Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1903-08-13
LAND BOARD
GETS BUSY
1. Il. Aarbaush is Very Busy and
Indignant, Too.
some NEWSPAPERS MORE THAN BUSY
And All Are Very Busy Over
Something.

The blanket filing made by tn.
state land board on part of foul
townships in the Joseph Plains
country seems to be causing more
trouble to those not actually inter.
ested than it does to the settlers
| he state reserved the right to re.
serve 81 / sections, but not to in.
clude any land settled on prior to
the surveys of the spring Of 1901
when the board advertised i'm the
Idaho county FREE Press the with
drawal of a certain amount Of the
land.
The state did not make it's selec-
tons until the first of last month
and the agents had in one or two
instances included land that had
been settled on prior to 1901, by
men who held "squatters' rights.
but this is due to the fact that the
agents Of the board who made the
selections made mistakes in mark
ing the plats, but which have been
corrected by the board.
Norman Jackson, clerk of the
land board, and M. L. Goldsmith,
one of the agents making the selec-
tipns, are in the Joseph Plains
country now and are relinquishing
all claim to lands rightfully owned
ny the settlers and it is stated by
good authority that a relinquish-
m ent of all the land settled on
since 1901 will be made.
Mr.. Harbaugh was arrested last
Saturday at Lewiston on charge
OF taking money unlawfully from
'hese settlers. He was brought to
81 rangeville and taken before
Ju dge Jacques, where he deposited
a bond for. his preliminary hearing
M onday, August II. Mr.. Har-
bangh left Tuesday accompanied
by Deputy Sheriff Seay for the
Joseph country where he sub
poenaed Messrs. Jackson and
90 oldsmith to appear at the pre-
llninary hearing, and he has also
su bpoenaed Governor Morrison.
Mr.. Harbaugh met Messrs. Jack.
son and Goldsmith Wednesday
an ID says that Mr.. Jackson was
very glad to meet him and evinced
co nsiderable surprise that he (Har
bangh) should become mixed up
in this affair. Mr.. Jackson is
looking over the country with
view of appraising and making ar
rangements for the leasing of the
land.
Mr.. Jackson said that as he had
heard of Harbaugh's arrest, he
thought, while in that country, h e
would find out what he could by
questioning the settlers regarding
Harbaugh's actions and that in
only one or two cases were any of
the settlers alarmed, but in most
cases they told him exactly what
Mr.. Harbaugh had agreed to do.
Mr.. Jackson expressed his opinion
that Harbaugh had done or said
nothing that justified his arrest.
Mr.. Harbangh goes on to state
that he told the settlers as follows:
Il had been IN the Joseph country
doing some work in my line and
became acquainted with most Of
the settlers and seeing that tbey
wer worried over the prospect of
losing their homes, l agreed, with
the help of some able men of the
state, to use my influence and do
everything possible to secure a re-
Ilnaulshment of their homes. I
ma de contracts with the people to
put up 500 apiece on deposit and :
It their land was relinquished l
"as to receive the money, but if
not would not accept a cent of it.
Immediately set to work to carry
,ut my plans, confident that with
Inc help OF some able friends l
could br ng about a settlement.
The assertion that / had ant in /
1uence with the land board in en-
'lclng u EN- to select only the best
and that had already been settled
IN is a malicious falsehood."
The plaintiffs say that they will
BRING evidence to prove that Har-
'apgh stated he would use a cer-
al p per cent of this money in the
way of a bribe. When questioned
,oncerning this statement Mr..
Hs rbaugh said: "In no case did
say anything about bribing any.
'ne. The only reason for this
statement might he inferred from
What / told one or two settlers.
viz: That I expected to use 25 Der
'ent OF the money as expenses for
'one help l might receive. ri
made aiiidavits to the settlers such
.s would support an appeal from
he honorable register aud RECEIVER
II the district land office to Wash
ngton, D. G., and in the event of
n Inn l. \