32 FOREST EESERVES IN IDAHO. 



those who are living beyond the borders of the State have only a 

 sentimental and contingent interest in the disposal of these lands. 

 The first consideration is to the citizens of the State. They are above 

 the average American citizenship, as shown by the census. A larger 

 percentage of the citizens of Idaho own their homes than in most 

 any State in the Union. The family life in Idaho is shown to l)e 

 above the average standard. The percentage of American blood in 

 Idaho is greater than that of the New England States. The laws of 

 the land are respected in Idaho to as great an extent and with as 

 fervid a patriotism as in any State of the Union. Kailroads are 

 being constructed as rapidly as in any other State. Great irrigation 

 and reclamation projects are being pressed in southern Idaho upon a 

 plan that promises a growth that equals, if not exceeds, that of any 

 other State in the immediate future. Xorth Idaho has vast wheat 

 fields and produces all the fruits of the market. Shoshone County 

 produces more than half the lead product of the United States. 

 She produces millions of dollars in gold and silver. She has the 

 finest white pine timber lands now remaining in the United States. 

 It is intersected by splendid rivers and their tributaries to its very 

 borders on the east. 



There is another j^roposed forest reserve, called an addition to the 

 Bitter Root Forest Eeserve, which is shown in green upon the accom- 

 panying map. It includes the town of Newsome, a place of con- 

 siderable business importance, which has existed for at least forty 

 years. I have visited this place myself. There are prosperous com- 

 mercial institutions there — hotels, residences, gardens, orchards, 

 meadows, farms, and mining. The town of Florence, shoAvn within 

 the proposed addition to the Bitter Root Forest Reserve, is the second 

 oldest town in Idaho. It is the center of a mining region, but is 

 surrounded by the class of homes incident to such countries where 

 they have orchards and raise all sorts of garden truck to supply the 

 miners, and graze or farm as the land may be adapted to those pur- 

 poses. The State wagon road of Idaho traverses this reserve for 

 many miles. This road Avas built at an expense of OA^er $300,000 by 

 the State for the purpose of enabling the people to get into this 

 A^ery country, because it was a promising and profitable field for 

 settlers, and noAv it is proposed to Avithdraw the A'ery country from 

 settlement that the vState Avas at such heaA^^ expense to open for that 

 purpose. It extends almost to the banks of the Little Salmon RiA^er, 

 doAvn Avhicli is surA^eyed a line of railroad noAv under construction, 

 and it proposes to tie up the country that Avas intended to feed that 

 railroad for 50 miles or more. 



Mr. President. giA^e Idaho a chance to groAv; leaA^e the door open 

 to settlement, and trust somewhat to the integrity, loyalty, and 

 patriotism of the citizens of the State. 



I most respectfully ask that you shall take such action as Avill 

 restore the lands AvithdraAvn and proposed to be AvithdraAvn to settle- 

 ment and induce rather than discourage the home seeker to come to 

 Idaho. 



Respectfully submitted, 



W. B. Heyburn. 



