Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1911-03-23
APPROVES HIS WORK.
The State Land Board Upholds the
Work Of Engineer Blake on
the Tract.


jealous motive, endeavored to cause
trouble for +. NJ Blake, the state
Carey Act inspector. for the work
done OH the North Side Tract, and
even went 80 far a. to have the
state land board call Mr.. Blake
before them for an explanation.
This they did last week, and after a
full hearing Of the matter the board
heartily endorsed the work that had
been done by Mr.. Blake, and or
dered him to proceed TO finish il a.
soon AZ possible The details Of
the meeting are given ~ follows by
the Statesman:
"While it Was asserted by members Oh
the state land board yesterday that il
had not been the intention OF the board
that r. VI. Blake, special engineer EN-
ployed by the state, should 20 into the
detailed investigation that he has regard
ing the Twin Falls North Side Tract, il
WAS agreed that Mr.. Blake had in no
way exceeded his authority, and that
the board would have 10 stand ior the
expense which has been incurred.
mir Blake WAS called before the
board yesterday afternoon lor the pur-
pose oi giving the facts III the case, and
in the event that conditions 80 warrant
ed, To De excused from further service
Is Carey act engineer But inasmuch
~ $1,000 has already been ex
pended by Mr. Blake in the work. and
as there is but about 800 more 10 bc
spent, il was agreed by the board Ia al
low him to 90 ahead and complete the
work
The land board went on record yes
terday As IIvoring, in most decided
manner publicity in every detail ni the
meetings which are held When asked
10 explain 10 the board the reasons why
he had gone int the detailed wurl. lac
had on the Twin Falls project, Mr.
Blake asked that the newspaper men be-.
ordered 10y the board nom the room
Governor liawley and the rest of the
board lailed To s,e any reason why the
proceedings should not bc public and re-
iils,rl 10 arc,.d, Ia the request
The entire trouble and misundtr-
standing seems la have arisen over the
fact that the board, III the routine hnsi-
NOS. ,f fha ,s.ri,t- ,naotinn- l.I Nor
reached the special report which WAS
made by former State Engineer Dan
Martin on the work in which Mr. Blake
Was engaged.
'On or abont JANUARY IL, Mr.. Martin
Was summoned before the board and
made the statement AT the time that in
his opinion the work which Mr. Blake
had started should proceed. Three days
later he made ont written report in
which he says that the benefits derived
are not ample 10 justify the expenditure
oi sl4,On by the state and he recon-
mended that the work be- postponed
Il am not in accord with this sort of
investigation, wrote Mr. Martin But
owing To the great amount OF pressing
business which has been before the
board and the large number of routine
matters which had to be- attended to- the
report was not reached until yesterday
"On last November ~ il Was decided
by the land board that another inspector
should be put 10 work On the Twin Falls
north side tract and r. NJ Blake was
appointed. On December 80 the report
OF MIR. Blake was read before the board
and approved. On January IL, the state
engineer was ordered to make report
on Blakes work On February it was
resolved by the board that Blake tile all
information before that body before Feb
ruary ~.
MIR Blake said yesterday: The tina
report is not yet filed and will not be foi
two or three days Every blue prin
that has been taken from the land de
: partinent has been returned. shal
, have but two men with me alter Satur
day, though have six At this time rh'
cost to the state from this time iorwarC
for the work will be- about 500
state Auditor Taylor said III,
total expense after February woul,
be Sl5n you informed us, and now ",
lind that it will run close Ia 5000. Hoy
a do you explain that II Was AT TIN
point that MIR. Blake requested that tn
newspaper men bc excluded from th
- room, bul the board refused to grant th
- request.
: "Mr. Blake said. 4 have submitte
A an account oi every move have mad
= To the state engineer and have ne,e
t. had single objection raised We hav
had to work day and night ON the inves
V tigation regret as much as does thi
/ board the amount which il has cost ia
II state. The investigation which | haV
70 made will save the cost which will HAY
| 4 l.. fam ik-.aI Ii.al