The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1903-10-03
/ AND BOARD
SET RIGHT
Norman jackson Makes A
Full Explanation.

the State some IS, 900 acres of land
easily worth $1o an acre, he decided
TO make a blanket fling. The ne.
Icessity for this was explained fully
through the newspapers and by
letters at the time, and assurances
given that the rights of every bona
hde settler and mineral claimant
would be respected and relinouish-
ments made to them by the State
This has been done, and over 1000
acres have been released in favor of
those who were found to be legally
entitled to the land.
This blanket filing also covered,
in addition TO the valuable land
mentioned, an equal amount of
winter grazing lands along the
Snake and Salmon rivers that I
have advised the board to release.
This land, though it is eagerly
sought after for grazing purposes at
an annual rental of 111z cents per
acre, is not, in my opinion, of sufi-
cient value to retain. We wish to
fill the States land grants with the
best lands obtainable.
After the selections had been
made the Land Board discovered
that the notice of withdrawal for
survey had been illegally published
by a previous Democratic admins
tration, and therefore the land of
all bona dde settlers at the time of
filing the township Flats were
promptly released.
Mr.. Harbaugh (who, by the way,
is a Kentucky Democracy secured
an agreement for fee from the set
tiers whose rights were at first in
dispute, to act as their representa-
tive to secure Accomplishments from
the State. 1t was charged that he
claimed to have a "stand in" with
the writer and with the Land Board
and had intimated that he would
use money to secure releases. The
friendly letters from the Governor
and myself with which he is said to
have been armed, were merely cour-
teous acknowledgements of the re-
ceipt of communications from him
and the usual assurance that they
would be given careful attention.
From all accounts, however, he
must have made much capital out
of the fact of his brief acquaintance
with me and of an alleged acquaint-
ance with Governor Morrison, and
displayed the letters in way to
convince the settlers that he was
able to secure their accomplishments.
He is also said to have warned the
settlers against employing Grange
vile lawyers. Out of revenge for
this latter piece Of impertinence, a
Democratic lawyer of that place had
him arrested on charge of at
tempted bribery of the State Land
Board. Some IS or 90 settlers were
subpoenaed, but after examining
four or five without bringing out
any evidence, the County Attorney
dismissed the suit. The same at
torney then had warrants issued
by Jas. De Haven, u. S. Com
missioner at Grangeville for the
the arrest of Goldsmith and Har
baugh for alleged perjury in making
non-mineral affidavits. This attor
ney had no clients who were in any
way affected by the selections ant
his activity can be attributed mere
ly to the fact that he had nothing
else to do, the insurance agen
(Harbaugh) having corraled tn
fees from settlers that he had beef
expecting to receive. By the way
Harbaugh's fee (about $3.50 Ii
money and notes) is a conditional
one, and the money was placed OF
deposit with Grangeville merchant
payable to him on condition tina
the ACCOMPLISHMENTS were secured
through his efforts and influence
So far as know, the money ha
. not been handed over to him, an