The Boise citizen. (Boise, Idaho) 1906-1910, 1910-04-15
Another Land Board Scandal

OF o.
t as projects" into his pockets
~ T6 scandal only indictment of the Brady land
d and the very bazenness of the entire transaction is such a 70
mark the land board devoid even of decent regard for public
Mr. Arney has performed public giving the matter
re- present herewith his article appeared in Tribune of the
9th inst:
Paterson who overepped the bounds of proprey and oloving
n he wake his superior officer he casts his weight the
balances against the citizens Of the who may become land
s in one of the mertorous Carey act projects of this great
commonwealth which has been 50 ennenty successful opera
ons of this federal law of sixteen years ago. that often seems
tbe law was made especially for Idaho
Toe Peterson the assistant attorney general ATTORNEY Cen
m McDouga OF the three of the original Medbury
Carey act project Elnore county In conjunction with L.
Bradley the present general manager and Gaylord W. Thompson
ne Of the original promoters and the present vcepresiden H
peterson then assistant of the four offices of the
M whose superior constitutes the state land board entered into
contract for and the ste and later secured filings
on four or furnish this project and without
any regard for the modesy of the situation these filings
made of the assistant attorney general Peterson
the 10th day OF February 1909 H. Peterson actually filed
on 1000 feet of several Eore county, which filing
was purpose of conveying the Mdbury Carey
act lands where later the state land board did, authorize
lands be made to people whom the inviting
homes This filing made in the office of the
engineer of whom the attorney general the legal adviser On May
thereafter the state engineer issued his permits the
his legal adviser H. Peterson They numbered 1915
and they entitled the attorney generals ap
and the waters OF these several Eore
for irrigation purposes.
Following this segregation by state board of land
commissioners whose officers the governor attorney general
rotary and school superintendent The scheme allowed
existence by this board and among the persons promote
the plan H Peterson the assistant to Attorney General Nc
Doug who that board and only granted the segregation
but fixed the price of the water be sold the settlers sos for
and every being the highest price yet fixed by
board for project within the limits of the state since the first
ceptnce of the Carey act by this state
Later these gentlemen formed corporation known the
King Hill Extension Irrigation company limited with capital
stock 200000 divided 100000 shares of 81 EACH Whereupon
Assistant Attorney General Peterson transferred the water rights
granted his by the engineer whose office presumed
to
this corporation consideration of which transfer the COM
@ issued onehalf 100000 of its stock to g. W. Thompson
and j. H. Peterson
So far as the record shows H. Peterson attorney
general Attorney General McDougal still maintains his interest
The state board of land commissioners constituted above
suggested the basis for the Carey act in that the government as
them for protection They are the apoWernl agency OF con
troll determining what compensation tor the land III uSuce
the promoter of the Individual project and to the settler under inc
land whom finally must bear the burden OF debt and pay OH WI"
accrued interest
There function greater Importance to the future
educational life of this state this power exercised by
these officials sitting in Judgment for Carey act
lands In the MAN, they deal with legacy which the fathers ad
mothers of this generation to hand down to posterl
duties are consequently of the most serious nature -
do intend call into question the merits OF the
King Hill Extension Irrigation project The land Is OF tne G
best Idaho presume the reports of the state engineer 10 DC
scientific and fair But the coarseness OF the situation e %
regard of proprey and the opportunities for tavortS 10 m Pr
Oug force OF which the assistant to the attorney e e. o
eneny unfair, unprofesona and Utterly tallS TO alolu %
tn those who and may lands under this PJecl
nave right under the Idaho law, accepting the terms OF te
the absolute nrotection of the state land commission
a which the attorney general member and the ega
There have been righteous criticisms in years past OF M
the of state offices getting titles valuable lands under m
ea acts in the of Idaho, but so far as my inquiry
The hrst member of land board who has execSeu I
ueuon to grant a corporation OF winch one VI no
SppOnteeS member Il &c
the people of the sanction such conduct on e pa fair
OnlaS, fail in my of their regard or usuee 40
Py 70 those who to become land owners uhdel "0 '
"Ncent Carey act projects of Idaho. 1 7 n I
am told here today that this assistant attorney 600 for
PETERSON has been offered and refused the sum OF 9I'
nus equities in the King Hill Extension Irrigation company