The Portland daily press., 1889-11-05
THE LAND or THE aoRmoNs.
Annual Report of Gov. Thomas on
the Affalrs of Utah.

WASHINGTON, November Arthur l..
Thomas, Governor Of Utah Territory, in his
annual report to the Secretary Of the Inte-
ror says the question Of what the govern.
ment should do with the vast tracts of land
which can be used only for grazing purposes
is assuming vital Importance throughout Il
West directly associated with the probl, m
Of cheap food supply. Under present con-
ditions, these unoccupied lands are used by
persons engaged in stock raising. There IS
no harmony of interests among them. He
says that no protection Is afforded by law in
the use OF lands and frequent conflicts arise
betweet clashing interests. The governor is
Of the opinion that II the government would
provide way by which persons engaged In
stock growing could acquire title to graz
ing lands which can never be used for agri.
cultural purposes, 1t would remove one of
the most serious drawbacks TO the growth
Of the stock industry and promote the set
tlement Of the country
In the course OF his report upon the pub
lie, and UNCONVENTIONAL schools in Utah. the
governor says: while Utah has very
fair system Of pnblic schools, they fall far
short Of what they should be. The taxes
collected for the support OF the schools do
not pay half the expense OF maintaining the
| schools. Consequently the pupils must pay
tuition ices or the schools must be closed.
| In many Of the poorer districts, the children
are denied school privileges for many months
| In the year. There Is no prospect that this
will be changed. | am led to this conclusion
by the fact that the Mormon people, with al
most entire unanimlty, are quietly preparing
| for denominational schools in which their
| children may be taught Mormon theology in
| addition to the ordinary branch Of education.
| In some school districts, Mormon children
have been withdrawn from the public
schools and placed in church schools" The
| governor recommends that Congress at once
| place the public schools in the hands OF those
| who will be friendly to them. During the
last year, the governor says, the people OF
Utah have enjoyed unusual prosperity. The
Indians In the northeastern part Of the ter
| ritory are contented and gave but little
| cause OF complaint. The governor strongly
protests against the removal to Utah Of the
/ Utes now in Southern Colorado, to satisfy
another State The governor saws
| that at the last municipal election
| the gentiles carried the city of Ogden by 433
majority. Six months later an election was
| held throughout the territory for members of
1 the legislative assembly and the gentiles
| elected two OF IL members of the council
| and six of "A members Of the House. Al
| this election the gentiles carried Ogden and
| also Salt Lake City by f.ur majority The
| governor says: THE time may come when
| the gentiles VIII be in a majority but 10 will
| be many years hence Outside OF Salt Lake
| City and Ogden the gentle population Is
| found in the mining camps and small rail-
| road towns. The great bulk Of the popula-
iion OF Utah Is and always win be in the val
| leyS. Nearly all the land under cultivation
and the water that can be used to irrigate it
without great expense, are owned and APP
/ propriated by the Mormons. As the hold
and own the land and water, they hold and
own Utah."