, 1889-04-10

Judges. senator's and members of congress,
will, after admission. be paid by the Unit
ed States, 80 there remains only the state
judiciary, governor, secretary and legisla-
tive expenses to provide for, in addition
to those paid from the territorial treasury.
Taking the last six annual appropriations
for Wyoming, which cover the period
from 1884 to June 30, 1890. the federal
government will have paid to the territory
an average of $25, $50 per nun
The expenditure of this amount, even
in the entire absence of any additional
revenue, will increase our taxation only
about eight-tenths of a mill on the dollar.
During the year 1888 we were assessed for
a special purpose-the building of a CAPT
tol-24 mills; and, for 1889, 1t will be
about the same, for similar purposes; but
this will be discontinued as unnecessary
hereafter.
So that, without additional income, we
can have a state government, as compre-
hensive as the territorial system, under
which the people will be permitted to gov
ern and regulate their own affairs, and be
fully represented in both houses of con-
gress, with all the resulting benefits; with
a tax of l TIC mills less than that levied
last year.
There will be, however, an increased
GNtuuC COLuluR Will sldItnOOu, aCtOTulOR
to the law providing for admission. The
state of Wyoming will, after date of ad-
mission, receive ) Der cent of the net re-
ceipts from all sales of United States
land within her borders; which will con
tinue until all such lands are sold. And
the revenue from this source, predicated
upon the receipts for the past four years,
will amount to something over 81. 900
annually. This will be greatly augmented
by the income from 622, 900 acres of land,
which. by the terms proposed, is accred-
tied to Wyoming for eventual sale and
benefit. And this latter is in addition
to the school sections and university lands
heretofore set apart.
The rental of this state land, together
with our percentage from sales of govern
ment land, will surely amount to more
than the sum we now receive from the
United States in aid of the territorial
government.
Besides this we will receive a large sum
as rental from the school and university
lands, not heretofore available. The
lands granted to US, estimated at the value
placed upon them by congress in the pro-
posed law, amount to So. 100000 in spe-
cial appropriations; 1913, $50, 900 in school
sections; $3.50, 500 in special university
lands; $3.50, 400 in school lands now with
drawn in government reservations; max
ing a total of $3S, lSl, 900; the title to all
of which passes to the state from the ma
tional government upon admission to the
Union
1t is perhaps true that the valuation in
this proposed law is excessive; but, to
cover possible shrinkage, we have, by the
terms of the same bill, n further grant of
the United States p~enitentiary and the
fish hatchery, already erected at Laramie,
with all lands necessary for their mainte-
nance, and cash appropriation Of $50, 900
to defray all the expenses of the change
from territorial to state government.
1t the receipts of this great p%atrimony.
which the general government proposes
bequeathing to us, are properly guarded
they will afford ample revenue for all the
public institutions. and will educate the
children of the state for all time to come.
At a yearly rental of one cent per
acre, those lands will procure an annual
income of one and one half times or, if
rented on the basis of five per cent in
terest, on a valuation of ftty cents an
acre will produce more than three times
as much as congress now appropriates for
our government.
1t being granted then that the law
which admits us to statehood will fully
provide in revenue, for all deficiencies
occasioned by the change there can be
no objection on the score of economy.
We surely need have no more officers nor
higher salaries as a state than as a terri
tory. Our citizens will be more patriotic
in their services for a beloved COM
monwealth than in their service for
a dependency of the national gov.
eminent. They will assume and
meet all responsibilities and I'M
til growth and a denser population shall
make greater expenses necessary, none
should be incurred by statehood.
In making the foregoing computations,
the increased revenues from a rapid
growth and development which will
surely follow admission, have not been
considered.
Wyoming will be in area, the eighth
contain the most extensive oil, coal and
iron fields, OF which we have know
ledge. Her grazing and farming lands
are extensive and her other are
great and diversified. Excellent educa-
tional, charitable, penal and other build
ing have been constructed. The moral
and financial condition of the territory is
good and there is less illiteracy than in
any other political division OF the
Union. Our vote increased about 25 per
cent from 1886 to 1883, and as we have
at present a population larger than any Of
the legislative states when admitted-more
than double that of Alabama, Mississippi,
Ohio, Oregon, Illinois and other states
and, as state government will not in
crease, but rather decrease taxation,
there remains no possible objection to
statehood. This being true, and there
being many advantages in local govern
ment, let MS hare statehood.
Our western neighbor, Idaho, is al
ready moving for a constitutional conven-
ton. to be held the 4th of July next, and
if il be your desire that early action be
taken for Wyoming, | shall be ready to
cooperate with you in emerging from de-
pendence and rising to independence.
Whether Wyoming's entrance into the
Union be FASTENED by fortuitous circum-
stances, or be retarded by events beyond
our control, whether statehood come in
1890 or be deferred two years hence; in
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