Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1909-08-06
SEC'Y BALLINGER
VISITS PROJECT
VIII Revoke Recent Ruling in
Regard to Assignment of
Entry After Proof
INSPECTS MINIDOkA TRACT
Meets Settlers on Their Own Ground
And Differences are Fully Dis
cussed With Good Feeling

The recent order of the secretary of
the interior, that an entry on reclama-
ton tract was not assignable after the
entryman has made final pooof, is to
be revoked. Not only this, but the
secretary proposes to issue a final re-
ceipt to such entrymen when they
make final proof, the same receipt that
is issued in other homestead cases,
which will enable the entryman to sell
all or a part of his land or borrow
money on it. This final receipt will be
equivalent to a patent, with the ex-
ception that it will set forth that pat
ent will be withheld until all water
charges are paid. In effect it will give
the settler full title to the land, with
a lien covering the water charges.
This announcement was made in Ru-
pert Tuesday by Richard A. Ballinger,
secretary of the interior, who visited
the Minidoka tract on Tuesday and
Wednesday. He is making tour of
ail PiNJSNNo, III SAoNA "
acquaint himself with actual conditions
and states that it is the desire of Pres
ident Taft, as we'll as himself, that he
give the most careful attention to the
reclamation work. He is accompanied
by Chief Engineer Davis of the recla
nation service, Supervising Engineer
Weymouth of the Idaho district, re-
preventative of the general land Office
and stenographer.
The party arrived at Minidoka Tues
day noon and were met there by Pro-
ject Engineer Camp, who had two
four-horse equipages waiting to con-
vey them to the dam. After inspect
ing the dam and power plant they came
to Rupert, reaching here about five
O'Clock. No demonstration was ar
ranged in honor of the secretary, as it
was not known until the evening be-
fore just what the programme would be
or whether such a receipt would be
desired by him. 1t was given out that
the secretary would be willing to meet
any citizens who desire to call on him
for discussion of local conditions and
the Commercial Club appointed COM
mittee, consisting of F. N. Victor, A.
f. Beymer, A. C. DeMary and C. T.
Harte, to represent the club in pre-
senting to the secretary certain phases
of the situation on this project. They
called upon Mr. Ballinger at the recla-
ton Office during the evening and an
interesting and profitable discussion of !
local matters ensued.
The secretary stated that he wanted |
to obtain all information passible con- !
corning these projects. Of all the |
many interests controlled by the de-
partment of the interior, he regarded
the reclamation work as the most i'm
portant and was deeply impressed by
his responsibilities as the head of this
work.
The matter of making homestead
entries assignsble after final proof was
oneof the important subjects discussed.
The secretary stated that the recent
order, declaring that such entries were
not assignable, was prepared by sub
ordinate and signed by him in routine {
way, just as thousands of other docu- ;
ments were signed. He had no re- ;
collection of ever seeing the order. He ;
was convinced that mistake had been j
made and he proposed not only to re- ,
yoke the order but to see that the set i
tier was given a transferable title. G
His intention was to issue the settler a c
final receipt and withhold the patent q
as lien to cover the water charges.
This would enable the settler to sell all S
Or part of his land or borrow money r
and he would so adjust matters that t
the water right could be segregated, f
so that the purchaser of part of a t
farm unit could pay up in full if he so t
desired, while the owner of the other p
portion could pay it in installments. v
The committee presented arguments b
70 the secretary in favor of changing c
he date upon which water payments il
become due from December to April or {
Nav. as 1T would mean great gain to "
he settlers if they were permitted to c.
,old their crops until spring, instead of k
,eing forced to sell in the fall He c.
eemed to be str ongly impressed in u
avor of this proposition and apparently ii
vas inclined to grant the request. but Ii