The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1907-02-01
IDAHO NEWS
FROM WASHINGTON.

FkVM WASnlNGlUN.
WASHINGTON, D. c., January %,
1907.-A good many articles have
appeared recently in some Of the news
papers Of Northern Idaho, and East
ern Washington relative to the open
ing OF the Occur d'Alene Indian
Reservation. hich will probably take
place some time next fall. For some
reason a false impression seems to
have gotten around that the govern
ment was going to sell the land to tn e
highest bidder, and that the work of
disposing of the land would be con-
Quoted from either Colfax or TekOa,
Washington. These statements have
been brought To the attention Of
Congressman French, and he has re-
ceived many Inquiries bearing there
on.
In speaking of this matter last
week, Mr.. French said that there was
absolutely no foundation for either
statement. AZ a matter OF certainty,
however. he has taken the question
up with the Interior Department,
and has been assured by the officials
OF that department that there is
nothing whatever in the reports. In
speaking of the reports, Mr.. French
said:
1.-THE land will not be sold to the
highest bidder because the law
specifically declares that 1t Is to be
disposed Of under the provisions OF
the Homestead law. There will be
an appraisement made on the land.
and the settler will take the land and
pay this appraised value in five
annual installments. 1t was the in
tention OF congress In passing the bill
for the opening of this reservation
that this appraised value should be
merely neminal, and l am satisfied
that this inte ntion will be strictly
adhered to. Any poor man will be
able to pay this appraised valuation.
l hope this will be very low. aud the
conditions under which it Is to be
paid will be very satisfactory, and
make payments very easy. 1 shall
certainly stro ngly oppose any apprais'
ment that the Department may make
other than nominal one.
"In regard to the idea that Tekoa
or Colfax, both Washington cities
will be the headquarters for dlsposinl
OF this land, ] hardly know what Il
, say, except that 1t is utterly withou1
foundation. Occur d'Alene City, II
Idaho, contains the land office for th'
district In which this land is situated
and Is very conveniently located 70
the convenience OF the public in tn
opening Of the reservation. 1 hav
been assured by the Department tha
the work Gu injected with handlinI
the lands Of the reservation will b
conducted from Occur d'Alene."
Senator Hepburn has introduced
resolution in the senate providin
that settlers upon public lands b
granted leaves Of absence from tn
land for a period OF three months, t
take effect upon the passage of th
resolution. Senator Hepburn ais
secured the passage OF resolutio
providing that settlers upon publ
lands who WI ere required by law I
establish re esldence by December
1906, be gra nted until May 10, 190i
within which time to make actu;
settlement a nd establish legal res
dence upon the lands entered hy then
The first resolution will dOubtle!
pass before the expiration of tt
, session of congress, the second h;
already take q effect.
Some time last year Senator He
burn secured the passage of bi
, through the senate making appropr
alton for the construction of a
I elevator in the Government Buildiu
at Boise. The bill was sent over
/. the house, and since that time Co
!, gresham French has been worklr
e very hard I'd secure its passage. Ho,
ever, as 1t is much harder to secn
, : the passing of bills, especially appr
priation bills, in the house than
= the senate, Mr.. French has been u
4 able up to this time to secure
v passage. Op account of this difficl
/. ty, Mr.. French made an effort
Q secure funds for the construction
the elevator in some way besid
J passing the bill through the hous
:. In this he succeeded. At his soli'
! tatiou, the Treasury department b