Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1903-10-15
REPLIES TO JACKSON
Judge DeHaven Gives His
Side of the Side of the
State Land Case.


dressed to the republican editors
of the state of Idaho, Mr.. Norman
jackson attempts TO explain the
conduct OF the state land solicitors
in selecting the settlers lands be-
tween the Salmon and the. Snake
rivers in this county.
He says "some time last spring
the state land department was in
formed by the U. s. land officers at
Lewiston that certain townships in
Idaho county had been surveyed
at the request OF the state, and
that the state would have u prior
right to the land over every one
excepting actual set tiers who were
on the land before the date of
withdrawal (August 10, 1900)".
The notice given and generally
published was that The Statc of
Idaho having u prior right on the
above townships, (Which were
named) for sixty days after the
filing OF The plats' he states prior
right will moi expire un,iiJnly 9th.
1903, and it will take more than
the statement of Mr.. Jackson's to
convince those who are acquainted
with the register and receiver of
the Lewiston land office, that they
made different statement to the
state land board than to the gener-
al public.
Mr.. Jackson was in Grangeville
early in May last and then said
that the state land selections were
already made and he only needed
man for six days to go upon the
ground and complete the filings
for the state. He had accurate
plats showing all til lie settlers claims
and improvements.
On May 18th, tn 0 following item
appeared in the Idaho County Free
Press: "Norman Jackson, land
selector for the state land board,
has just concluded his trip to the
Joseph Plains, whd re he went to
select land for the state in that
district. Most Of the desirable
land was occupied but it is claimed
that the state will hold the right
over squatters wh o have located
upon the land since the survey was
ordered, as the survey was made
at the request OF the state for the
purpose of selecting lands" Out
of the 33 quarter sections selected
q were occupied by squatters and
it was claimed that but I of these
will be able to hold their claims"
In the Standard of June 18th,
Mr.. Jackson is re ported to have
said to an interviewer: "The
state is SO far behind in its land
selections, that it will be necessary
to insist on the states prior rights
for selection in every new locality
where land is throw n open for set
Element. 1t may be hard OH some
squatters who 60 into the localities
after the surveys are ordered, and
who start to build up homes. But
the state is entitled to the prior
right of selection, and must select
now. or never. Settlers who were
on the land before the surveys
were ordered, cannot be disturbed.
1t is not pleas ant to disturb
actual settlers. but most of them
had sufficient warning that the
state would have o prior right, and
took their own chances on the
state not insisting on its rights. y
"The present administration is
going to risk present unpopularity
with the few squatters who may be
effected in this or other counties
for the sake of dealing justly by
the state that entrusted them with
Its affairs"
And the Spok es man Review con
tanned an article Of like trend.
Mr.. Jackson also said privately
On numerous occasions, that thu
state would select and hold all The
lands settled upon, OF purchased
subsequent to the application o
the survey thereof by the state
It was never claimed by Mr.
Jackson, or any members OF TIN
land board, that these newspape
items or interviews were unauthor
lied or that they were not approx
ed by the land hoard. They ha'
the effect to produce in tn
minds of the settlers feeling G
doubt and uncertainty, and inse
curity as to their right to thel
homes as against the state an
were evidently intended to max
them "unduly ex citedo about tn
matter. The threat to rob a set
tier Of his home is just as effectus
as the "stand and deliver" of tn
highwayman 80 far as getting hi'
in such state of mind that h
will put up his money is concerne
with this notable difference, thu
the highwayman takes his life an
liberty in his own hands when pu
suing his dangerous calling viii
the CRATER works in comparativ
safety.
l assume that Mr.. Jackson is
man of at least ordinary intelli,
ence and knew that the sta