Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1908-03-27
Summary

nSSDOii
by enactment for the organization of the State Land
Department. The State Board of Land Commissioners
has since been working under that law and the
department it is felt is thoroughly recognized on
business basis. At present the affairs of the state
land department conducted with the exactness of
great banking institution. As in wisely admins
tered bank the books balanced every night at the
close of business the receipts quickly reinvested
and careful accounting is made of expenditures
The records of the land department are now in
perfect condition The special grants of land by Con
gress for various Objects which aggregate $685. OsO
have practically all been secured there remain
ing only so acres still unsolicited.
successful campaign looking to the leasing of
school lands for grazing and agricultural purposes has
been waged The selection of lands in indemnity for
losses in the school grant being prosecuted
with success, and it is hoped that by the end of the
present year the existing indemnity losses will have
been practically satisfied
The total cash receipts of the land department for
the thirteen months ending January l. 1908 was
Sl,l73,l2O.52- Of the amount 1857, 9592 was by
reason of repayment of investments and s6O6, O246O
on account of land and timber interest on deferred
payment, rentals interests on Investments Carey Act
and land Office fees, etc The cost of conducting the
department during the year 1907 was $27, 561 IS.
On January l. 1903, the investment account showed
that the department was in possession Of state war
rants, bonds, and farm loans aggregang 81
In addition there unpaid balance on account Of
land sales of 81 58l, TO-
These deferred payments draw interest at the rate
Of 6 per cent per The actual investment of
funds drawing interest on January l. 1903, was con-
sequently, So 500, 1851
During 1907 there were sold of special grant lands
887z9l acres for $lO1, 568O1 and of common school
lands 1823S6O acres, for s261, 881 s.. During the
year 46555.96 acres were leased five years. rentals
collected amounting to 50 8798s, and 1528429 acres
one year rental collected amounting to So, 251.1O.
Timber 2O,6778O acres of state land was
sold for $3.50, 1862. 30 The policy of the de-
partment in the sale of timber has been to
dispose of only scattered tracts likely to loss by fire
The large bodies of timber lands have been held intact
During 1907 the state selected in satisfaction of its
special grants and common school land losses 81
acres, all but 25OO being indemnity selections
For the purpose of showing some of the advantages
that have resulted from the reorganization of the de-
partment under the law of 1906 the following COM
parsons of work of the state land department from
January l. 1891 to January l, 19O5-fourteen wears.
and from January l, 1905 to January l, 19Os-three
years. are submitted.
During the fourteen years prior to January l. 1905
here We're selected of the special grants, 638 4748s
cres. Common school land indemnity selections ag-
regated 1880 total of GA $50 SO acres or
average selection per year of &C. 900 acres In the
hree years prior to January l. l9OS of the special
rants there was selected 30 496.70 acres and of in
emnty lands 22S 3Ol SO acres-an average selection
81, 500 acres year. On that date there remained
be selected go of the special grants and 49,
a. acres of common school land losses
During the fourteen year period ending January l.
'O5 there were sold by the state 81, 400 acres for
l. 306, S37 In the past three years sales of state
nd have aggregated p 694 81 acres for 81 1913 327
imber 1856 S3 S5 acres of state land was sold DIR
g first fourteen years for $685. $50 2lan average of
III an acre During the last three years timber
les have been from 36, 1888 acres-for S473l3427
an average Of $l3.O9 an acre.
The earnings Of the land department from January
1891, to January 1, 1906 were $4776S 49, from the
lowing sources
ntals Sos, 1894
terest on land sales 806 ISIS
rnings from investments 55 Oh AZ
rey Act receipts 7654g0
The earning account from these sources during
zee years prior to january IL 1905 is as follows
crest on land sales 195 5e7 *
Gnngs frem investments oil, 55l70
'ey Act receipts l0915276
nd Office fees qs1AO5
A total of S6l0,S3O6l, an average eff SOB. 61O2Oa
r. and an excess earning during the past three
rs over the previous fourteen years of SlSS 1926
The total receipts from all sources by the depart
1t for the fourteen years ending January l. 1905
81, 1906, and on the latter date the actual
,stments
is, warrants and loans 81, 1913 s2429
erred payments on land sales Los, S7497
S227S, 1879. 26