The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1903-11-14

ing the land. The land owning
wing of the construction company
would sell the lands, minus water
rights, at such prices as it saw fit,
while the wing owning the water
rights would dispose of them at the
price contracted with the State.
This may be illustrated by the Twin
Falls case. Upon the application
of that company some 100000 acres
of land have been Withdrawn and
it is authorized by the State to
charge $25 per acre for water rights.
1t may be depended upon that a
handsome profit is figured out on
those terms. The estimated profit
is about 3 millions. It is not at all
probable that to exceed 100, 900
acres of that land will be entered
within two years, even if diligent
effort be made to settle it. This
would leave 200, 900 acres to 90 to
the land owning wing of the con-
struction company. 1t has been
hinted that the remainder is to be
sold at $50 the acre, minus water
right, which will yield another
profit of ten millions, or, altogether,
clean up of approximately 13
millions of dollars; and this stupen-
dous sum of money could be extract
ed from people who came to Idaho
to make homes whereon they may
live and rear their families. Thus
by an act of our State legislature
an attempt has been made to abso-
lutely rob the people of the State of
the Nations magnificent gift and
betray their children and their chill
dren's children into the hands Of
greedy land grabbers. 1t will be
interesting and instructive to in
quire into the influences which sur-
rounded the legislature when that
monstrous law was enacted, and
also to expose the motives of some
of the chief conspirators, both in
and out of the Legislature, but that
shall be left for subsequent article.
Meantime, let the people of this
State arouse themselves in opposi-
ton to the attempt which is being
made to induce the Secretary of the
Interior to reverse Commissioner
Richards ruling, which is to permit
the issuance of no patents to Idaho
so long as the present law remains
upon our statutes.
1t is natural to ask, How does it
come that this thing was not sooner
found out. The explanation is
simple. Independent of the cunning
devices employed to conceal it, peo-
pie, already residents of the State,
are concerned but little about the
provisions of the Carey Act. Most
of us knew, in a general way, that
the National Government mad, un'
der certain conditions, donated tc
each of the arid States one million
acres of arid land; we knew that
our legislature had accepted the
conditions, and that in consequence
large irrigation enterprises were
under way. We supposed that the
State administration, legislative
! judicial and executive, would protec
, the States interest, and let it 60 a
that. According to the Capita
Evening News, which is an honor
, able paper, T. G. Egleston, Com
missioner of Immigration for tn
, State of Idaho, is responsible 70
6 the exposure of this nefarious bust
ness; and the Capital News, which
as we said, is an honorable paper
! is wrought to a high pitch of indig
+ nation because Mr.. Egleston ha
been guilty of endeavoring to pre-
tect the people, whom he is indue
ing to come here. from highwa
robbery.
= The Capital News, which is tn
especial champion of the commo
people and the mortal foe of corpol
ations, and likewise a most honol
!. able paper, is also cursing an
= damning Governor Morrison b'
Loetat, f0 TNotN