Forest Service Challenged Homesteaders in the LeClerc Creek Timberlands

Notice has been given that the National Forest Service has filed adverse reports against a number of homesteaders who have valuable claims in the LeClerc creek basin, on the west side of the Pend Oreille river, in Townships 36 and 37, Range 45. Most of these parties have made final proof on their claims, but during the last few months adverse reports against the granting of patents have been filed by the Forest Service, after investigations had been made by officials of the service.

The adverse reports are based on one or more of the following grounds: that none of the land has been cleared or cultivated; that claimant never established and maintained residence on the land; or that the filing was made for the purpose of acquiring valuable timber on the land. It is said that the land included in these homesteads contains some of the best timber in this section, and that the land would be very valuable for agricultural purposes after clearing.

The district in which these homesteads are located was thrown into the National Forest by order of President Roosevelt on Feb. 2, 1907.

The following claimants—Wm. M. Smith, Jos. Breen, Jos. O. Hollis, Jos. Van Slatte, David E. Cooke, George Neff, Nora McIntosh, Thos. P. Iverson, Chas. B. Jones, Alfred R. McInnis, Patrick H. Hurley, Wm. Wiley, Michael O'Connor—have been served with notice that a hearing will be held before U. S. Commissioner Sidney W. Rogers at Newport on March 19, 1909, at which time they may introduce evidence as to the falsity of the adverse reports of the Forest Service officers and the truth of their claims.