Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1894-07-27
utah ALMOST A State.
TIE PRESIDENT HAS SIGNED
THE ENABLING ACT.

Machinery Set In Motion to Make the
Forthwith Member of the Union
The Population, and Resources,
Developed and Undeveloped, of
the Mormon Territory.
Utah practically passed into Statehoo ut
midnight when President Cleveland signet
the act enablin the Territory TO be admitted
into the Union. There was nothing dramatic
about tho signing. Tae President
merely took up silver penholdeT,
in which an ordinary steel suo
pen point was inserted. and wrote "Ap-
proved. Grover Cleveland, " to the engrossAi
copy of tho act The silver penhoider 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 it is enclosed
The signing OF the bill closes one of tho
most remarkable contests in the history OF
American politics. The Territory has been
an applicant for statehood, and really elis-
ible in population and wealth for many
years. 1t has formed the only break III the
string Of States that stretches from The A.
lantfc to the Pacific Oceans. The struggle
! over polygamy and the Mormon Church
has deferred it's admission until the present
time President Harrison, in 1892. issuet Il
proclamation giving amneStyto all Nor mons
convicted of polygamy, and President CteVt-
mary progress toward Statehood.
According to the operations OF tn" en-
abling act. it will devoive upon the Pres
dent in November or December OF 1S9j, to
issue Il proclamation formally admitting
Utah into the Union. One remarkahle fei-
| ture in the latter stages of the contest mas
| been the unanimity with which thetwo great
| political parties have acted in favor OF a!-
| mission. Neither party now knows Wnlcl
| will gain it when State.
fn =
| government. Under it Constitutional
| Convention will meet next NJ rtl. Inc
| Constitution framed by II VIII be SUI
| mitted to the people OF Utah 1or rat
f1cation in November, 1898. Ii 1t l9
ratified and, in the opinion of the Pres'.
| dent it provides for representative form OF
| government Utah will be declarai State
| by proclamation. and the forty-ffth star Will
| be added to the flag. Under the law the
| Constitution must guarantee religious liberty
| and prohibit poygamy.
| A State Governor and member OF Congress
| will be chosen in November. 1895. ami the
| Legislature then elected will choose two
| United States Senators, OF WHO Il, 1t IS be
| lieVed the senior Will be the preSenL oele-
| gate. Mr.. Rawlns.
| Under the provisions of the StatehOO act
| Utah is to disclatm all title TO the unap-
| propriated public lands, and all ln,tIan ian IS
| are to remain under the absolute Jurls 1lctlon
| of the United States. The Government con
| cedes liberal grants of lands to the State Tor
| public purDoseS One hundred sections are
! given for public buildings 1T the capital. 3D.
600 acres for an agricultural college. two town
| ships and 10 900 acres for the University OF
| Utah for irrgating purposes. 5OO, OO0 acres !;
| for an insane asylum. for school OF mines,
| for deaf and dumb asylum, Tor reform
| school for State Normal School. for an IN
| stitution for the blind each 10, ,0OG acres,
and for miners hospital. 10000 acres
The United States Penitentiary. near
| Salt Lake City. is granted to the State.
| All granted lands are to be sold at pub
| lie sales for not less than So IN 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
| De paid by the Government TO the State
as Il permanent fund for tne support OF
| the common schools. Of which the interest
only is available. All of the educatlon3i
| institutions are to remain under the eH-
elusive control of the State, and no part OF
the proceeds of tho land can be used for tho
support Of any sectarian or denomlnatlonat
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 popuia-
ton is now estimated at 225, 900. and the pro
| portion of foreign born is less than IN tnlr-
| teen of the States.
AS to her resources. the assessed value OF
| her real and personal property and nprovs-
| ments for last year was $l03. 800. Ill. AMI III
Incorporated cities and towns alone it was
$94. 533 ,352 This last is an increase o. up
ward of 1000, 900 above the value Of the
| previous year while the Indebtedness OF cities
AMI towns was put at 32,093,O30, de-
crease from the year preceding. The value
| of the sheep alone in Utah is S2.6iS.l .l2S, taat
of the cattle greater than that OF the sheep,
and of the horses ant mules greater st'li.
| The aggregate valuation of these animals
exceeds S., 900. 900. The mineral product
for 1892 was reported as SIG, ,276, $500.
Turning to the undevelopei resources,
large deposits of iron and copper ores an
great beds of coal and sulphur. of asphalt
and salt are found. Agriculture is i'm
peded by the aridty OF much of the sol.
yet there are many fertile and well-watered
lands, 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 has An agricultural
college, besides Deseret University. Above
all, polygamy is dead, never to DO resurrect-
ed either by Church or State. and thus the
great obstacle of former years to Utahs adj
mission is removed.