The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1919-08-04


looking after the interests of Idaho
people and never overlooks an op-
portunity to be of service to them
But it has recently accomplished a
work for which it should receive
special commentator in assisting to
prevent ex-soldiers from being de-
frauded by land sharks.
Some time ago the university was
notified that former soldiers were
being located on land in southern
Idaho, and it was believed the land is
valueless. Three experts were sent
from the university to examine the
| land. They went examined, reported
and bright scheme for separating
: the soldier and his money went gIim-
mering. 1t was discovered that scores
of men were being brought from other
states and located on this land. One
soldier wrote that he had paid $3.50
in cash and given his note for $3.50
more for being located on land that
is regarded as of no value and upon
which he could not make living.
The report of the three experts,
which tells an interesting story in
itself, is here given, just as written.
1t follows:
July 2e, 1919.
Commissioner of immigration,
State of Idaho,
Boise, Idaho.
Sir:-Your committee appointed to
investigate the possibility of success
fully dry farming land in certain To-
calities in Butte County, Idaho, where
soldiers and others have been induced
during the past two or three months
to file on 800 acre nonresident home
steads, respectfully submits the fol-
lowing report:
This investigation covered a period
of six days, July 18 to 25 inclusive.
During this time practically all of
the localities in Butte county where
dry farming is being carried on were
visited to determine the yields OBJ
tanned and the. methods practiced. A
very careful study was also made of
the localities where the new settlers
are locating, in order to determine
the possibility of dry farming in said
localities. The investigation was
greatly facilitated by the cooperation
of the Butte County Commercial
Club which placed at the disposal of
the investigating committee a seven
passenger car and driver perfectly
familiar with the country, and by the
surveyor and other employees of Mr..
H. A. Stroud who assisted him in To-
eating settlers.
The filing records show that the
settlers brought into Butte county by |
the colonization propaganda which
called forth this investigation were
located in two districts, the Howe"
and the "Big Butte" These two dis
tricts differ sufficiently to require
separate consideration
The homesteads of the Howe dis
trict which were examined are To-
Gated in Townships and 5 North,
Range 20 and Township North,
Range %, E. B. M. on either side
Of the road leading from Howe to
Arco. A spur of the North River
mountains forms the west boundary
Of this district. The soil of the west
side of the district is very shallow,
seldom exceeding six inches in depth.
This is underlaid by deep gravel
which has been transported from the
area gravel is found on the surface.
face soil to dry out so rapidly that
he west side of the district must be
considered worthless for dry farming.
At least twelve settlers are located
IN this type of SOIL.
A portion of the east side of the
Howe district is covered with basaltic
'ock lodges and outcroppings, some
# the claims having as little as five
% ten per cent of tillable land. The
'est lands of this district are to be
ound in the lower areas lying to the
ast and northeast where the soil has
'een built up considerably of water
deposited silt loan. This land is
lnderlain with a silly clay hardpan /
It depth varying from to IL
nches. The presence of this hardpan
ogether with the exceedingly scant
ainfall which this district receives '
makes dry farming a very hazardous
not an impossible undertaking even 1
n the most favorable soil. 1t is per-
lnent to say in closing this discus c
ion of this district that the grossest '
arelessness was displayed on the c
art of the homesteaders in the '
election of their claims and that the
ocators were either guilty of fraud t
r criminal negligence in assigning $
uch land to the settlers and accepting a
,cation fees for same, for approx
lately three fourths (3-4) of several
these claims lie on a mountain
ide so steep that stock would have
ifficulty in grazing the same, while )
ther claims consist almost entirely
{ gravel beds or basaltic rock.
is very evident that nearly all of 5
lie settlers permitted themselves to
: located without having been shown
lie section corner marks and subdivi-
ons as established by the official
overnment survey. Il
The land in the Big Butte district n
pom which settlers have been and are d
ow being located lies to the north e.
I'd west of Big Butte, some Is to 20 tt
lies southeast of Arco. The specific S,
,mestead claims examined by your N
'mmittee lie in Townships l and 2 r
orth, Range 20 and Townships l L
I'd 2 North, Range % E. B. M.
his area is situated on a rolling r;
va plateau. Owing to the basaltic el
dges and outcroppings the tillable M