Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1903-10-08
JACkSON'S LETTER
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ity and knew that there was also
much valuable land in townships
70, ranges l east and l west
Wlth out tive or six days at his
disposal he realized the futility of
attempting to run the survey lines
IN the manner consistent with a
]udicious selection By the usual
method, on account of the rough.
ness OF the country, he would have
nau TIME to secure some 1000 or
5,ooo acres, He was, in popular
pariance, up against it," but
rather than lose to the state some
2o,ooO acres, easily worth $40 an
acre, he decided to make a blanket
ming. Thenecessity for this was
explained fully through the news.
papers and by letters at the time.
and assurances given that the
rights of every bona fide settler
ana mineral claimant would be
respected and ACCOMPLISHMENTS
made to them by the state. This
has been done, and over 5000
acres have been released in favor
OF those who We're found to bp
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
have advised the board to release.
This land, though it is eagerly
sought after for grazing purposes
at an annual rental of 12h cents
per acre, is not, in my opinion OF
sufficient 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 70,
survey had been illegally published
by previous democratic admin.
istration, and therefore the land oil
all bona fide settlers at the time Of
filing the township plats were
promptly released.
Mr.. Harbaugh (who, by the way
is a Kentucky democrat) secured
an agreem ent for a fee from
the settlers whose rights wer,
at first in dispute, to act as thei
representative to secure relinquish
ments from the state. 1t wal
charged that he claimed to have
a "stand in' with the writer ant
with the Land Board and had in
timated that he would use money
to secure releases. The friend,
letters from the Governor and my
self with which he is said to hav,
been armed, were merely court
eous acknowledgements of the re
ceipt of communications from hin
and the usual assurance that the,
would be given careful attention
From all accounts, however, h
must have made much capital on
of the fact of his brief acquaint
5 ance with me and of an alleged &C
, quaintance with Governor Nor
rison, and displayed the letters i
a way to convince the settlers tina
he was able to secure their rein
+ quishments. He is also said t.
i have warned the settlers agains
r employing Grangeville lawyers
Out of revenge for this piece of i'm
pertinence, a democr attic lawyer {
that place had him arrested on
charge of attempted bribery of tn
State Land Board. Some fifteel
= or twenty settlers were subpoenaet
: but after examining four or fiy
D without bringing out any ev
s ence, the county dismissed tn
j. suit. The same attorney then ha
J. warrants issued by Jas. De Havor
s U. S. Commissioners at Grange
vile, for the arrest of GoldSmit
and Harbaugh for alleged perjur
g in making non-minerals affidavit
e This attorney had no clients VIII
: were in any way affected by I'll
+ selections and his activity can |
h attributed merely to the fact thu
he had nothing else to do, the il
surance agent { Harbaugh] havir
e corraled the fees from settlers tn;
If he had been expecting to receiv
IT BY the way, Harbaugh's fl
J. (about $3.50 in money and notes
n is conditional one, and IL
B. money was placed on deposit wit
Grangeville merchant, payable
him on condition that the relil