The Federal Land Freeze on the Pend Oreille

An order dated December 4 has been issued by Secretary R. A. Ballinger withdrawing from settlement all land on both sides of the Pend Oreille River within one-half mile of the river, between Crescent and the Canadian boundary, a distance of 30 miles. All settlers who have taken up lands along the river between these points will be unable to prove up until Congress has passed legislation affecting their property. The reason assigned for this is that the department desires to have the status of the holders of the water power rights on the Pend Oreille River defined before other entanglements arise. The Washington Water Power Co., a Spokane corporation, controls the rights at present, having secured them by special act of Congress. It is stated that only two such rights have been granted by act of Congress, and it is possible that these grants may not be legal. Experts have stated that nearly one-quarter of the available water power in the state of Washington is to be found in the Pend Oreille River between Albeni Falls and the British Columbia line. There has been considerable agitation recently regarding the holding of such valuable water rights by corporations who fail to improve them for the benefit of the country adjacent.