The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1906-11-02

OUT Dy CdreIul selection OF tn1S enOr-
nous tract of land it is safe to say
there has been added to. the wealth
of our public institutions and common
schools at least $3,00O,00O. There were
two matters that this administration
DENIED of vital Importance in order to
place the land department on basis
for the future. First, that we should
have a complete set Of records of all
that has been done in that office since
statehood; second, that we must nave an
inventory of every acre of land owned
by the state. I mean by an inventory,
that there should be a description of
every forty acres of land owned, giving
its location, character and everything
in connection with it that would show
its real value to the state With this
object in view, this administration has
ordered a set of books in which we hope
to have transcribed a complete record
of the land department since statehood
In eight counties of the state there has
been a personal investigation made Of
every forty acres of land owned by
the state by competent agent, and
there is today in the land department
a record showing the true value and the
conditions of the state lands in those
counties. In the work of our land
agents in some of these counties we
have found individuals living upon
school lands that have had the free
use of it ever, since statehood, never
paying penny's rental to the state, or
any taxes to the county
COMPARISON OF RESULTS.
These conditions are being changed
as fast as they are found in any part
of the state, and through the efforts
of our land agents this administration
has collected from rentals from state
lands $4,000 in twenty months. From
this source since statehood up to the
beginning of this administration there
had been collected from rentals only
$1,000 By the end of this admins
tration there will have been paid into
the State Treasury at least $4,000 in
two years from this source alone, or
$4,000 more than all the other admins
trations since statehood. find upon
careful investigation that for the first
fourteen years of statehood, or from
the life of statehood up to January /,
1905, there had been earned for this
state from the land department from
all sources the sum of $135,0O0. Under
the reorganization Of the land depart
ment during the first twenty months Of
this administration of the land depart
ment has earned $324,oOo, or $4,000
more than all previous administrations
since statehood. While / feel that this
administration has made splendid be-
ginning, in the reorganization of the
State Land Department, yet it is only
beginning. If those enormous grants
are handled in the future as a business
man would handle them they should
earn for our public institutions and our
common schools many times as much as
they are earning today, and | can say
to the people of Idaho that through the
efforts Of this administration in placing
the land department on business basis
the next administration will be able to
cut state taxes fully 80 per cent, besides
increasing the amount Of money paid
into our common school funds many
times over, by any other administration.
During the life of statehood to the be-
ginning of this administration there had
been paid by the state into the common
school funds $453,O00. During this adj
there will be paid to the
common schools $271, OOO-more than
one-half as much as all the other admin
istrations put together.
FREMONT COUNTY SELECTION.
One Of the most imnortant acts Qf ]