Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-01-02

Falis-Salmon River project, the FORMER
! attorney general failed to make the
application. So one of the first official
actions Of the new board was to direct
the new attorney general. T. A. Wal
tiers. to proceed forthwith and make an
application for q receiver for this
project. in the state court preferably.
The former action Of the old board
was therefore reaffirmed. All mem
bers of the new board voted for the
reaffirmation except tho attorney gem
eral. who as customary, refrains from
| voting on a motion that concerns his
own official action.
GET AFTER OTHER PROJECTS.
| The new land board did not stop
with the two projects named above. It
| went farther. On May 3, 1916, the for
mer attorney general was instructed to
/ bring suit against the King Hill Irri-
cation company, the King Hill Extern
sion Irrigation company and the
Blaine County Irrigation company. to
recover on the bonds they placed with
| the state as guarantee for the COM
pletion of the respective projects un-
der their jurisdiction. No action was
taken.
The new land board directed the new
attorney general to get action on the
bonds Immediately. The resolution
passed by the old board was reaffirmed
on motion of State Auditor Van Deu-
sen after the governor had placed the
record of the three projects before the
board.
AFTER BIG LOST RIVER ALSO.
Later the governor investigated and
presented the record of tho Big Lost
River Irrigation company which put
up $4,000 bond to the state to COM
plete it's work and failed to do so. He
called the boards attention to the fact
and moved that the attorney general
be instructed to bring suit to recover
on the bond. The motion carried
unanimously.
| The question as to why the contract
Of the Blaine County Investment COM
pany with the state should not be for
feited came up and was discussed. It
was stated to the board that the com
pany does not want to give bond on
the entire project but wishes to keep
the reservoir and irrigation works sep
arated. Former Register Harland said
the bond of the company had never
been filed. 1t was then moved and
F! carried that The company be required
to put up per cent bond on the cost
Of the construction work with the
state as guarantee of completion.
MAY OPEN HEGsTEDT LANDS.
| The governor called the attention of
the board to the Hegstedt project in
the eastern part Of the state, which he
said had been cancelled and reinstated
a half dozen times, the reinstatement
being made because influential poll
| ticians-Republicans and Democrats
had been active in the projects behalf.
He held the lands within the project
| should be released for the settlers to
| file. upon. I'VE may as well cut off
the tall behind the ears II we are to
kill It," said the governor. "There is
not enough water for Fourth of July
celebration" The other members OF
the land board seemed to be of the
same opinion and the project will prob
| ably be cancelled and he land thrown
open for dry farm entry. A report
| from the state engineer on the project
was called for.
NO POLICY LAID DOWN.
| A long discussion followed on the
Huston Ditc' company, now the OAR
lington Ditch company project. D E.
Rathbun, of Idaho Falls, appeared be-
| fore the board in connection with 1t
The application for patent made by
Rathbun was denied and in denying
it the land board laid down the above
policy quoted with reference to- Carey
act projects. completion OF works and
patent. Then Mr.. Rathbun asked to
withdraw his application for patent
The state engineers report showed the
project to be incomplete. All reference
with regard to the project was stricken
from the record.
TO SELL CANYON COUNTY LANDS
State lands In Canyon county and
lands for which application have been
made will be sold ct sale to be held
about Feb. /. The board made this
order after Land Commissioner Smoot
stated that the residents OF Canyon
county were anxious for a cnance tc
bid in the lands. Auditor Van Deusen
objected to the sale while snow was
on the ground. He said no was opposed
to such a ,olicy and thought tina,
lands should not be sold between Jan
and April 1. Other members of the
| board argued with him that where
lands are to be sold there is a differ
ence than when they are to be apprais-
ed and money loaned on them. He
could not be convinced and voted
against holding the sale for the rea-
sons stated.
C. w. Whiffin, OF Canyon county
was on motion of Attorney Genera
Walters elected state land appraiser
for southern Idaho. Auditor Van Deu-
sen voted for John A. F1ack, Of Ada
county, but the record was late1 made
to show that Mr.. Whiffing appoint
ment was unani nous.
TO CHECA CASH ITEMS.
The Overland National bank o.
Boise was named the depository fol
lease money sent t. the land depart
ment pending approval of leases by the
board. The money can only be with.
drawn from deposit by checks signed
by the governor and register. Auditor