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

must become self-sustaining. An ap-
preparation of $11,5OO was made for its
maintenance, and it is source of graf
ification for me to say that for the years
1906 and 7 the State Engineers Office
will earn at least $4,000, or $4,000 more
than the cost of maintenance.
STATE LAND OFFICE REOR-
CANNED.
The most important measures of all
those passed by the Eighth session were
those for the reorganization of the
State Land Department, for upon the
economical and businesslike administra-
ton of this department depends large
" the welfare Of every institution of
the state. When Idaho was admitted
into the Union, congress gave to the
common schools one-eighteenth of the
whole area of the state. Let us pause
for moment to see what one-eighteenth
of the whole State of Idaho means for
our common schools. This is more than
100000 acres of land. The minimum
price that these lands can be. sold for
under our constitution is $1,000 an acre.
This represents the enormous sum of
more than $30,OOO,OOO. 1t is true that
fully one-half of this enormous grant
lis practically worthless, yet l believe
with the proper management, nearly
every section can be made to earn some
thing for the common schools, and in
time if business forethought is used in
connection with this great grant, there
should be fund at hand of at least
$15,Ooo,0oo. Besides giving one-eight-
zenith of the State of Idaho to our COM
mon schools, Congress gave to our pub
lie institutions 66s,0O0 acres of land.
Besides this there has been given to
Idaho 100000 acres under the Carey
Act. The supervision of all those enor-
nous grants is in the hands of the State
Land Board, and it is safe to say rep
resents the enormous sum of fully $780,
100000. There is sad story connected
with these grants. I regret very much
that it falls to my lot to advise you OF
the condition of the land department and
the selection of lands for our public in
stitutions by past administrations. How
ever, | feel that you should know
the truth and that your interest should
be awakened to what these enormous
grants mean to our public institutions
and common schools, so that in the
future you will ever keep watchful
eye over the administration of these
splendid endowments given us by the
general government. At the beginning
of this administration, practically all of
the special grant lands had been select
ed, but careful inquiry into those Sc
lections has disclosed an unfortunate
condition for our public institutions.
One of the first acts of this admins
tration was to make an effort for the
REIMBURSEMENT of $4,000 acres that had
been selected by previous administra-
ton but had not yet been decided to the
state. It was found that this tract of
land was practically worthless. 1t was
found, too, that some of it had been
selected as timber land for our State
University. that did not have a tree
growing upon it and was rough barren
covered with brush. After a
hard fight and with the assistance OF
Senator Hepburn, the government al
lowed us to relinquish this $4,000 acres
of land, and there has been selected in
its place some very valuable agricultural
and timber land the present value OF
which, as estimated by our appraisers,
is three-quarters of million dollars.
have letter with me from Mr.
D. w. Ross. Some of you no doubt
know Mr.. Ross and many have heard
of him. He has charge of the govern
ment reclamation service in Idaho.
am informed by him that the govern
ment surveys of the state around and
in the vicinity of the government pro-
iects show that there has been selected
for public institutions by past admins
trations over 10000 acres of worthless
lands, either through the lack Of water
or being entirely too high on the hill
sides and mountain tops for water to
reach. This only tells part of the
story in southern Idaho, and it is safe
to say that Of the $4,000 acres OF
lands selected by past administrations,
fully 225, 900 of it in northern and south
ern Idaho is absolutely worthless.
I. regret very much to have to tell
you so sad story, but not only has
the interest of the state been lost sight
Of in the selection of lands, but prac-
tically in every other branch Of the land
department. This administration has
given up greater part OF
its time to try and place the land de-
AA -, -. economical business I