American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1909-02-06

part they were inexpensive. Two well
machines are now in operation in the
country near him, and from $50 to 200
people are now residing on the land in
in question.
l.. ID. Houtz stated that he came to
Rock creek country when child, about
twenty-five years ago, and had resided
there ever since. He was engaged in
the sheep business, and ranged his
fiocks near there every year for years
past. Last May he took his focks to
the suumer ranges near Soda Springs,
and returned with them early in No
vember. To his great surprise all the
range had been homesteaded. Rock
creek valley, he said, is about ten
miles wide and thirty miles long. Prior
and up to last spring not more than
half the land was taken. All is now
gone. He is school director and last
year helped build three room school
building, large enough it was thought
to last generation. 1t is now crowded
to oyerf1owing and more rooms must be
provided. Two miles east is another
school, three miles west another, and
seven miles south still another school.
Andrew May, also of Rockland, cor
roborated his statements, and added to
them in minor details tending to sur
prise the committee relating to devel-
opment that is taking place.
President D. w. Davis, of the First
National Bank, dwelt on business con-
ditions, development, settlement of the
country, and lack of consideration from
Blaine county. Notwithstanding that
Blaine gets more than sl4, 900 in rev.
enue from that part of the county pro-
posed to be taken away. her appropri
ations for roads for 1909 is only $75.
The citizens living there had appealed
to the county for roads, but had been
denied them, and were forced to expend
800 for surveys and 81, $50 for building
roads in Blaine county. His talk was
very forceful.
State Land Selcetor George A. Day,
told the committee there was to his
knowledge, 10000 to so, 600 acres of first
class farming land in that part of Blaine
county, and it was being rapidly set
tied and improved. The acreage in
grain would be large this year. He had
selected about 10000 acres for the
state, which the settlers had taken.
David Burrell, United States commits
sioner, from records in his office, re-
lieved every doubt in the minds of the
committee, so far as the legal aspects
were concerned, and convinced them
that the bill was meritorious, and since
July 18th his office shows homestead
filings in excess of so, 900 acres; state
lands leased in excess of 5000 acres,
and applications pending for greater
acreage; desert filings in excess of 2, 900
acres, and Carey filings in excess of
5000 acres, and many thousand acres
under possessory claims. His office
is one of four in which such filings are
made, and while he received the greater
part of them, the filings at all the other
offices were heavy. The filings of his
predecessor were also heavy. Taken
altogether he thought 100, 900 acres filed
on under the homestead law during the
past year.
Within the proposed county, before
him, since Jnly II, 1907, Carey land
proofs on 6,S40 acres had been made,
and in little more than year proof
had been made on about IL, 800 of Carey
land. Proofs had been made on $500
acres ofhomestead lands before him since
July II, 1907, and thousands of acres