The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-12
LANDS GRANTED TO THE STATE.


maintenance OF q scieutifc school. o. stat, nor
MAJ schools: OF public buildings a. the state
ga isa; OF agricu ,tural colleges. and Of state
charitable. educational, penal and reiormatory
institutions These land. were to be selected
by the state under the direction of the secretary
o. The interior from the surveyed uuappropri-
ated pubic lands OF the United States Al the
hrst session OF the legislature law was enacted
creating the state land commission, composed
sioner OF public Lands, who with seven agents,
appointed by the governor under an acE APP
Ias.. aaTch 10. 1871 were empowered TO
LANES thus granted. The act OF 1891
expressly provided that ii should not
take effect until the rules aud regulations re-
erred 20 should be promulgatei by the secTe-
taFy OF the interior. The issuance of these reg
ulations long delayed. Wien they were re-
ce!Ved and the land commission organized it
va ascertained that n appropriation hsi been
male by the last legislature for the compeusa-
tion OF the agents nor foT the payment OF the
fee, which wouii become due at the United
States an offices when apni icatiOu was made
TO enter the selected lands. By an arrange nent
ma ie with the agents, payment Tor their serv-
Ices was postpone until the legislature should
convene and MAKE appropri atiou therefor. The
land office fees, amounting TO $4,000. have been
advanced by two ate officers. A preparations
Tor the reimbursement o. these officers and for
the payment OF the several amounts due the
agents Will be necessary.
On the 9TH day of January, 1898, there had
been selected 3l6,575 acres. of the appraised
value OF s5,7ol.96a Equitable apportlonment
has been made 10 the several purposes they were
intended TO aid.
Among the important questions which will
come before you at the present session are,
WHAT disposition shall be made OF these granted
lands, and when shall they De disposed OF? All
these lands viii be selected and secured to the
state during the next TWO years Their aggre.
gate value viii approximate 100000 That
their value will be largely increased in few
years cannot be doubted. Therefore the prac-
teal financial problem is presented Shall these
lands be dispose OF in the near future ana the
proceeds accruing from the sale thereof applied
to the various objects for which they were
granted, or shall they be retained by the state
for several years. so that it can realize the en-
hancement in value which will assurediy
follow?
After a very careful consideration of the sub
tect have arrived ut the conclusion that the re-
tentiOn by the state of these lands for a period
of ten years will be highly advantageous from q
pacuniary point OF view. AT the expiration of
from 100 to 500 per cent. above their pres
ent value. If this policy is pursued some
PLAZA I be- devised for the construction of
buildings at the state capital, OF state unlver-
sitv anu Of other institutions for which the
lands have been granted. This could be accom-
plished by means of direct taxatiou-a plan not
| to be considered for o moment. The burden
would be greater than the psople should be
| called upon TO bear. The most judicious step
! state bonds. maturing III ten years, 10 be PAID
| from the proceeds OF the sale of the granted
| lands: the funds derived from the sale of the
| bonds 10 be appostiQned to the several Objects
| for which the lands were granted. 1t Is plain
| that such u course will not create an Indebted
ness against the state which the people Will ever
| be called upon to NQUidate by taxation Tho
| proceeds OF the sale of only moiety of the
granted lands viii: suffice for the payment of all
| bonds which will probably be issued.
| II you deem 1t advisable to adopt this plan,
then 1t W III De neces AIRY to submit at the next
| general election q constitutional endment
permitting an increase of the amount of indebt-
| einess which can be incurred BY the state. This
amendment should not directly nor perma-
| neutiy change any portion OF our present COLI
| sttution. An independent article should be
| submitted permitting all increase o! the indebt-
| edness for cpecitic purpose and for definite
| amount: which indebtedness should be iiqui-
| dated by the proceeds o.. the sale OF the granted
| lands. When the debt thus created is paid the
| amendment viii! no longer be operative, and the
| present limitations of our constitution respect
| ing the amount of Indebtedness which can be
| Incurred will be in full force and effect. The
amendment should expressly provide that the
| proceeds OF the sale OF bonds should De applied
| only for the objects for which the Land grants
| Were made: and that the proceed OF the sale OF
| lands should be devoted exclusively to the pay
| ment of the bonds.
This would eifectuelly protect tho people
| from taxation for the payment Of any part Of
| the Indebtedness thus incurred. The proceeds
| accruing from the sale OF the lands would be
several million dollars in excess OF the Indebted.
| ness created and such excess, or the iuteres;
| arts ing therefrom, If such excess were made an
| irreducibie fund to be loaned. could be applied
to the support ana maintenance OF the iustltu-
| tons Tor which lands were granted The inter
est on the bonis could be paid from fund de:
| rived from leasing the agricultural lands and
| from the sale of timber OIL timber lands.
II will be perceived that ii this policy is
adopted no additional burdens by way of taxa
ton will be imposed upon the peop e; the pur
poses Tor which the lands We're granted will be
carried out, ana u fund VIII b. created for the
maintenance of those Institutions requiringsup
port.
The amendment to the constitution sub
mttei al the last election was In some respects
| Objectionable. 10 the fact that II wa both mis-
represented and misunderstood sh luli lie at
tributed its failure 10 receive the Endorsement
OF the people.
| STATE CAPITOL BUILDINGS.
| In the case of the cauitol buildings anothe
| course IN hit be pursued. No citizen wno ha
| the slightest concern Tor the dignity of on
| state. or who would view with pride the sub
stantiai manifestation OF our prosperity, bu
| must feel chagriued and impatient AZ the della,
| exper eucti in beginning the construction o
| pedirious legislation woi K cannot bc commence
| on these structures within two years. II TIL
| legislature does not choose to provide for th
! issuance oi bonds. covering loans on the granted
! lands i'll the manner l have suggested, wont,
! tIreC, your attention u section 3, article V III
| OF the constitution, which enaules you to a.
! proprIare such sum OF money a. may b
! deemed necessary Tor this particular purposG
! The section / have cited empowers YOU to tx
| ceed the prescribed limitation OF Indebtedness
when tie single object sought 10 be accoan
plished is u stlnctly specified i'll the Ineasur
! YOU adop:. Clothed with this constitutions
| power you may pass a law, sublec: 10 the sccepi
auce or rejection o. the people ut the next gen
eral election, providing for tie expenditures I
be- incurred IN erecting the capitol buildings.
OFFICIAL REPORTS.
The reports the state officers, OF trustees
regents ana other governing b dies of our stat
institutions and OF the various commits ion
which have been charged with public Quite,
are numerous and voiumuoUs that Am III
able t. resent even a summary OF tIClF cor
tents without extending thts communication I
an unreasonable length They Will be lali b.
! fore Won in couy suicnt prlntet form. and VII
rea .I4y enable you t ascertain the prosre-
made The affairs 81 state ducln. the past tw
! ye.r, at-d t"clr present con l-lou- They co.
tam valuable suggestions, T. which g pecia!i
cal your attention..
Harmony ia. PREVAILED in the management q
al OF our -taic Institutions, e1eeptin. the ayr
/ cultural college anu school OF science al PA
! man. | advised tH8t the regents wit It
quest investigation 10 Il legislative comm
! tee This request, ii presented. should b
granted. and / = = not made. an tnVes gItlo
! should be ordered 10y you.
NECESSITY FOR MINING LEGISLATION.
| The we: ascertaiE.ed act that the mouata;
ranges O.. the state aie stored with prccioU
for the massage of avs designed 10 invite &!
! Investment ri capita! AMI L promote the q
/ yelormout OF the mining industry. In the 7
/ serFatiou- OF power made to the states N
sut iert, II j. The l. tent OF the congressional el
/ actinelts thai policy sjtailaT L the DE
I vadius The Fedora. land laws. shall be carrie
out " the state i-Ei> latDres - emergency ma
/ dictate. II is nuw opportUue that ;he icsi-
! ture OF Washington ayalt itself of the RICH:
! provtte REGULATE 5us requiring me ioca.crs
| mining property To perform within reaeoaao
! time, the labor necessary 70 demons trgtc u
| actual character OF their claims, while prOTlu
| thereby their honest purposes a. claimant
! This would prevent the proHiscunus W la. esa
and irresponsible filing on property which it
| not the intention 70 develop; abolish practic
| now retsrtiug the prosperity Of msny inIniE
! districts: enlarge the lie Il Tor legitimate pro
| Meeting: concentrate the energies Of the pro
| rector; aud, finally. stimulate the small Inve
, | tors.