Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1889-05-18

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Penitentiary lands. ....... l66
Agricultural college lands. 10000
Scientific school lands. -. 100000
Normal school lands. 100000
Charitable institutions. ~. 100000
Public buildings. ...... $4,000
Total number of acres. 3,50S, 240
Deduct from this the lava bed and
mountain lands which would naturally
fall to our share, there would still re-
main three million acres of timber,
plain and meadow lands, to the credit
of Statehood If it were wise public
policy to sell these lands at once in
open market at their present value,
we should enter upon Statehood with
the richest treasury west of the Miss.
Look at this grant in detail. When
these school lands shall have been
sold in accordance with existing laws,
our school taxes will be reduced to an
ineonsiderable rate. We have incor-
porated a Territorial University and
levied a special tax for its support;
when the University grant is placed
upon the market it is probably that
this tax can be entirely remitted
Three other excellent educational in
situations can be based upon the
grants for agricultural, scientific and
normal schools. We are paving $50,
900 annually for the support of an
Insane Asy lum: ultimately the Con
gressional grant may take this entire
ly off our hands. We are confronted
with debt on our Capitol building
Of $4,000; the Congressional grant
ought to pay every dollar of it. We
are pay $4,000 per year for support
of Territorial prisoners sum which
not only provided for our own pris-
oners, but for those of the United
States as well; Congress proposes to
spend $4,000 more on this prison,
give us the entire property, and then
pay us for boarding Federal conyicts.
Out Of similar grant, the State of
Nevada has already realized $1,000
900, and yet has most of its lands
unsold. The annual receipts now by
the State of Nevada from the current
sales of these lands is an amount
equal to nearly double the present
cost of supporting our entire Terrific
rial government
The lands included in the various
grants to the State of Idaho are now
worth not less than $3,750,0 900. Only
six per cent. annual interest on this
sum is 225,000-three times our
present Territorial income.
In addition to the foregoing grants
Of lands, the State of Idaho will re-
ceive for school purposes, five per
cent of net proceeds of all public
lands sold within the State by the
General Government, magnificent
sum of itself.
The assessment of real and personal
property in the Territory has increas-
ed since 1873 at the rate of about
81 100000 per annum. The increase
of assessable property would be much
more rapid under State government.
| refer to this as an evidence that tax
alton need not be increased above the
present levy to meet all the require
ments of State government
One Of the most serious hindrance
to the progress of our Territory, is
what is known as the Alien Act Of
Congress, which is an effectual pro
hibition Of the investment Of foreign
capital. An Intellectual attempt was
made during the last Congress to re-
peal or modify this law, SO that our
people might be in some measure ben
Gifted by the large amount of money
held by this class of capitalists, who
are ready and anxious to invest large |
sums in the purchase and develop
ment of our mines. If Idaho shall
become State, this hindrance to our
prosperity, is at once removed as
this law only applies to Territories,
over which Congress has exclusive |
control
Whether Statehood will bring even
a temporary increase of taxation, de-
ponds upon the judicious action of
the Constitutional Convention. Into
the details Of their great work can
not enter. 1t is for you to instruct
your representatives in the principles
Of economy.
The convention will, undoubtedly
fix its own per diem and mileage, and
that of its employees. Their certificates
Of service and expenditure will be
filed with the Territorial Secretary,
and Congress will doubtless follow