The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1910-07-01
POtlatch Lumber Company
Requests Present

we nave dppueu iol Tue privilege
Of purchasing the title to about a..
900 acres of State land in Latah and
NezPerCe counties. on which we pur.
chased the timber only, in 1909, with
term of 20 years given to remove it,"
In addition to this simple statement
the Lumber Co. has given the press
number of specious reasons why it IS
to the advantage of the state they
should be granted this favor by the
land board. They have also submit
ted brief to the land board on the
same lines and if the deal is not ne
gotiated in the near future the people
have to.smake their protest SO en-
phatic and plain that the land board
will at least take time to carefully con.
slider the offer from the standpoint OF
the people as we'll as from that of the
Lumber Company.
To the people of this section the
move is plain, but for the people at
large. not conversant with all the facts,
and for the information of the state
land board it is necessary to 60 slight.
ly into detail, which we will do as
briefly as possible.
Mr.. Humiston, of the Lumber Co.,
gives as reasons for desiring to pur.
chase this land the following:
1. Distance from railroads and
rough and mountainous country; lin
tied time left for logging; wasteful
methods necessary to remove timber
in the time limit.
2. Railroad now gong into terri.
tory and if timber must be cut and
land not sold, must now build spurs
while crews are there.
3, Destructive logging methods
caused by the state in selling its tim
Der with time limit or forfeiture of
the timber.
4. Timber now young and imma-
ture, benefit to people by allowing
time for its maturing.
5. If necessary, have plenty of
time to log this timber. but if forced
to do so. cannot protect the young
growth.
6. If land reverts to state, no more
income from taxation. If sold now,
have perpetual income.
7. If now sold at $40 per acre state
would have $4,000. and income of
S14, 400 annually at 6 per cent.
8. Opportunity to now sell for sto.
rage of timber, and at price can't get
10 years hence.
8. Average snow fall from to Is
feet; interest on money presented to
state by sale IN 50 years; asset to PEG,
pie in the form of future wages and
incentive to development through in.
creased tonnage for the railroads.
Now answering these reasons Sc.
riat,m:
The land desired is no rougher than
the Potlatch where we raise 60 bushels
of wheat to the acre; it is not now so
far from the railroad as land similar
in every respect which is bringing $50
an acre; some of this land lies within
three miles of the railroad, as level
as land can lie and rich in soil. What
the company cannot log off in the
time limit reverts to the state, and as
to wasteful methods of logging, the
company has so far in its operations
on its own laud, as we'll as on state
land, cleaned it as thoroughly as
would flock of goats aud everything
large enough TO cut a 2x4 has been
run through its mill.
2. The timber was sold on the re-
quest of the company. who at that
time made the plea that the removal
of the timber and the operations OF
logging would make wages and develop
. the country. we are of the same opin.
ion, and want to see spurs and main
lines built.
8. 1t was this company who asked
the state to sell the timber and per
suaded the practical giving away CT
this timber for the purpose of develop,
ing the country and its resources.
4. If this timber is now young and
immature it would be larger benefi,
to the people if the company were
prevented from cutting it and said
timber would revert to the public.
5. Should the company use des.
tructive methods of logging and thus
destroy the heritage of the people,
pass laws to stop such destruction.
6. Land can't revert to the state