The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1913-06-12


sity of Chicago and later graduated
from the University of California.
After the ceremony the bridal cou-
pie left for Washington, and will be
at home, after June 18th, at 1900
Rhode Island Avenue, NJ w.
Probably within the next few days
the committee appointments in the
House of Representatives will be made
and at this time many members are
anxious concerning their COMMITTEES
assignments.
Representative French Is ambitious
to be appointed to the committee on
public lands and his appointment Is
being urged by numerous members fro
tho West who desire to see men NAM
ed to this committee who have had
opportunity to become we'll acquainted
with public land problems.
Speaking of the matter Representa-
tive French said:
| II am, of course, ambitious to be
appointed to a position on the public
lands committee and hope l may re-
ceive this designation. l also appre-
ciate the fact that numerous western
members have supported me for this
place and l believe that at this time
l can do probably more service on
this committee than on any other.
Il am especially anxious to be or
the committee on account of the
amendment that l have proposed to
the homestead law that will provide
for improvements of various kinds be-
| ing accepted in lieu of a definite
amount of cultivation required under
the present law and also to further
hn hof inf
viding for the extension of non
residence privilege to homesteaders
on semi-arid lands such as are in
some parts of Southern Idaho
There are several other bills in
which l am interested that will come
before this committee but the two
that l have mentioned are the most
important"
The west is again fortunate in the
appointments made in the Interior De-
partment as the new commissioner OF
the General Land Office comes from
Nevada. Hon. Clay Tallman, who has
been selected for the place was the
Democratic candidate for Congress las
| fall. The present Commissioner Hon.
Fred bennett from North Dakota
has made splendid official and has
been more liberal than his predeces-
sors In constituting the laws favorable
to the homesteaders. He will prac-
tice law in Washington and make
specially of land and irrigation mat
ters. Under the administration of Mr..
bennett and upon his earnest recon-
mendatiCn the method of surveying
public land has been changed from
the contract system to the Govern
mQnt ,o1, iko
surveyors. This new method has
resulted in saving of over $55O,OOO
during thee last three and a half years
In other words the same quantity of
land has been surveyed for 25 per
cent less than underr the old system.
We have restored to the public do
main from unlaw ful enclosure 6.477.-
1S9 acres" is the report of Commits
sloner bennett, Cattle companies plac
ed fences around the public domain
OF the United States where they had
no authority to do it. We proceeded
to call upon them to pull the fences
down, and if they did not, we would
bring proceedings in equity and cause
them to do it. In this way we have
brought that acreage back to the pub
lie domain
From June 1, 1908, to December 81.
1912, the following patents were issu-
ed, by the General Land Office. &C.
cording to Mr.. benefits report Rail.
road selection 4,235,671 acres; Carsy
Act selections, lO7,835 acres; State
swamp selections. indemnity and in
place, 4Ol ,645 acres; all other, includ-
ing mineral, homestead, desert. tim
Der and stone, public sale Indian al
lotments, forest lieu selections. town.
sites, scrip and warrant locations. spc-
clal acts, etc., 314,458 patents. equal
ing in area 1853 acres. The totsl
OF all patents and lists was 53,913.- /
364 AGREES. The total of all patents
and lists was 53,913,255 acres. The
area patented and listed is greater
than the combined area of the six
New England States and OF Maryland
and Delaware; is greater than the
area OF Idaho, of Kansas, or of Ne
braska, and is greater than one-thirty.
sixth of the entire area of tho present
~ states of the Union
Washington, D. c., June 9.-The
marriage of Miss Elizabeth Wilson, of
Tracey's Landing, Maryland, and Mr..
Hugh Fairchild Smith, son of Congress-
man and Mrs. Addison T. Smith of |
Idaho, occurred at Saint James Epis- |
copal church near Annapolis, Maryland
Wednesday evening, the 4th instant. |
In addition to those who attended |
from Washington and other cities wela
the Idaho Congressional delegation |
and their wives; and there was a |
large attendance of the relatives and
friends from the surrounding country.
The bride is the youngest daugh-
ter of Mrs. Ella Wilson, member of |
one of the Oldest families in this his
toric section. which is one of the
first settlements in the United States |
The ceremony was performed by the
rector, Rev. Martin, in the church |
which was presented to the diocese |
by Queen Anne of England in 1886. |
and which has been in constant use
since that time. The bridesmaids wer
Miss ElanOr Wilson, the brides sister.
Miss Louise Wilson, of Raleigh, North |
Carolina, the brides cousin Miss
Eliza Turner, Of Baltimore, and Miss
Marila Brooks, of West River. The
best man was Mr.. Charles A. Smith,
0f Uyo nd