Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1915-12-31
WOULD AID
THE FARMERS
Senator ElIiott's Scheme Of Bonding
for Clearing Land is Feasible
Should Be Tried Out
MEANS MONEY AT LOW INTEREST
Farmer Could Easily Pay Loan From
Increased Production
o the Editor of the Herald:

Some time ago you asked me to
write an article explaining the pur-
pose and plan of the bill enacted by
the recent legislature which contem-
plates the clearing of stump lands
by the formation of what is called
Land Improvement Districts"
This bill which l introduced in the
senate and succeeded in getting
passed attracted good deal of at
tention at the time, and, strange to
say, considering it's Importance, en-
countered considerable opposition
from senators coming from the sage
brush districts.
Some of these legislators seemed
unable to realize the great advan-
tage such law would be to the tim
bered parts of the state.
The Jaw is modelled closely to the
main ideas Of the drainage law so
far as it's organization is concerned.
This is placed directly under the ad-
ministration of the district court.
Any number of owners of land which
it is desired to clear may petition
the court to form such a district.
This petition must state three
things: 1. A description of each
tract of land proposed to be in
cluded, together with the names and
addresses of parties owning and in
terested in the same. 2. The ap-
proximate area in each tract that
can be made tillable, the sort OF
work necessary and the cost of doing
it 3. The consent of each petit
toner that the assessment shall be
first lien against the lands, sub
ject only to state and county taxes
When the court orders the district
organized and a record made he
then appoints competent surveyor
to survey and plat the district, show
ing each 40 acre tract or smaller
subdivision and the amount of each
that is tillable, together with hi!
estimate of the cost. When this
report is made the court fixes time
for a hearing and every interested
party within the county is person
ally notified and non-residents arr
served by publication. At the hear
ing the court considers any objec
tons and enters a decree fixing tn
assessments upon each tract. An.
person feeling himself aggrieved cal
appeal to the supreme court. An.
party so assessed can pay off hi
assessment at any interest payin,
date and thus relieve his lands o
the lien upon them. When any sucl
moneys are thus paid in An equa
amount of the bonds issued must b
at once taken up.
The bonds to cover the cost of tn
improvement work must not bea
more than 8 per cent interest an
are planned to run for 81 years
No payments are to be required un
til the third year, thus allowing 10
the land to be brought under flu
production AS the cost of the i'm
provement ends with the making o
the land tillable there is no add
tional expense upon. the district an
no charges for maintenance as woul
be the case in an irrigation or drain
age district.
The actual work of clearing is t
be done by contract, bids which sha
be awarded, after due advertisement
to the most responsible bidder. TIL
contractor may take the bonds
payment if he prefers. AS soon g
the contract is let the court appoint
commissioner who may be the OF
iginal surveyor, or some one els
who shall oversee the work Of cleal
ing. The commissioner has SO,
charge Of the improvement and
responsible directly to the court.
have not referred to many Of ii
> details provided for in the law b,
the manner Of procedure is muc
4 like that of civil case in court ar
] is made as simple and easy as pc
sible. There ought to be little o
s casion for disagreement among Il
e land owners in such a district as !
e one can be compelled to go into
without his consent. The costs
administration ought not to be larg
I the main item being the original su
:, vey or cruise and the making of Il
t plats.
t The theory of the improvement a
y is that a group Of land owners hol
n ing adjtining tracts can get toget
4 err and by bonding their holdin