Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-02-05
STATEHOOD FOR IDAHO.


Memorial of the Territorial Assembly
OF Idaho, to the Congress of the
! y. s., praying for the admission
of the Territory as State of the
| Union.
10 the Senate and House of Repre-.
sentatIves:
! Your memorialists, the Legislative
Assembly of Idaho Territory, unani-
mously in both houses, most respect.
fully represent:
! That since the organization of the
Territory of Idaho we have cheer.
fully yielded obedience to the laws of
the United States, and recognize the
right of Congress to make all needful
rules and regulations respecting the
Territories.
i That we now discla'm any purpose
to reflect in any manner upon the
fostering care of the National Gov.
ernment, but gladly renewing our
feaity to the Constitution of the
United States, and reassuring our
abiding faith in their perpetuity and
strength, do further represent the
proud wish of our people to assume
the responsibilities and honors OF one
OF their number.
That Idaho Territory has a popula-
ton of 10000 energetic, intelligent,
law and liberty loving citizens, nearly
all of American birth, immigrants
from the States east and west of her,
and this population rapidly increasing;
that Idaho has $4,000 square miles of
territory, 1000 miles of railway run
ming, and several lines in process of
construction, and wealth of about
$5O,ooo,OoO.
That 1daho's mining, grazing and
lumterng interests are already OF
vast importance, and that their de-
velopment is rapidly increasing the
wealth of the Territory.
9 That while daily developments are
proving the rare mineral wealth of
our mountains, and our experience IN
, stock raising assures US of the une-
qualed capacity of the lower slopes
for pasturage, still, from our years of
experiments, we are satisfied that the
great wealth of Idaho is to be found
, in her agricultural resources.
That Idaho has immense valleys of
millions OF acres Of rarest fertility
when only blessed by the presence of
water.
That system Of irrigation cover
ing these vast tracts, if not beyond
the reach of individual enterprise, at
least should be kept within the con-
troll, and for the behest of the State.
That therefore, in the behalf of the
agricultural interests of Idaho, which
, we believe are to be of a value now
/. little comprehended, we earnestly de-
sire the powers and organization of a
State.
, That accepting the generous do
nation of public lands, which Con-
gress, we doubt not will grant for
L the foundation of an intelligent and
efficient system of irrigation cock
tensive with our need and oppor-
tunity, and prosecuting the enter
prise by the direct and combined
J power of the State, joined with that
Il rich providence of an unrivalled eli
y mate, we believe that in Idaho may
= be ouilded an agricultural State ricl
! and grand beyond all example.
That our pupilage as Territorial
: wards has given US desire for the
~ broader freedom of American citl
!, zenship; and that while disclaimlnG
- any criticism of the men, and whil'
- gladly acknowledging in most In
. stances their high character, we con
, - fess that the Territorial policy o
- - sending strangers to rule over us an
to expound our laws, is growing dis
tasteful, and, we beg to represent,
:. wholly unsuited to our present cond
- -. ton and the growing Importance
:; the diversified interests OF the Terr
. tory.
That the large augmentation will
in the last few years of our popul'
ton and resources, with the prom's
" of much greater increase in the in
" mediate future, whereby the prop'
~ administration of our laws demand
N more perfect and comprehensive sy
=. ~ tenn of government than can be a
i" tanned under Territorial organization
;usti6es our desire for Statehood.
That the only drawback TO Il