Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1889-03-28

Committee on Territories, February
6, 1889.
Mr.. Dubois said:
Gentlemen OF the committee, |
thank you tor the compliment you pay
Us In giving SO much Of your valuable
time to the territories, pressed is you are
with other business. | shall not detuin
you long, but will briefly and in gen
eral manner give You some reasons why
Idaho sh0ulu be admitted to the Union
of States, aud why her people desire it
While it may be urged by somo that
we have not IS many people as some
districts in the East, the rapid and con
tinued growth OF the territory is every.
thing that goes to make up prosperous
commonwealth aud the resources with
which nature has so richly endowed lis
should still any uneasinees lis to tbs
proud and grand position which we vii
quickly attain.
At the election in 1850 there wers
cast 1000 votes for delegate ia congress
in 1888 over 10000 votes were cast.
In 1880 there were a few more than
$4,000 people to-day the number can
not be far from 100000.
Instead Of spending $4,000 for school
purposes, distributed through twenty
nine school districts, as in 1880, We spcHt
$4,000 i'll 1883 for educational pur
poses, aud distributed it throughout
three hundred and thirty seven schoo
districts.
Substantial and commodious school
houses adorn and add to the attractions
OF every town.
The territory has built and furnished
splendid capitol building at cost OF
$4,000 and also 40 asylum for the
insane at a cost Of 100000, unaided by
the general government.
The territory contains in round uum-
Der 55, 100000 acres of land, 1900
COO OF which are mountainous, l5.UU0,.
Geo agricultural lands, 1000, 900 forests
25,000,000 grazing lands and 100000
acres Of lakes. Rich mines of preciou.
metals are hid away Lcneath the surfac,
Of the rugged mountains, the sides Of
which support magnificent forests.
Idaho is greater in area than New
York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, anc
New Hampshire combined. The warn
currents of the Pacific sweep over ,ht
territory and have most beneficial
effect on its arabic belts. The averas,
or mean annual temperature of til.
valleys is about fifty one degrees. abou
four degrees warmer than Connecticut
No Western or coast state or lerritor,
is SO well watered as Idaho. The Snake
river, Ciark's Fort, Spokane, Salmon
Boise, Paye,te, Weisor, Big and Littl,
Wood, Bruneau, Malad, Portneuf
Clearwater, Occur dAiene, St. Josepl
aud kootenai, are all large rivers int.
which many smaller ones empty. Their,
are at least l5,O0O,0OO acres in tn,
valleys and uplands which can be irri
gated and made lavishly productive.
All cereals and vegetables which ca,
pe raised north of the cotton GROWN.
line 10 the Atlantic states flourish in ,h
greatest prctusion. Apples, pears, prunes
apricots, nectarines, and all smaller fruit
and berries OF the finest quality ar
produced with never-iailipg regularity.
Irrigation is necessary in South Idaho
Nearly all the lands which lie adjacent /
the smaller streams, and which can b
irrigated with tritlipg cost, have bee
taken up and are cultivated. The ea
pense of building large canals from til
great streams is such that individuals ca
not afford it, and companies are loath t
invest their money in it without sui
sides Of land. BY giving Idaho stat,
hood and granting them control OF Gel
tain lands, provided the state will frs
reclaim it by putting water on it, ever
acre would be settled up within fou
years. The lands which could be mad
the most productive in the country ar
now valueiess, and viii remain 50 10
years to coineunder our present system q
territorial government.
North Idaho is different 10 climat
somewhat, and raises grain, vegetable
and fruit 10 the greatest abundanc
without irrigation. There is no bette
farming country anywhere than 10 Nortl
Idaho, and il is fast settling up with a
intelligent and industrious class 0
farmers. North Idaho alone will hay
20O, 600 people within eight years. nm