The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1913-06-19
Automobile Road Across Reservation

Fort Hall Indian School,
Fort Hall. Idaho. June Is, 1913.
Mr.. J. H. Early,
Sec. Bingham County Auto and
Good Roads Association,
Blackfoot, Idaho.
Sir:
l am in receipt Of your letter Of
June 49,. 1918, with reference to q
move by the automobile clubs OF
Pocatello and Blackfoot to put the
road between Fort Hall and the Black
foot reservoir in condition for use
by cars, and inquiring whether there
will be any objection thereto.
In reply l have to say that SO far
as the use Of this road by sufferance
is concerned do not think there will
be any objection to the same by the
Department Of the Interior 80 long
as those using it do not camp ON the
reservation or build camp fires or use
fire arms while crossing. This road
has been built by the United States
and substantial bridges have been
placed at all crossings, making it pos
sible to haul the heavy machinery u.s. d
in the construction Of the dam. Very
little work will be required to place
1t in a passable condition. II it is the
desire Of the intert sted parties to So
cure q lawful road oveer the rou
mentioned it will be necessary for the
county commissioners Of both b.
mock and Bingham counties to file an
application therefor under the law
and regulations prescribed by the
Interior Department and be prepare
to pay any damages that might be
sustained by individual allottees by
reason thereof. 1t Is necessary tor
the commissioners of each county to
meanders along the county line, en-
tering either county three or four
times before crossing the eastern edge
of the reservation. Leaving Fort Hall
in Bingham county and running east
for perhaps half mile it swings
southwark onto the county line where
it runs for about a half mile. 1t then
swings back into Bingham county and
runs for about eight miles, then ba.A
to the line and across into Bannock
county tor distance of about seven
miles; then it again crosses into Bing-
ham county for about seven and O.
half miles, after which it crosses back
into Bannock county and runs about
three-fourths of mile before leaving
the reservation to the east. 1t is
quite possible that map of definite
location, prepared for the entire dis
lance and filed with the applications
of the commissioners of both counties
will receive proper consideration from
the Secretary of the Interior.
This road would pass through the
very heart of the finest grazing land
on the reservation on which are graz
ed during the summer season several
thousand head of Indian cattle. am
confident that the owners of these
cattle and the Indians generally would
not look with much favor on the use
of this road by automobilists, and if
the right to use the same by suffer-
ance is desired by your people it
would be absolutely necessary for the
owners of automobiles to observe to
the letter every requirement made by
the Department. Herders and police
men patrol that part of the range,
and very few reports of camp fires
on the reservation or of shots fired
from automobiles would result in the
privilege of the use of this road be-
ing withdrawn. I purposely bring this
matter to your observation at the
beginning of negotiations for the rea-
son that l know the Indians are not
in favor Of granting any roads in that
part of the reservation, and that
strong representations would be made
to the Department adverse to such
right I also call your attention to the
fact that Section 2139 of the Revised
Statutes of the United States prohi.
bits the introduction of spirituous Ii
Quorss into Indian country, and in this
connection will advise that an auto.
mobile, wagon or other vehicle cross
ing the reservation over the proposed
route with any kind Of intoxicating
liquor on board to be used for any
purpose whatever, even by physician