Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-05-03
STATEMENT BY
STATE LAND BOARD
Upholds Its Action in Increasing
Price From $1.50 to
$3.50.
IN ANSWER TO PROTEST.
Eight thousand Acres Of Grazing Land
Was Sold Yesterday az the
Advanced Price.

In answer 10 the protest Of the rep
resentntives Of the mass meeting OF
land owners from 10 counties held in
this city on April I, against the action
of the board I'm increasing the price OF
state lands from 81 80 10 81 so per
acre. the state board OF land commits
sioners has issued the following state
ment upholding it's action IN that mat.
ter:
After due consideration Of the dues-
tons raised by your meeting, held at
Salt Lake City April 7. 1905, we sub
nit the following reasons for the posi-
ton taken by this board
The state land board Is a servant OF
and amenable to the people. and Is
governed by the laws enacted by the
people through their representatives,
which said laws must be applied to all
the people concerned indiscriminately
and in tho interest Of the public IN
general.
The 1900 900 acres of land granted
to the state OF Utah for the mainte-
nance OF various public institutions
have been disposed Of and all Of the
land remaining that may now be Sc
lected by the state from the public
domain consists ~ about 500 900 acres
Of indemnity school lands, which, to-
gether with something over 100000
acres OF state land to be appraised
and sold comprise the aggregate
amount Of land now NJ the disposition
Of the state.
CAN NOT DISCRIMINATE.
The far greater proportion of land
now being applied for il wanted for
grazing purposes. and while we realize
that more revenue by way of taxation
would be hereafter derived by the state
from the sale of tillahle lands we
have no power. under the law. To dis
crinlinate In price between applicants
dependent upon the purposes for
which the land. when purcha sed is to
be used and are firmly convinced that
your contention that the advance In
the price Of land viii curtail the
amount to be purchased for agricul-
tural purposes is not well taken, for
the reason that the erazers would. In
very brief period of time. take all
the land that may now be selected by
he state. should the price be reduced
| thereby entirely depriving the agri =
| culturiste OF an opportunity TO pur-
chase land, and we do not consider
| that 81 80 an acre is high for lands
| that can be used for agricultural pur.
| poses, especially in view of the easy
| terms Of purchase afforded by tht
| state.
| Not to exceed per cent Of the PEG.
| pie OF the state are purchasers of state
lands. while the whole population is IN
| terested I'm the revenue derived there
from Since the advance In price tbs
| lands have been selling al the rate ot
about 10000 acres per month, with very
| few complaints on the part OF the pur.
chasers. which said advance means
| practically $4,000 a month additions
| revenue 10 the state and eventually q
total gain OF about $4,000, 600 to the
| public funds that are now so made
| quate, large proportion Of which Will
| go TO maintain the district schools, and
| we are satisfied that there will con.
| tinue 10 be a ready demand at the
| advanced price for all the land the
state has to dispose Of.
while your contention that much OF
| the best lands of the state have been
| sold ut the lower price is largely true.
| nevertheless We consider that the gen.
| eral advance IN the market price OF
lands throughout the state iustifes the
increase we have made in the price of
state lands.
FAVORABLE COMMENTS.
I'VE believe that our predecessors in
Office We're men of good judgment and
ability. and ir fixing the price of land
did what they thought was for the best
interests of the state under the then eX-
listing conditions. and. while It would
have been easier for US to have pur-
sued the same policy, a sense OF du-
~. under the changed conditions, iu-
PEELED us 10 the action we have taken.
and from the favorable comments re-
ceiyed from leading citizens Of different
portions Of the state, we believe that
our action Ia endorsed by the people in
general. and beg to remind you OF the