Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1906-05-04
FACTS AND FIGURES
showing Faulty Methods of Past
State Administrations.
MUCH POOR LAND SELECTED
Public Schools and Other State Insti-
tutions Suffer by Reason of Loose
Methods in Land DEPARTMENT

NA~hAO3o Al AauG OCp6l
1t is sad story that is told in a |
recent interview of Judge Beattv's |
IN the Boise Statesman. in regard to |
the Capital Building fund lands. both
In regard Ia many of the sales of
-,hese lands made in the past, and
also as to the selections of the lands
for the grant. Unless the state is
fortunate enough TO have congress
pass the bills now pending, which
provide for an additional grant for
this purpose of sc. .0OC acres, it is
hard To see just how the capital
building commission is to have suc-
cess i'll completing the new capitol.
Ii Is evident that the 81. 600 acres of
the original grant for the capitol will
only make good beginning in the
construction of the projected bnild
ing. II is hard To see how the state
will be able 10 make direct appro-
priatlon for continuation of the
work on the building, nor how much
more money can be raised for this
purpose by the sale of bonds. The
situation is a serious one.
Judge Beatty, in his interview,
gives ont number OF well known
facts and figures, going to show the
condition of the capital building
grant, and establishing very clearly
the loose and faulty methods pursued
by former administrations in con-
nection with the state land affairs
From this interview it is learned
that of the 81, 600 acres of the orig
inal capital building grant, prac
tically half has been sold, for $l3s,-
290.68. OF the remaining 1910
res, 3. 900 acres is of timber lands.
the timber having been burned and
the lands are said to be absolutely
without value. OF the remaining
5000 acres large proportion is said
TO be almost without value Tor pur.
poses of sale. Judge Beatty esti.
mates that the remaining lands in
the grant can be sold al an average
price of SIS an acre, and that thu
total return from the entire grant
which can be USED in the eonstruc
ton of the new capitol, will b
1892, ,57U.72-
If the new capitol building wa
the only interest to suffer from tn
lack of judgment that has obtained
in the past IN the handling of tn,
special endowment grants, the stu
alton. although serious, would no
be SO alarming A careful lnyesti
cation oi the land Office record
however. has shown that fully 4
per cent of all The lands selected u
10 January !, 1905, are praciicaii
yalueless. AT the very beginnln
Of Governor Gooding's administr'
ton. 1000 acres which had bee
selected BY former administration
after hard fight and eonsiderab
expense TO the state, was reii'
quished 10 the general government
The title to these lands had not Y,
passed- 10 the state, so that vii
proper affidavits and The assistan'
of Senator Hepburn. in Washin
ton. the states REIMBURSEMENT VI
finally accepted BY the departme'
of The interior. Some of these LAM
had been taken for th. IT timber, !
though not single tree big enouE
for a sawlog was standing on whd
sections. An attempt is now beii
made to pass bill through congre
permittins the relinqnishmen,
40 600 acres more of worthless Ian
selected by the state under form
administrations, and which il b
been shown are absolutely githo
value. Besides ali this II is -
that there still remlins large gus
tity of LAM in North Idaho which
owned by The state, ami which
not worth the fling fees paid VII
The selections were made, viii