The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-08-01
utah ALMOST A State.
THE PRESIDENT HAS SIGNED
THE ENABLING ACT.

Machinery Set In Motion.to Make the
Forty-fitth Member OF the Union
The Population, and Resources,
Developed and Undeveloped, of
the Mormon Territory.
Utah practically passed into Statehood at
midnight, when President Cleveland signed
the act enabling the Territory to be admitted
into the Union. There was nothing dramatic
about the signing. The President
merely took up a silver penholder,
In which an ordinary steel stub
| pen point was inserted, and wrote ZAP
proved, Grover Cleveland" to the engrossed
CODY OF the act. The silver penbolder was
furnished by Mr.. Rawlins, the Delegate in
Congress from Utah. and he will present 1t
TO the new State. along with the pretty suede
case In which 1t Is enclosed.
The signing OF the bill closes one of the
most remarkable contests in the history OF
American politics. The Territory has been
an applicant for Statehood, and really elig-
ibIe In population and wealth for many
years. It has formed the only break in the
string OF States that stretches from the At
lantic to the Pacific Oceans. The struggle
over poIygamy and the Mormon Church
has deferred its admission until the present
time. President Harrison. in 1892, issued
proclamation giving amnestyto all Mormons
convicted of polygamy, and President Cleve-
land completed the final step in the prelim-
mary progress toward Statehood.
According to the operations of the en-
abling act. It will devolve upon the Presi-
dent. in November or December Of 1895, to
issue a proclamation formally admitting
Utah into the Union. One remarkable fea-
ture In the latter stages Of the contest has
been the unanimity with which thetwo great
political parties have acted In favor OF ad-
mission. Neither party now knows which
will gain It when State.
The bill empowers Utah to form State
government. Under 1t a Constitutional
Convention will meet next March. The
Constitution framed by 1T will be sub
mitted to the people Of Utah for rati.
fcation In November, 1895. If 1t Is
ratified and, In the opinion OF the Presi:
dent it provides for a representative form OF
government. Utah will be declared State
BY proclamation, and the forty-ifth star will
be added to the flag Under the law the
Constitution must guarantee religious liberty
and prohibit polygamy. .
A State Governor and member of Congress
will be chosen in November, 1895, and the
Legislature then elected will choose two
United States Senators. OF whom. it Is be
lieved. the senior will be the present dele
gate, Mr. Rawlins
Under the provisions Of the Statehood act
Utah Is to disclaim all title to the unap-
propriated public lands, and all Indian lands
are to remain under the absolute jurisdiction
of the United States. The Government con.
cedes liberal grants of lands to the State for
public purposes. One hundred sections are
given for public buildings at the capital. &c..
900 acres for an agricultural college, two town.
ships and 900 acres for the University oil
Utah: for irrigating purposes, 500, 900 acres
for an insane asylum, for school OF mines,
for deaf and dumb asylum, for reform
school. for State Normal School. FOR an in
stitution for the blind, each 100000 acres
and for miners hospital. $4,000 acres.
The United States Penitentiary, neal
Salt Lake City, Is granted to the State
All granted lands are to be sold at pub
lie sales for not less than S5 an acre,
but the State may lease them for terms
of five years. Ten per cent. OF the pro.
ceeds Of the sale OF the public lands
after the admission Of the State Is to
be paid by the Government to the State
as q permanent fund for the support OF
the common schools, Of which the interest
only Is available. All Of the educational
institutions are to remain under the ex-
elusive control OF the State, and no part OF
the proceeds Of the land can be used for the
support OF any ssctarlan or UNCONVENTIONAL
school.
These are the principal provisions OF the
contract upon which the Government OF the
forty -four existing States admits to State
hood the Territory OF Utah. Her popula-
ton is now estimated at 225, 600. and the pro-
portion OF foreign born Is less than IN thir-
teen Of the States.
AZ to her resources, the assessed value OF
her real and personal property and improve
ments for last year was 510S.S6O. Ill. and IN
incorporated cities and towns alone 1t was
1914, ,533. 352 This last is an increase OF up
ward Of $1,000, 900 above the value OF the
previous year, while the Indebtedness OF cities
and towns was put at S2,O9S: :03O, de-
crease from the year preceding. The value
of the sheep alone in Utah Is S2,643.l28 that
of the cattle greater than that OF the sheep,
and Of the horses and mules greater still.
The aggregate valuation Of these animals
exceeds S8,000.000. The mineral producer
for 1892 was reported as S16.276, S1S.OS.
Turning to the undeveloped resources.
large deposits OF iron and copper ores and
great beds OF coal anL., sulphur. OF asphalt
and salt are found. Agriculture is i'm
peded by the aridity Of much Of the soil,
yet there are many fertile and well-watered
Hands, and the progress Of irrigation Is
adding to them. The Indians of the Terri
tory are all quiet and peaceably disposed.
The schools are thriving, thanks to the Free
Schools laws, and Utah mas an agricultural
college, besides Dessret University. Above
all, polygamy is dead, never to be resurrect-
ed either by Church or State. and thus the
great obstacle Of former years to Utah's ad-