The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-05-28
IDAHO WINS FIGHT WITH
FORESTRY SERVICE
OF GOVERNMENT
STATE WILL MAKE LIEU LAND
SELECTIONS FOR LAND
WITHDRAWN BY PIN
CHOT FADDISTS
Victory Means Millions to Schools of
State. New Industries, New Pay
rolls-Peterson and Day Greatly
Pleased With Result of Visit to
Washington-Meet Old Friend.
Especial to Caldwell Tribune1

bOlSCy Nd Gu Hat ludIlO has
won her big land contest at Washing
National Capitol last Tuesday by
Judge +. G. Finney Of the Interior
Department. The acreage involved
amounts to over 100000 acres and the
valuei inestimable, much of it be-
ing rich timber land. 1t is worth at
least $lO,OOO000 and the state may
realize $20,0OO,00O for future sales.
The decision has not been promulgat-
ed ct, but it has been written and pass
ed upon and waits the return of Sec
rotary Lane to become effective.
The controversy involved grew out
of the grant of the Federal govern
ment to the State of Idaho of Sections
10 and SO. The state lost thousands
Of acres of these lands by reason of
settlers going upon them before the
survey and finally securing patent
from the government The state lost
a still greater acreage when the Forest
Reserve policy was inaugurated. Pin
chot's policy tied up the state lands as
we'll as the public lands. In order to
secure reimbursement the state claim
ed the right to select other lands in
place of the lands patented to the set
tiers and to exchange its lands tied
up in Forest Reserves for other land.
Pinchot denied this right of the state
and the controversy has been on for
many years. The Hawley-McDougall-
Observation-Disclosures land board
took the question up direct with Presi-
dent Taft who acknowledged the just
ness of Idaho's claim and declared
that Uncle Sam would no longer play
lnjun with the people of Idaho. An
| NJ ant MI tFlfn n
President Taft and the Idaho officials
whereby the state might select in lieu
lands to the amount of its losses. This
necessitated extensive detail work be-
fore the exchange could be made. and
it was impossible to effect the arran-
cement before the administration of
President Taft ended New compli-
cations arose and legal issues were
| sprung, so Idaho has not yet come
into its own.
Fortunately for Idaho Judge Finney
was friend at court, and has been in
position of influence. He is mem
Der of the Board of Appeals of the
Interior Department. The Idaho case
came before this board. The Judge
was thoroughly familiar with the Ida
no case having been employed at one
time by the state to look after these
very matters.
1t was not in connection with this
case, however, that Judge Finney
made his recent visit to Idaho. He is
close to Secretary Lane and is visiting
the governors of western states to
sound them out upon legislation that
the Secretary is contemplating with
reference to coal, oil, and phosphate
lands. The proposition is to lease such
lands on royalty basis, half the rev,
enue to go into the Reclamation fund
He called upon Governor Alexander
while here to place the matter be.
fore him.
Judge Finney was the guest of At.
torney General Peterson and State
Land Commissioner Day while ir
Boise, the two state officials having
become we'll acquainted with him
while in Washington on land business
Speaking of the effect of the decis
ion giving Idaho the lands claimed
Mr. Peterson and Mr.. Day both com
mented upon its far reaching effect
Commissioner Day stated that ther,
were now on file in his Office applica
tons to purchase timber to the tota
amount Of 81 100000. If these sale!
were consummated, this amount of en-
dowment funds would immediatel,
start earning interest money to sup
port the common schools. while new
pay-rolls would be established with tn
effect of increasing the prosperity o
the state. No sales could be consum
: mated while the land was in dispute