300; Horseshoe Bend,
100, and many other smaller towns and
villages.
There is embraced within this pro-
posed reserve more than 2. 900 900 acres
OF available agricultural land, the Title to
many Thousand acres of which has AZ
ready passed from the Government TO
individual settlers and purchasers This
reserve would take in practically all of
Washington county, which is one OF The
best agricultural counties of The stale.
1t emb braces hundreds of acres of planted
and productive orchards and thousands
of acres of farming land. The same is
true of that portion of Canyon county
within the reserve and to more limited
extent in Boise county also The pro
posed reserve comes within a few miles
of Boise City, the State capital, this re-
serve Includes within its limits more thar
100 miles of already constructed railroads
and large additional mileage now be
ing constructed.
''As the entire delegation representing
the people of the state, we desire to pro.
test against the creation of this reserve
1t would absolutely prevent the location
and settlement of the agricultural Lands
therein and would drive out vast herd:
of sheep from the ranges included withir
its boundaries We cannot conceive of {
forest reserve in any section of our state
and country which could work a create
injury to the people living within it
limits.
'lf forest reserves are to be created
let this be done on the mountain range
where settlements have not been ant
probably will never be made A larg
portion of The Bitter Root Reserve fulfill
these requirements, but the proposed re
serve in question fulflls none of them
1t would serve no good purpose ant
would bring about every possible evil re
suit which a reservation of The public
lands could create. We therefore, res
pectfully but very earnestly request tha
it be not created.
Two carloads of fine, dry mountain
wood-order at Matthews {
Roberts.