Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1916-12-12
CLEAR LAND
BY DISTRICTS
REPRESENTATIVE KENT WOULD
PASS LAW WHICH WOULD
HELP LAND OWNERS
ALL OWNERS MUST SIGN PETITION
Stumpage Districts Must Contain
at Least 1000 Acres.

Representatives. A. j. Kent
hopes to secure the passage of leg
islation at the coming sessions of
the Idaho solons which will prove
of benefit to owners of logged-off
lands.
He has prepared a rough draft
of a bill providing for the forming
of districts which may bond and
so raise money for clearing pur-
poses.
The bill provides that any por-
ton of a county may organize into
a stump clearing district. Petitions
for such an organization must be
presented to the board of county
commissioners and must set forth
the object of the proposed organiza-
ton, the boundaries of the proposed
district and approximately the num-
Der of acres to be cleared; it must
also contain the names of all free
holders of the proposed district and
the names and addresses of all
mortgages of land within the boun-
diaries and must be signed by all
the land owners with nthe district.
The petitioners must file a bond
in the sum of $500 with the board
of county commissioners to insure
the paying of all preliminary costs
in case the district is not estab-
lished.
The board of county commissioners
must pass favorably upon all stump
district petitions presented to it II
it is assured that such a district
would benefit the majority of the
land owners. The county commits
sioners appoint the commissioners of
the stumpage district, three in num-
Der, who are required to furnish
$4,000 bonds, each, for the faithful
performance of their duties. The
stumpage commissioners shall be
paid 50 per day and all expenses.
They shall have exclusive charge
of the stumping of land within
their district.
In order to compile data concern
ing the number of acres needed
to be stumped in a proposed district
and the cost of stumping, the stump
age commissioners may employ the
aid of an engineer, surveyor and
helpers. If the stumpage commits
sioners report to the board of county
commissioners that the organizing
of a stump clearing district would
be a benefit to the land owners of
the district then the board of coun-
ty commissioners shall cause notices
to be sent to all land owners and
in these notices shall be fixed a day
for a hearing of any protests.
The bill provides that in order to
form a stumpage district at least
1000 acres must be included. The
stumpage commissioners are 2uthor-
lied to issue bonds to raise money
with which to carry on the work OF
clearing the land of stumps. The
bonds may be made redeemable ir
five years but may not run longer
than 20 years. Assessments shall
be made against lands benefited II
the district and shall be a lien upor
the property. No one call for as
sessments shall be more than Il
per cent of the entire amount tc
be raised for stumping purposes. The
bill explains in detail when and how
all assessments shall be made anc
when and how all warrants may b'
retired.
Mr.. Kent has spent a great dea
of time in perfecting this measure
and is assured that if it is passed
it will prove a boon to owners o.
logged-off land who at present can
not raise sufficient money will
which to put the land in state o
cultivation.
Surprise Mrs. S. w. Biggar