American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1911-01-28
or TRIP
TO WASHINGTON
Securing Of Patents Require
Much Rel Tape.
Report Of 81 ecial Inspection Agent
Of Government Was Adverse TO
Granting Of Patents 70 the
State Of Idaho.

Former General Manager D. H.
Rl0eeoga, who came to Aberdeen last
week " sttsnd special meeting OF
tho beard Of directors OF the Aber-
deen.Gpringfiefd Canal Co.. tells an
t~nterestanE story Of the difficulties
~ sncopntersd 1t the national capt.
tol On hie recent trip to Warrington
p. c.. TOR the purpose OF Fastening
the granting Of the government pat
ents on the Aberdeen tract.
Following the adverse report OF
u. 8. Special Examiner n. A. Keys.
who visited the tract last spring,
the request for granting Of the pat
ants had been referred to the COM
missioner Of the general land office,
which meant the indefinate postpone
ment of the issuance OF the patents.
In making his reoprt the exam
liner questioned the adequacy Of the
water supply, the construction OF tn
system and reported that a great
deal of land within the tract was TT
high to be watered. He fallen,
however, to specify the particular
parts of the tract which were too
high for the ditch. When the ek-
aminer left Aberdeen after his IN
spection Of the tract last spring, 10
was expected that his report would
be favorable and 1t Is believed that
his change OF opinion was due to
certain influences that were brought
to bear upon him after his return to
Wash ington. One OF the i~nfluenc
Ing factors, II IL said, grew out Q
the large number of complaining let
ters addressed to the general land
office and the interior department
by the settlers on the tract
Before he secured the order grant
Ing the patents. Mr.. Blossom had to
refute the allegations In the adverse
report by showing first the adequacy
Of the water supply. the satisfactory
condition of the canal system and
the actual area within the boundries
or the tract that Is above the ditch.
Out OF the $1,000 acres within the
tract, he asked that patents be
granted for $4,000 acres and wht
the order was granted the area was
reduced to 49.800 acres. Before go
Ing to Washington Mr.. Blossom hat
secured the acceptance Of the tract
and the completed ditch system from
the state authorities and this helped
to show the satisfactory condition
of the system.
Mr.. Blossom says that now the
general patents have been issued b.
the government and have been
filed at Blackfoot by the state land
board. the issuance of patents to
the individual settlers will proceed
without further delay and those set
tiers who were the first TO make
final proof ought to receive title to
tn cir land not later than Feb. Il
In spite. however. with his famili-
arity with the canal tract and the
most excellent showing he was able
to make 1t is doubtful IL Mr.. Bios
SON would have been successful had
II not been for the friendship of the
Hon. Frank Pierce. first assistant
secretary of the interior. to whom h
made a direct appeal and before
whom he final hearing was held.
AS the acting secretary of the in
terror passed upon the evidence sub
mitted and ordered that all the land
which had been shown to be actual
reclaimed be c1ear-listed for patent.
He also granted an extension of
time of three years from July. 1911,
In which to reclaim the residue of
the land within the tract now en-
braced above the ditch, either BY
pumping or otherwise raising the
water. The unreclaimed lands con-
sist chiefly of certain portions inter
through which cuts were made to
a. Az ..tA. ltt,A L,t,.r th, 80
face.
Mr.. Blossom has said that al
though his work for the canal @
pany Is practically finished he will
not desert the settlers OF tho Aber-
deen-Springfield tract that he has
ranged to attend occasional meeting
OF the canal board and whenever diff
ficulties of any sort arise he will
to a call for held ora dvice,
Mr.. blossom told the story of his
trip to Washington to the assembled
OF the canal board in
greater detail than 1t is given
here and when he had finished an
many questions concerning
tract and the granting OF the pa
Dnts. .
Before the adjournment of the
board meeting the following resolu-
were read and unamiousl.
Whereas. Mr., ID. II. Blossom has
-endered to the settlers under the
Aherdeen-Springfield Canal compan,
great service by his thorough and
Effective work in the construction
md administration of the system,
I.
Whereas. He has by his wise
Judgment and Just dealings es, l
ished himself In our esteem and con
idence. and y
whereas, He has rendered meal
service to al the settlers .
American Falls Canal 4 Power Z
tract by securing an orde B
rom the department of the interior
the issuance of a patent to tn,
tate of Idaho for 4s.S5S.16 acres. I
q
Be II Resolved. That we, the d. q