Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1920-01-16

| raising and timber interests county
officials and all others interested
in the welfare of Idaho will be ap-
preciated.
Our greatest handicap in the pro-
secution of this work Is the lack of
funds for filing and advertising
fees in making selections The legis-
lature. not realizing the Importance
of this work, failed to appropriate
sufficient money for its accomplish
ment. Only $4,000 was provided
to take care of such work, includ-
ing all land sales anc other legal
advertising. This was based on the
appropriation of the two previous
years without realization that the
Department is steadily growing
We have this year alone surpassed
the volume of this class of work
done during the whole two years of
the previous administrator, and
necessarily the funds provided have
almost been exhausted.
If this work is allowed to remain
dormant for another two years,
am safe in saying the state viii
lose hundreds of thousands of dol
lars. Every days delay lessons
our opportunities to make these
selections. as We are only allowed
to select the Incorporated lands
and every time homestead is filed
it means one of the choicest $50,
| 800, or $40 acres tracts is gone
| These filings are being made every
day in all the land offices of the
State and today all the better class
of lands is gone-what will be left
| in few years?
have pointed out ABOVE that
during the past year we have in
| creased the earnings to the State
on the lands we sold, In interest
alone above the rentals $107, 49O63
Shall we continue this policy. or
shall we cease our activity for the
want of few hundred dollars for
advertising fees?
The proper method of dealing
with the States interests in con-
nection with the Normal and Uni
versity Forest lands surrounding
Payette Lakes was one of the prob
lens left us by the retiring admin
istration
After a conference with expert
enced Foresters of the u s. Forest
Service, F. G. Miller, Dean of For
estry, Of the University of Idaho.
and practical timbermen. a policy
of cutting for improvement and sal
wage olly has been adopted. This
will insure a steady revenue to the
Normal and University Grants,
continued operation and payroll to
the adjoining towns and a perma-
nent Improvement to the scenic
beauties Of the State Forest at Pay
cite Lakes.
In working out the details, we
have been ably assisted by Mr.. Mil
Ter, who, with several students of
the University. made this forest
practical class room for about three
months during the past summer.
We have already received many
valuable suggestions as a result Of
this work and are looking forward
to the time when plats and maps
are completed. when we shall have
a full report.
Since the reorganization of the
State Land Department April LIST
of this year, l am safe in saying
greater volume of work has been
accomplished in our division than
has been done in any two years
period since Statehood. I am proud
of our record. and feel that it is
largely due to the untiring efforts,
zeal and loyalty of my assistants,
both in the field and the office
Our field men whether appraising
land for sale, rent, or selection, or
cruising timber. have worked dill
gently, realizing that they are
agents of the people. an important
part of the State Land Department,
entrusted with the management,
control and protection of its mil
lions of dollars in land holdings.
The success of our land and timber
sales, and the minimum loss of
State timber during this. one of the |
most disastrous fire seasons Idaho
has ever had. has been largely due |
to their activities. Our office force
has likewise been untiring and |
loyal.
Under the new form of State |
Government. the larger part of the
duties formerly performed by the |
Register have been transferred to
the State Land Commissioner. All
the detail work of the State Board
of Land Commissioners is now
handled directly through this office.
The State Land Commissioner Is
Ne clerk of the Land Board. as