Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1904-02-11
BAD STATE OF AFFAIRS.
Rights of Citizens Ignored on
Forest Reserves.

| OsOoS n0o0tY0S.
The miners and business mems
committee, of Elk City, who have
charge of the movement to open a
portion of the Bitter Root forest
reserve, are digging up some facts
that should convince the most
radical partisan that they have
just cause for complaint. The Elk
City Mining News SAYS:
The afidavits so far secured by
the Miners and Business Mems
committee brings to view a start
ling state of affairs as relating to
the administration of the Bitter
Root Forest reserves condition
OF affairs 80 revolutionary as to be
incredible were the testimony set.
ting them forth not given under
oath by some Of the best citizens of
the district. OF course this paper
recognizes, and admits in advance,
the truth and correctness of the
position assumed by the apologists
for the administration, that those
rules and regulations are in direct
line with the general tenor of the
national administration in it's forest
reserve policy, which seems to lie a
policy OF "the people be darned."
For example, Mr.. B =, settler,
for cash or money consideration,
secured possessory right to ranch
and after spending several hundred
dollars in building, fences, etc., is
notified by the reserve agents that
inasmuch as the secretary of the
interior refused to recognize his
right to settle or hold land upon
said reserve, he is notified to va.
cate. When this order is taken in
connection with another ruling, it
will be seen that the secretary of
the interior arrogates to his H.
lustrous self the right of confisca-
tion. Thus, the before mentioned
ruling is to the following effect:
That any business established prior
to the withdrawal of the forest re-
seserve from the public domain
will be unmolested, but any one
desiring to buy it since then, will
do 80 at the risk OF being refused
permission to continue the busi-
ness, which amounts in effect to
confiscation.
All this regardless of, and in
contradiction to, the assurances
that the forest reserve would in no
way interfere with settlement or
Industries of any kind which did
not initiate against the national
protection of the forests. The
mining industry especially was to
be fostered. Let us see how it is
being done. Among the first re-
quisites for the successful develop
ment OF mine is wagon road,
for the building of which the miner
or operator must secure u permit,
and he must, in order to secure
this permit, give bonds in a sum
nominated by the department., that
he will respect and obey all and
sundry of some fourteen i'm
possible rules, and also see to it
that his neighbors obey the same
or to be reported, and disobedience
OF which on his part works for
fefture of bond and permit.
1t is a fact that some of these
agents claim the royal prerogative
of prying into and inspecting pri-
vate business. 1t is a fact that at
least upon one occasion demand
was made upon mine manager to
the effect that he produce the COM
pany's books for the enlightment
OF the agent as to mill runs, assay
returns, etc. 1t is also fact sus-
ceptible of proof that rangers are
instructed to examine and pass up
on the mineral standing of mining
properties, correctness of U. S.
mineral surveys and etc. The fact
that the rangers selected for this
duty, SO far as this section is con-
cerned, being as ignorant as an
Eskimo on both subjects, seemed
to cut no figure with the depart