The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1914-10-09

$500. This land was bargained for
at the first of the year 1912 as be-
tore stated, at $3S per acre. AS the
railroad was building into the valley
land values advanced quite rapidly for
tr1le and when this loan was nego-
tiated any man who has seen the land
Will say that it was not overestimated
at from $40 to $50 per acre.
Other Evidence on Values.
When the application covering this
loan had been granted subject to ap-
Praisement it was turned over to Mr..
Day, state land commissioner, as are
all Applications for appraisement; be-
cause OF the expense of making a trip
from Boise to Long Valley and be-
cause of the further fact that Mr.. Day
is al SO an employee of the land board,
he deemed it wiser, as | did myself,
that some man in no way connected
with the land board, but having a
knowledge of the land, should make
the appraisement. The matter was,
therefore, referred to Arnold Mickles,
one OF the most prominent citizens of
Long Valley, who has resided there
for years and thoroughly knows
values. He was a member of the last
session of the legislature and COM
mands respect and absolute conf
dence of wide circle of friends. On
May 81, 1913, he made the following
report, which evidently escaped the
attention of Mr.. Sheridan:
ROSEBERRY, May 81, lol3.-State
Board of Land Commissioners, Boise,
Idaho. Dear Sirs: In appraiSing the
n. JennesS land | examined it care
fully. The general character of the
soil is black and there are two springs
OF water on the place. There are
three small houses, large barn, but
not finished on one side. There are
other outbuildings, about 800 rods of
fence. The appraisement have made
on the improvements is small, only
$68o. The fence and the barn are
worth twice as much as | appraised
them at, find that they have a rent
er on the place. He has about fifty
acres in oats and about forty acres in
timothy and the rest is in wild hay.
The place looks to me in good condi-
ton. | am satisfied to say it is one of
the best places in that part of the
country and loan of $3.50 or $1,000
| would consider safe. At least |
would be willing to make that loan
if had the money to spare myself.
The applicants | have known for
eight or ten years. They are of good
character and good credit and said to
meet their obligations promptly.
Yours truly,
(Signed) ARNOLD MICKLES.
1t is the custom of the board to re-
quire the appraiser to make a writ
ten report as to the moral risk in
volved in addition to the regular re-
port. In this regular report Mr.. Mick
els place the value of the house at
$50, the barn at $3.50, the fence at
$2o4, the land at $8145 and other
trifling improvements at SIS or a total
of 1884.
1t is not true, as Mr.. Sheridan stat
ed, that the constitution does not per-
NIT any Improvements to be consid-
cred. 1t does prohibit counting in
buildings, which of course, are de-
Structible and, therefore, not properly
to be considered in fixing the value
for loan. Leaving out the buildings
there was a value of $840o. We were
entitled to borrow one-third of that
amount or $1,000, but as $500 would
pay off the two outstanding loans
with accumulated interest, only that
amount was asked for.
Drags in Woman's Name.
Mr.. Sheridan, in his usual manly
and chivalrous manner, makes an at
tack upon my wife because she also
has a loan of $1,000. Mrs. Jenness
has some property in her own right
interests and her property has always
been handled separately.
Findingf herself compelled to have
money some two or three years ago
she either had to unduly press some
who were owing her or borrow the
money. She chose the latter alter
native and secured loan from the
state, giving unquestioned security
and paying her interest promptly.
Mr.. Sheridan may think it is smart
to, without any cause, drag a woman's
name into his political TRADES, but |
believe that the fair minded men and
women of Idaho will take different
view of it.
Statement as to Interest.
In an editorial in the Capital News
last night it is stated, among other
things: "The facts are that Mr.. Jen-
ness was specializing with state lands"
The facts are that l never owned an
acre of state land in my life and never
bought an acre of land in my life of
for purely speculative pur-
poses. although believe the average
run of men regard it as perfectly leg
itimate to buy land with the hope Of
selling at higher price.
1t is a fact that there is a dclin-
quent interest on this loan of $l62 rs
which | admit should not be the case.
and which | regret but like hundreds
and probably thousands of others in
Idaho | became little too optimistic
regarding the future of our state
few years ago and loaded up on land
too heavily and it has been a burden
to carry the interest and taxes upon
all the land which own or in which
| have an interest. This may be the
case also with some prominent Bull
Moosers whose loans are nHuch larger
and the interest payments are much
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