The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-05-23
Historical Notes
The POcafeIIO TOWnSife.

mo nrior TO 1890 was very intense. The Oregon
Short Line had removed the railroad shops to the
Junction City in the summer of 1887 and the shop
and business men were anxious to build homes The
land about the railroad right was all Indian
land being part of the Fort Hall reservation. The
News of that young city gave the following account
of a meeting held and the resolutions passed in
its issue of Friday, January 13, 1888:
The mass meeting was very we'll attended on Mon
day night, considering the weather ana the Snoll
The meeting was called to order by Mr. Moves and
Mr. FrantZ called to the Cna1r ana Jas H. Ndlel
was elected secretary.
The committee on resolutions submitted their
port and after some amendments. it was adopted and
the committee discharged with thanks. The resolu-
tions were ordered typewriter and forwarded to the
delegate in congress and also copies to be furnished
to the press of Bingham county for publication
1t was also ordered that petitions be presented to
citizens for signatures IN support OF the reSoluCols;
The meeting throughout of animated and
united character the best feeling prevailed and the
citizens are unit the necessity of towns1te being
quickly opened The resolutions are as follows;
'To the senate and house of representatives OF the
United States in congress assembled:
eve the citizens of the United States, residing in
the town of Pocateo, in Bingham county, Idaho
territory, in mass meeting assembled, do most re-
spectfuily represent to your honorable bodies:
That the town of Pocatello is situated at the juno
ton of the Oregon Short Line and Utah Northern
Railways that it is the natural location tor head
quarters of both said railroad lines; that the ma
chine shops and round houses OF said line are there
situated.
That the present population is now about eight
hundred that said town is situated within the limits
of the Fort Hall Indian Reservation; that the rail-
road companies have heretofore secured about forty
acres of land from said reservation upon which the
present town is built that said town IS a natural
business center and supply point for the surrounding
country that the increasing business OF the raroad
company demands more room and employees; thdt dt
present the buildings Of this town are Dut IN Such
n three
on lot 25x125 feet that owing to the crowded
condition of the houses this town. and having no
sanitary arrangements for our protection when the
heated term comes we are liable to nave an cpl
demic of some kind of contagious disease IN It's worst
FORM that owing to the insufficient water supply OF
this town. in of conf1agratlon 1t would be I'M
possible to save anything and would throw the wives
and little children of hard working honest American
citizens out into the inclemencles OF the weather
that it is impossible to secure land tor building or
business purposes, as things now are; that 1t IS
necessary for the health, convenience and well pc
ing of the present residents of said place. that sufc
lent land be aside from said reservation to make
room for building such additional shops and struc-
lures, the railroad company may desire to erect
and for the convenience of those who desire to erect
business houses residences thereon.
That the Indians said Fort Hall Reservation
have heretofore at conference held at Ross Fork
the headquarters of this reservation, IN last May
1887 agreed and expressed their willingness with
commission appointed for that purpose to part with
their title 1850 of said land in the vicinity OF
Pocateo may be necessary for the convenience OF
the people there residing to be laid OFT IN lots and
be sold at auction to the highest bidder, and the
moneys so accrued be set aside for the benefit OF
said Indians.
We would also respectfully submit that the land
asked for is entirely unfit for agricultural or pastoral
purposes and we believe it entirely void OF mineral or
precious metals; we therefore most respectfully ask
that your honorable bodies take such action as will
secure 1000 by purchases from the Indians Tor
townste purposes and said land SO set apart pc sup
divided into lots and sold in accordance with the
existing laws of the United States in regard to town