The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-01-08

nave been clear listed to the state
/ $50, 149. 81 acres. The land seIee-
tions of the past two years have ag.
g-egated 210, 051. OF acres, of which
1874, 494.76 acres were for com
mon school indemnity. OF the land
selected so, 007. SO acres were timber
lands mostly in north Idaho, and
80, DAB. Is acres agricultural lands,
very largely located in southeastern
Idaho. The expense of doing this
work of selection has been very con-
siderable-the land office fees, adyer-
Using and legal department expenses
aggregating So, 724.31. The cost of
estimating and cruising the state tim
Der lands was S15. DAG. 80.
The total expenditures of the state
land department for all purposes dur
ing the last two years we're s73, CAB. :
81. OF this amount the salaries of
officers and clerks, purchase Of re-
cords and stationery and furniture
and fixtures cost S2s, 372.O3. This
can be regarded as the actual admin.
istrative expense of handling the land
department under normal conditions,
and when the extra work ENABLED by
a faulty system, has been completed.
The total cash receipts of the land
department from January l, 1905 to
December l, 1906, were 81, $50, 334. :
90.
During the past two years the land
board has sold As, 578. 80 acres of
land, the sale price being s764, 9Os-
of which there is still unpaid 1892, :
697. u. This amount is in fact an
additional investment, drawing inter
est at the rate of per cent a year.
One of the great sources of revenue
to the land department has been from
the sale of timbetr. During the past
two years the timber on Is, AGO. So
acres of common school land was
sold for 1922, 271. 81, an average
price of SABA per acre. These sales
are under 10 and 10 year removal
agreements. Prior TO january l,
1905, timber on 1876, S31. IS acres of
state lands was sold, the purchase
price being s699, $40. 21--an average
of 50. IL an acre.
THE NEW CAPITOL BUILDING.
The Eighth session passed a law
creating a commission to build d new
capitol building at the seat of govern
ment in Boise. This commission it
is felt has made very satisfactory
progress with the work thus commit.
ted to them. Plans havebe selected
or the new building, and the founda-
tion and basement walls or the main
building have been completed. Con-
tracts for the steel of the buildh 6
have been let, and also contracts foI
the stone work of the first story. The
work is progressing as rapidly as could
be expected.
/ INTERMOUNTAIN WAGON ROAE
COMMISSION.
| wish tc call attention to the re,
; port of the intermountain wagon road
J commission, of which body have
} had the honor to be a member and tbs
= chairman. l shall not burden M
message with any further statement
; than that the work Of the commission
} in the construction of roads into $50
: lated mining districts, has been pro
l ductive of good results, and fee
+ that it would be the right policy Il
! follow in the future, if in your judg
ment il would be wise TO continuI
the work of development by the build
, ing of roads into the interior of oul
state. | desire to call particular at
tention to that portion Of the repor
that recommends the placing of th,
, extensive roads built by the state IN
der a toll system.
OUR STATE INSTITUTIONS.
The eighth session provided yer!
. literally for improvements al all on
l state institutions. IL wa expected
t at that time that the improvement
g provided for would be ample fol
most of these institutions for the suc
eeeding four years. But the wonder
full growth and development Of GU
state for the past two years has al
q ready taxed these institutions TO thei
fullest capacity. and il will again b
, necessary to make appropriations O
! the enlargement OF many of them.
An asy lum or the insane was estab
/ lished IN north Idaho. which ha
proved q blessing TO tL-se unfurtun
ates who are committed there TO
!. treatment. Under the present abb
: management am assured that insti