Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-04-28
Judge James H. Beatty's Report
Furnishes Some Interesting
Facts to Public.
MUCH LAND IS DISPOSED OF.
81 81 1000 Acres selected But 1882
Remain and Timber on Large
Tract Burned.
Special Correspondence.


Boise. Idaho, April 2i--From Judge
James II, Beatty's report. as n mem
Der Of the capitol building commission,
some interesting facts are cleaned rela-
tive to land selections for the capitol
building grant during former state ad-
minlstrations
The Judge gives an itemizcd state
ment Of the expenditures thus far made
on the new capitol building, which ag.
gregate s49,9sl.29 and then goes on to
explain the source Of this fund. He
says:
When Idaho was admitted as \
state, grant of $1,000 acres OF land
was made FOR capitol building purposes
When tho capitol bill was introduced
into the legislature, Impressions re-
ceived from varioug sources led me TO
believe that this grant was substantial
iy intact and was worth not less than
100000. II was then thought that
with this sum and the use OF peDltenti-
airy labor in quarrying stone, we could
erect Il credttable capitol building. I'M
der these circumstances the bill was
introduced, carrying an appropriation
OF s350.000, not out Of state funds, as is
of the proceeds Of the sale Of lands.
The bill also provided for the issue of
100000 OF bonds, that we might have
immediate funds instead of making a
force sale of the lands. IL il provided
that these bonds and all interest there.
on shall be repaid from the land pro.
ceeds.
1T was my hope that the capitol
be built without cent of taxation to
the people. Much to my surprise
learned some time ago that much of
our land had been disposed OF for what
seems small value; hence our delega-
ton In. Congress has been requested TO
ask another donation, and bill IL now
pending IN both houses for 5000 acres
more. Senators Dubois and Hepburn
and Congressman French have prom
Used their influence for It's passage"
Tho records OF the state land depart.
ment show that OF the $4,000 acres OF
land selected for the capitol building
fund, but IL, 1852 acres now remain. and
that the timber from 3,0S5 of which has
been burned, rendering the land worth
less as far as the timber Is concerned
This land Is valued at an average Of
Sic per acre, aggregating sum equql
to about $l942S0. Altogether. then, the
total fund now available for capitol
building purposes amounts to S3325I0.-
72.
The records of the land department
show to- on 10th of November and
22nd of December, 1902. 11,0S5 acres OF
fine timber land was sold In Kootenai
and Shoshone counties for the very
small sum OF $685. an acre. II is
authenticity reported that II that land
had been held until the present time
it would have brought from $40 to
si5 an acre.
This does not reflect very creditably
on the former state administrations;
but the worst has not yet been told.
Where the capitol building fund seems
10 have suffered the greatest loss was
IN the wretched work OF the land
solicitors.
Had proper attention been given to
the selections. the grant would have
come nearly meeting the demands, but
II Is plain to be seen that the utter
most carelesss.ess was exercised In
this work. Vast selections were made
by seiectors who never were near tho
region Of the location of the land. Very
valuable tracts of timber land were
overlooked entirely. and practically
worthless selections made.
However deplorahle the past record
may be, those most interested IN mat
ters of state are beginning to feel
much encouraged over the efficient
work OF the present administration In
Graduating the evil and IN turning
back to the government some OF those
worthless tracts and securing in their
stead lands OF much greater worth.
This work Of checking up the lands
of the capitol building grant Is being
pushed with vigor and a showing Is
being made that Is quite encouraging.
In referring 10 the sale OF timber
lands in 1902 In Kooteual county. "a
section of which brought the state the
sum of 49, 400 40 only, aud this WAS the
cream OF tine county too, II would be
well TO call to mind the sale OF sec-
ton OF timber land OF less commercial
value in that same county last month.
II brought the state $4,000 a differ
ence Of s2S,56960. which is quite an
item In itself.
People all over the state are Very
much agitated just now over the stats
land question, and a very Interesting
report Is forthcoming on the splendid
work that is being accomplished by this
administration through the state land
department Nearly all the south ain
counties are checked UP on their sch0rI
lands, and some alarming conditions
ThNt uttu tntNuHltItu. III some NJ
stances people have been making their
home on school lands for as high as ~
and is years, and have never paid A
rent rental or tax 10 the state. other
( sections are lost entirely. In such cases
lieu selections are made,
SAN FRANCISCO DISASTER.
Boise city Is much agitated over he
San Francisco disaster Many Boise
ties We're there AT the time of the cat
aclysm, but so far as heard from none
were killed
Boise is making energetic efforts to-
ward adding a neat sum to the general
relief fund Up to this morning she
has already collected 50 332 rs, but the
committee intends TO keep at work TN
III the subscription list totals $4,000
Prominent Cinnamon OF this city re-
port that a great number Of their I'm.
\ fortunate countrymen from San Fran
X cisco are now enroute 10 Boise chi
4 nese RESIDENTS here have contributed
+. quite a sum OF money toward payiug
( the transportation of refugees To this
4 city.
A The governor Is daily receiving checks
Ton the relief fund, coming from all
4 paws Of the state, Scarcely town
\ In the state Is not found on the sub
\ sOiptiOn list credited with a sum rapg.
Z ing from H1O IN Si0 0Ou