The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1900-03-03
WILL NOT Be CHANGED.
Result 81 the Monster Petitions was 10
Gauss the department TO Abandon the
Plan 10 Extend the Priest River Forest
Reserve.


Plan 10 Extend the Priest River Forest
Reserve.
The Spokesman Review Of Last
Tuesday contained the following news
item which will be III interest "
those who have opposed the proposed
extension IF the Priest River Forest
reserve;
"Word comes officially from Wash
iugton that the Priest River forest
reserve viii not be enlarged. The
announcement is Of unusual import
ance to all Of northern Idaho and
much of eastern Washington, for the
extension would mean hardship TO
scores Of small settlers, and the tying
up Of thousands Of acres Of valuable
timber and farm land.
Yesterday Secretary Hawley of the
Chamber of Commerce received d let
ter from Senator Foster announcing
that Secretary OF the Interior Hitch
cock had given assurance that the re-
serve will not be extended. The
promise comes as result Of the pro-
test forwarded a month ago to the
authorities at Washington by the
Chamber of Commerce, The docu-
ment set forth the great damage
which would result to this whole sec
ton by tying up additional timber
lands and protested most earnestly
against such movement. Copies Of it
were sent to the president and 10 the
congressional delegation from this
State. As d result the interior de
pdrtment has changed all its former
p.ans and viii leave the reserve in It's
PRESENT FORM"
WuiIe the Spokesman Review gives
all credit 10 the Chamber of Com
merce Tor the good result accomplish
ed, The wide publicity given the mat
ter through the columns of the Re
view and the plain, unbiased state
N ut Of facts, illustrated w maps Of
tine proposed extension, IN the COZ
umn> Of THE SILVER BLADE, wer!
no small factor. Nor must The Ctr
zens Of Bonuers Ferry Hope, Clark
Fork, Standpoint, Naples, kooLeuai,
Newport and many other places, WHO
worked Vigorously IN opposition aud
forwarded nuineruuSly sigued petit
tIous, DC denied a share Of tile credit.
The personal efforts of Juo &,
Callahan, j. G. Brady, Joseph
Buckle, j. G. White and A. n
er Tucker, who brought the matt, r
To The attention uf the Chamber Of
Commerce., deserve recognitiun.
Our representatives III Congress in
conjunction Win those from Wash
ington have worked diligently in the
interests of the settlers on Ghe Priest
liver fOrtsr reserve and the lands adj
joining; but the Chamber OF Com
mercc oil Spokane deserves much
credit Tor the vigorous stand it
took IN The matter On December
sth that body was visited by a dele.
CATION from this county who present-
ed the following resolution for It's
consideration which after thorough
discussion was unanimously adopted
Whereas, The Priest River fores /
reserve, which was created by pro-
clamation OF the president of the
United States OF February -, 1897,
embraces within its boundaries large
areas Of land well adapted to sue.
ceSsful cultivation, being well water
ed and drained by large streams, the
SOIL being fertile and easily cultiva-
ted, and the conditions generally be-
my attractive 10 settlers; ana
Whereas, Several thousand acres
oi. said land Was entered in good faith
under the homestead laws of the
United States prior to said proclama-
ton; and
Whereas, The commissioner of the
general land Office has expressed a
desire TO add lands in Kootenaj
county, idaho, and Stephens county
Washington, TO said reserve, large
areas Of said lands being equally val
liable for agricultural purposes: and
Whereas, If the boundaries Of
said reserve are unmodifed and large
areas of land in said counties are
locked up from future settlement,
Idaho and eastern Washing.
ton must suffer an irreparable loss:
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Chamber of
Commerce of Spokane as a body are
9nalterahly opposed to the extension
81 said reserve and that we respect
iully urge upon the national admins
lfatton the modification Of the said
i9rias4 lpf,,.,u =. -.