, 1886-02-27
CAPITOL AND UNIVERSITY.

The question Of providing by legislation
for the construction Of a capitol building
in this city, and a university in Laramie,
is now before the Legislative assembly. and
the members OF the two houses will vote
upon it as their Judgment may dictate
and the merits of the two propositions re-
quire.
The need of a university is generally
admitted. Every state and nearly every
territory possesses one to day, and Wyo-
ming, q territory distinguished for its fine
public schools and the liberality Of its citi-
tens in sustaining them, should no longer
hesitate to provide a public institution for
the higher branches of learning. Congress
has provided for such enterprises in all
the territories; by setting aside a portion
Of the public land and by the appropria-
ton OF public funds for the higher educa-
ton Of our children, our national legisla-
tons have set an example which, We sub
NIT. should be followed by our local law
makers. Wyoming could make no Letter
use of a small portion Of its revenues than
by setting it aside to aid in providing
means for the liberal education Of its
youth. No public undertaking could have
. nobler aim and motive; no expenditure
Of the peoples money would confer a
more general and lasting benefit upon the
masses.
The question of the construction of a
capitol building should also be debated
and decided upon its merits as a public
measure, in the accomplishment of which
all the people Of Wyoming have a vital
interest We have not to-day even a coal
bin that is owned by the territory. The
records, papers and other property Of the
territory are stored away in divers places;
our territorial officers are located in various
buildings about Town and pay rent for
their Offices amounting annually TO several
thousand dollars. For the last seventeen
years Wyoming has managed to get along
and its affairs have been administered
under all these disadvantages. From
= population Of 1900 we have increased
to 10000. and our facilities for transacting
the public business are no better to-day
than they were seventeen years ago. The
resources of the territory have grown
wonderfully during that period, and the
accumulation of property has been i'm
mense. The plan to construct a capitol
building, the cost of which 10 be paid for
in bonds payable after twenty-five years
and bearing G per cent. interest, The
LEADER holds, is most judicious, timely
and reasonable. The annual interest on
these bonds would add but n small amount
to our yearly expenditures as a territory,
and the increase in the taxes Of individual
taxpayers would be iufnitesimaL
Wyoming should have a capitol build
ing to which our people may point with
pride, as something tangible To ourselves
and all newcomer, proving positively
that our territory has acquired an assur-
ed permanency, that our people have
faith In its present and future, aud that
they are willing. even anxious, to put at
least n small portion Of their public funds
in public improvements hat will confer
benefit upon this and future generations.
Let us announce to the world that
Wyoming Is free Of debt, that It's affairs
are under careful and judicious manage
ment, thst our youth receive a liberal
commou school education and have the
privilege Of studying the higher branches
Of learning in a Wyoming university, that
we have fine public and private buildings
tesdfying to the private thnft and public
enterprise and lberalty, and we need
send oct no immignton documents to in
duce a desirable class Of American citizens
to come here to settle among us and assist
in further developing our magnificent
resources.