Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-11-03


ments bearing on tho subject, and
which hope may serve TO show that
legislation IL ne.ded 10 put the educa.
tlonal interests OF Utah on an equal
footing with the States and other Ter
ritories which have been benefited by
Government donations.
The territory contains about
90 10i 800 acres, and are about Ave.
sixths Of ali New England. The larger
part IL so mountainous that II can never
he titled, and tlllage OF the small part
OF the lands which lies In aud on the
borders OF the valley Il further limited
by the supply Of water for irrigation.
Nearly onc.fourth Of this area--about
$4,000 acres-hns been surveyed.
The Land once here was opened In
March, 1869, but the territory had con-
siderable settlements In the year 1850
and prior thereto, and previous 10 the
Government surveys the best land In
the territory, and that which could
most easily he irrigated Including
school scctlonsl, was taken up, aud has
since been conveyed TO the scttlets.
Under the land laws the schools and
University have only for lieu lands n
choice from lands not tillable and OF
little value.
II the entire revenue derived from
the sails OF agricultural lands In Utah
was donated ~ the public school, IL
would not for many years make n
school fund equal 10 the revenue de.
rived by some States from the sale Of
the school SECTIONS. IL IL pro able that
the revenue from the sale OF agficul
tural lands will greatly decrease 30
soon Ne payment for entries now made
are completed; for the demand and
search for land which ca n be- titled and
irrigated has been such that by the
time lieu lands can be selected for
schools the remaining lands will be
nearly worthless. Even whore school
lands In desirable locations were sur
veyed before settlement, and aru re.
served, the water In the vicinity IL all
appropriated aud the lands reduced TO
nominal value. This same condition
Of affairs exists In regard TO the Uni.
versity lands, which have been recently
selected but not utilized, aud at the
tim. Of the selection the best lands In
the territory and the water for ifriga.
ton had been appropriated. The r..
sllt II that the educational Interests ~
the territory will not have the benefit
Of any considerable fund, aud must nj.
ways be- supported by direct taxation. |
The large area Of the territory, rparely |
settled except alta few points, will make |
the support Of the public school system |
expensive In proportion 10 tbc amount
OF the taxable property and number Of
tho pupils. In 1890 there were 2l3
organized school districts, with n total
population Of about 201, 900. To put the
Territory on an equality with tn.
States, and the Territories where pub.
lie surveys preceded or accompanied
settlement, aud where lieu lands could
be selected In place Of those previously
occupied, will require legislation, and
there occurs 10 me two ways: either 10
donate, IN the territory non.miheral
lands, a. suggested by the resolutions
adopted by the Irrigation Congress, or
~ give n perccniagc from the sale OF
non-mineral lands to be Invested ~ n
fund for the support Of the schools and
University.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
l respectfully renew the recommends
alton made IN former reports for the
erection OF public buildings nj Salt |
Lake and Ogden cities. Thc Senate Of
the United States passed bills intro
uuced for this purpose, and In the
House OF Representatives tn. Commit.
teo ON Public buildings and Grounds
reported the bills with favorable re-
cotnmendation, and they were placed
ON the calendar, where they remained,
despite the most earnest efforts 10 have
them brought before the House for con-
pideration.
II the Congress could be made TO
fully appreciate the urgent needs Of the |
public servic. In these cities there |
would be no delay In authorizing the |
erection Of the buildings.
OLD CAPITAL BUILDING.
The old capital building at Fillmore
IL still used for school purposes. The
Presbyterian mission school and the
Millard Stake academy occupy the
building with the understanding that
they must keen II In repair.
pESITHSnARy.
The addition to the Utah pen.
itentiary, authorized by Congress, has
been completed at u cost off95,00O.
On June lst, 1891, the department OF
the Interior appointed the Governor,
T.rrIto,y n comm,,,.a ,oava,atna nJ
deliver To the United States marshal
for Utah, representing the department
OF Justice, the building, N completed
In accordance with the plans and
specifications. The committee visited
the penitentiary aud carefully inspect
eli NIL the new work, finding the
building TO have been properly con.
structed, on July stb, 1891. They