The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1916-04-13
CEO.R.BARKER
VISITS THE
NORTH
Talks at Lewiston on Leases
of Agricultural and
Grazing Lands.

New rules for the handling of the
state lands will be inaugurated this
year by the state land board, is the
statement of Secretary of State George
r Barker. Mr. Barker is visiting the
northern part Of the state and stopped
over in Lewiston for a few days visit
with friends before proceeding to the
panhandle sections says the Tribune.
As explained by Mr.. Barker, the
board has adopted rule which pro-
yides that not more than 800 acres
of agricultural land will be leased to
one person and another provision
provides that grazing leases cannot
be sublet. He explained these pro-
visions have been adopted to prevent
persons securing a monopoly OF the
state lands to the detriment of others.
He explained there are three interests
to be considered In the leasing of the
state lands and they are the farmers,
the cattlemen and the sheepmen. 1t
| is the purpose of the state to lease
the largest possible acreage for agri-
cultural purposes and the grazing land
| is divided between the cattlemen and
sheepmen on the most equitable basis
possible
Mr.. Barker stated the order has
been made for the employment Of
honor cOnvicts on the north and south
state highway and the men will be
brought to-, the Salmon river section
as soon as weather conditions are fav-
orable. Tools and equipment have
already been moved in and an assist
ant state highway engineer is now on
the ground to make the necessary sur
veys for beginning the work. He ex-
planned the work between Whitebird
and New Meadows will this year be
of the nature of improving the places
now dangerous to travel and scattered
over the entire distance of so miles
1t is the view Of the highway com
mission that this work could hardly
/, be handled by contract and that thu
plan of using convict labor should
make the work much cheaper to thu
state He said there have beel
charges that the road construction b.
convicts is as expensive as by contrac
and the Shoshone Falls grade has beel
cited in support Of this assertion
: Mr.. Barker explained the cost of tn
!, camp equipment, tools and machin
. cry needed to outfit the men an
: camp, were charged to the Shoshon
. Falls work and for this reason th
expense seemed high but in the fl
4 ture work the charge should be yer
e reasonable.
d Mr.. Barker would have little to sa
Il on politics. He expressed the vie
II that the Idaho Republicans general
Fl were favorable to the presidents
v candidacy of U. s. Senator w.
!. Borah and thought conditions migl
le be brought about at the Chicago COZ
vention that woull place Senator Bo
ah in a very strategic position. E
r. said there would be little doing
,e Idaho politics until after the nation
n conventions.
,e Mr.. Barker has not announced b
o. candidacy to succeed himself but
A. is evident he will be a candidate al
w as far as known he will have no o
ty position for the nomination. 1t h
d. been the policy Of the party to 81
to an official two terms and especial
. so when an efficient administrah
on has been rendered. Mr.. Barker b
ns made friends In all parties by the
er ficient and impartial administrati
M of his Office and in political circ
This reelection is practically conced'