Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1913-08-07
Would DiSCredit the
Claims Of the Settlers.
Former State Auditor Taylor in a
Seathing Letter Seeks to Dis
credit the Varacity Of
the Settlers.

some Interesting correspondence
has been passing between owners Of
land on the tract and some of the
state officials during the past week
or so, which if given the publicity
il deserves, would place the land
board of the state and the Carey act
department in very humiliating |
attitude before the settlers on the
tract. While the governor is assum-
ing to show much concern for the
settler, his subordinates are doing
all in their power to discredit the |
claims of the settlers on this tract
at least. Especially is this true
regarding the attitude of the man
ager Of the Carey Act department.
Some time since Mr.. Edw. b.
Witwer, President Of the Chicago
organization Of land holders on the
tract. addressed a letter to the land
board protesting against their atti-
tude in demanding patents for the
lands on this tract, or at least until
the system was completed. This letter
il seems was intrusted to ;. ID.
Taylor, manager Of the Carey Act
department for reply and right well
did he follow the evident instruc-
tions from his superiors.
1t will be remembered that this
same Taylor was member OF the
land board during the past two
wears, where he had become famil-
lar with the various conditions
as they have existed on the
tract, and be it said To his credit a.
member of the board he took a
great interest in the cause of the
settler and was considered as one of
the few friends they had on the
board But alas what Il change a
few months can make in an indi-
vidual. After sitting for several
days on the land board and hearing
evidence introduced relative to the
necessity for storage water on the
tract, and then being one to vote &c
compel the company to furnish
this storage water, he now has tn,
unmitigated effrontery to tell thes,
Chicago people that this tract hai
an abundance'of water for years t,
come without reference to the stor
age supply from Jackson Lake. Mr.
Taylor knew he was uttering false
hood when he penned these lines
and the Chicago people knew it als'
as they are not as ignorant of con
dltions here as our friend Taylo
would hope.
He states further in his lette
that he supposed everything wa
satisfactory on the tract this seasol
as the board had heard no com
plant regarding the water supply
Everything has been running alon
nicely and we have some of the bes
crops in the country to show on
visiting friends, and probably moth
Ing would have been heard fror
here had not the Land Board sougl
10 force patents for these land
against the wishes of SO per cent
least of the settlers on the tract, in
stead of the professional agitators
as Taylor would style those who d
not agree with his ideas in ever
particular. Taylor does tell II
truth when he states that these pa
ents would be OF great benefit To I'll
irrigation company, and it require
only a whisper from them to vibra
N""uBri lne capltal nails anu sc1 u
machinery of the state in motion
iorce the patents on the people r
gardless Of their protest. But Il
cry of the settler here on the ira
no matter how loud seems to
lost before it reaches the capt.
dome.
True the land board after pr
longed hearing, as between the alte
native Of forfeiting the contract
compelling the company to comp
with the same, chose the latter, al