The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-04-04
The SnOOt Land Grab.

it possible to file on 800 acres instead of 100 Ordin-
ary it would appear that Idaho should be entitled
to all the privileges any other State would have III
the matter of land locations 1t would seem that
if the average individual file 800 acres of
land in Colorado any other state he should be
accorded the same privileges and some take the
position that the exclusion of Idaho would work
great hardship on the State in that Eastern home
seekers would prefer to go to the State aordng the
most liberal land laws There could not be a great
mistake. On the same basis of argument quantity
would appear superior to quality. Idaho is State
that is particularly fortunate in its irrigation projects
1t has greater and more successful irrigation system
than any three neighboring states combined There
is larger canal system in the Snake River valley in
Idaho that many other states boast OF There is
no better soil anywhere on earth. Idaho is not look
ing for pauper immigration, and in the past few
years has not been getting it. Money, brains and
energy building the state and people who ap-
preciate the advantages of Idaho coming and have
the necessary goods to put their projects into OPP
Grafton, whether it be ten-acre tract or 100 acres
We believe Senator Hepburn, who has lived in Idaho
good while himself, and can recall many colonizng
schemes knows absolutely the danger of peddlng
land to people who cannot take care OF 1t. How
many people are there who settle on 100 acres and
make good on it. Under the provisions of the
proposed homestead law it would be possible to
establish colony of anarchists anything else as
the locator could reserve his ordinary allotment
of 100 and peddle the balance out to his friends
whether they were naturalized or not, III 4O-acre
The condition prevails under the pres
ent law, and it may be said in all truth, has been
worked to a finish And it is better to cut down the
limit of the homestead than to throw the land open
to indiscriminate entry Some will contend that
it is lust as legitimate to give the hOmeSteader 800
acres as it is to have million acres set aside on
Carey land project which is also a farce Carey
land proposition generally carries guarantee for
improvement 1t means irrigation and general up
building of the country and an immense tract that
under big canal system is of more value to the
individual, and to the community, than the tract
would be were it thrown open to lnd1scr1mlnate
location of 320-acre allottments, and without any
prospect for Improvement the dry farm
basis There isn't any too much good land left in the
country and while all of selfish enough to take
advantage of possible 32Oacre provisional the
time the exclusion of Idaho would not work to
detrment in any manner whatever. More land graft
ing take place on 320-acre tracts With Idaho
excluded from the bill the people with brains, money
and energy would fathom the for it, and the
100 acres of Idaho land that could command the at
tention of capital enough to improve it right would be
worth four times that amount in any other state.
Senator Hepburn should be sustained in his con-
tention Idaho is not bidding for cheap immigration
Idaho Falls Post
The above from the Post is very timely. Most of
the dry farming land in Idaho is in South Idaho
Under the National Reclamation and Carey Acts
nearly all this land will be eventually reclaimed and
taken UP by the very best class of citizens from
the older states This bill to allow homesteaders
to take UP 800 of land emanates from the Nor
organization.
Senator Smoot, an apostle of the church is its
author Inc MormonS cannot ana Will not take up
Carey act or National Reclamation lands, oc-
casionaly and Individually. These lands too
high priced for them They coonized the upper
Snake river valley, by taking up Government land
in large tracts under the Desert Act Much
of this land was acquired by them when under
the act one person could take up $40 acres. This
amount afterward reduced to 800 acres The
Mormons settled these lands, a his three
four wives and his numerous married sons and
daughters each taking up $40 acres, for which they