Arizona weekly citizen., 1893-02-11

Ine caucus or an. 24.
 Statement of Arizona's condition by the Governor of the Territory.
 POPULATION, SO,OOO.
 Assessment roll shows 6o,ooo two two years ago, exclusive of Indians untaNed and white citizens living on reservations. The increase during the last two years has been remark able.
 TAXABLE PROPERTY S75,ooo,ooo.
 Assessment roll shows S23,ooo,- 900, but 1t Is conceded by all that not to exceed one-third of the pro- perty Is taxed and that at low val uation.
 INDEBTEDNESS OF THE TERRITORY
 SSOo,oOo.
 The floating portion of which is now being paid off from the sale of territorial bonds bearing five per cent interest, and the bonded debt will be so paid when it natures, $I,- 5oO,ooo' of said bonds having been sold to eastern investors at par, after careful investigation, and are now commanding a premium.
 The debt of S3,oOO,ooO charged against the Territory includes with the territorial debt proper, county, municipal and school district indeb- edness created for the construction of public buildings, such as the ter ritOrial University, normal school penitentiary, insane asylum, coun- ty court houses, school houses, pub- lie highways the establishing of libra ries and other uSful purposes, and and for maintaining said institutions.
 Arizona has more to show for her debt comparatively than any subdivision of the union.
 Not one dollar has ever been ap- propriated by the United States for public buildings in Arizona.
 Arizona has never repudiated principal or interest, even at the for mer high rates charged, and now that the debt is authorized to be funded into five per cent bonds, making an average saving in inter est of three per cent, the credit of the Territory Is doubly good.
 Arizona issued bonds in the sum of S3o,ooo for an exhibit at the Worlds Fair, and said bonds were sold at premium in New York af- ter thorough investigation.
 The mistaken idea prevails with ome that the debt of $3,ooo,ooo is territorial proper, because the fund ing act of Congress permits terri torial bonds to be issued to cover it, and is misleading. The Territory simply becomes the endorser of the municipalities, counties and school districts, to aid them in paying of their debts and reducing the rate of interest. The portion of inter est which each locality is en- titled to pay Is made a lien against the taxable property of said locality which protects the Territory fully and no increased tax levy is srequired on territorial account. The rate oi interest is reduced and the security increased It would be inst as req sonable to charge the municipal debts of cities anywhere as State debts.
 Arizona's school system is second to none in the country.
 The advantage of statehood il the matter of owning the schoo lands alone would many times com pensate the increased expense O. government. No educational nOr race prejudices effect Arizona.
 An increase of one-half mill upor the actual taxable property of tn, Territory will cover the increased expense of maintaining a State gov ernment. The stability of value would be greatly strengthened b, statehood. I believe values woulc nearly double in three years. It is. not a matter Ql consideration | that the United StatA twill e.,er h.