The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1903-09-05
JOSEPH PLAINS LAND CASE
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villa ihs stats Laaa Beard -AFsasd
with :FStsAdiy Letters From Cover
ass Msrrisen and Norman jackson.

U. B. commissioner Of this city,
There is not in Idaho today \ man
With higher ssuse Of honor and jus
tics, and probably no one else who
80 we'll understands land conditions
here Ia Idaho county. His state
msnt Of the case IL q vigorous pro-
test against the way tho state has ~.
lsctsd its lahds over on the Joseph
Plains.
Hon John T. Morrison, Governor Of
Idaho. Boiss. Idaho.
Dear SiF;-Yoars Of the 18th inst
resolved last Tuesday and received
the registry rrtnTn reesipt for the
registered letter addressed 10 the
state land &C mmissioDers, signed by
H. y. Nancy, the day before.
Tho ssttisFs have reasen for being
"andnly excited from the fact tina,
before the selections were made Mr.
Norman jackson bad himself inter
vtsSsd, and the interview pubilshsd
Ia ali u the papers here wherein be
IL reported - having said that the
state woald select all tho lands sei
tied upon after the application for
survey MAS made.
Of coanse he knew. aud every al
tOTnsy knowa. that the slate bad no
right 20 amp land settled upon prior
20 May sth. 1908.
Why tho s~ttlerS' lands were select
ed ! have no means Of knowing.
The excuse given by Mr. Goldsmith
that there waa not time to ascertain
~hNt the s~tticrs claim. 10 very lame
! asked Mr. Goldsmith Why be- select
81 Hiram W. Stephenson Land after
ssrpsing not "a select IL for state. and
b. replied that another man james
Holt claimed Quo forty that Steph
eDsun claimed and be- thought u wAs
better Ia bet them scrap with the
State than uish each other. sup.
pose that be- wantsd 10 show that be
was impartial la the matter by not
lsasine any land for either He Vas
mlsiaken. however la saying that
10th claimed the same land. A. their
olaims do not even Join.
Had the seiectors only selected the
lands u nestlsp who settled snbse.
aa~ut 60 the application for survey
tbcrc Nigh, have becn come excuse
for them. but they utterly ignored
the rlehts os nearly all the settlers
and minsrs. selected lands that
had hcen scstIed upon for years aud
somS placer mining grounds that bad
been worked for long time aud h.
nos boing eorkcd. This action GA
part - tbs scleCiorz has worked grea,
hardehip CA the pcttlert and mine
ownerp. p. r. SherWin told me =
tcw days ago that he had already been
ont sts0 Ia contestine the states
right 10 the Sherwin Placer. selected
by the state.
After the states selections were
made. Nj NJ. H. Harbaunh went
among the settlers and made con
tracts With most oi them whereby the
-ct,Ierp agreed TO pay him $50 for
using his Influence" with the state
} land board TO secure the release Of
their lands
lie was armed with friendly let
ters from yourself and Mr.. jackson
and made the settlers believe that h
had sufficient ''pull'' TO secure tbs
release Of their homee and many oi
the settlers willingly put up.
In moe, cases the men are poor anc
/ several are working for wages to oh
4 tain the necessary ESQ.
am mortified and indignant ovei
& the fact that man can make mer
chaBdiee of his influence with a ne
publican administration.
Mr.. Freeman O. Hanna. wh"s'
notice II appeal ] served ON th
}. board u land commissioners. did no
! put M ESQ to Mr. Harbaugh. but re
4 lice absolutely ON the justice Of hi
Il case. Aud II, W. stephens, betor
i referred 10 absolutely refused to b
: ''eratted" a. he expressed IL, out o
) $50 for Mr.. Harbaush's Influence
il II IL generally believed here tina
It the selections were made on the las
Ie day Of the states preference right Z
70 enable all who would to put up :
" the solicitors before hand and tina
J, the sums deposited to HArbaueh'
!. order are gratis" to be divided be
y tween himself aud jackson, and thS
Harbaugh's part IL to secure the an
davits and jackson is to recommen
the rellnquishments.
" Very truly yours,
10 JAMES DeHAvEN.
N urauaeyille, Idaho, Aug. 81, 100