Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1916-03-30

State Senator d. w. Davis o
American Falls, candidate for NOM
nation for governor on the Republi
can ticket, addressed large and in
terested audience at Meridian, Satur
day evening on "How to Capitalize
Idaho's Resources
Because we believe there is rea
merit in the plan and because We
believe that Senator Davis is honest
ly interested in working it out, re-
CARELESS of any bearing public
discussion of the same may have
upon his candidacy for Governor, we
are devoting space to the publication
of his address in full. There is Ger.
tainly no subject of more interest to
the people of Idaho than that of
a proper handling of the public lands
and reduction of taxes.
Senator Davis said he stood for
converting Idaho's resources into in
terest-bearing securities and making
the earnings therefron ay the cost
of government; for selling school
bonds held by the state and giving
Idaho people the benefit of cheap
money; for loaning Idaho's money
to Idaho farmers at low rate of in
terest to develop the state with it's
own resources; for removing state
boards from politics and making fit
ness the basis for appointments
thereto; for putting the state fish
and game department under a game
commission; for providing a uniform
system of accounting, bringing all
departments to one general head, so
that the exact financial condition of
the state may be shown at any time,
and. among other things, for the
adoption of policy that will make
Idaho taxless. This, he said, could be
done by proper handling of the
states resources.
SIMPLE, ECONOMICAL.
There was nothing mysterious or
complicated about the plan, declared
the speaker. 1t was more simple, less
expensive and more profitable and
safer than the plan now in use. The
first step was to convert dormant re-
sources into Understanding securi-
ties. The state has approximately
two and one-half million acres of
land that is not only bringing in no
'evenue, but is entailing an annual
expense for care. Approximately one
lalf million acres brings in revenue
rom leases, but this revenue is not
what it would be IL the
and was converted into securities
Bearing per cent interest
The second step would be to invest
he greater part of the earnings and
Increase the states capital. The fact
hat the lands were given for the
,enefit Of the schools would make no
Inference. The earnings could be
lsed for the benefit of the institu-
ions for which the lands were CIV
N, just the same.
POSSIBLE REVENUE.
1t was an indisputable fact, de-
Jared Senator Davis, that sum of
money placed at 6 per cent interest,
compounded annually, will double in
ess than IL years. The state sold, up
o the close of 1914, 1904 acres Of
and for $6,Os5, $40, or about $1e.14
'er acre.
my opponent questions the $40
-alue that l had placed upon these
ands, by saying that we had acres
hat would not bring $40 in century
lot taking into consideration the fact
hat all lands sold to date have aver
ged about SIT per acre" said the
enator II call your attention to the
ecent land sale in Canyon county at |
yer $50 per acre, and the big land
ale of 1900 acres held in Power
ounty a year ago last January which
veraged better than s23 per acre.
fuch of this land was from 20 to 30
liles from a railroad
Il also call your attention to the
urther fact that we own the largest
nd best body of white pine timber in
be world, which will bring thousands
dollars per quarter section, and
his has not been taken into consid-
ration In these estimates. We have
.ore than 100000 acres yet to sell, ,
nd at the same average price per
ere this would bring $50 ,034, 900
WHAT Is POSSIBLE. !,
Suppose We can, for any reason,
I'll only one-fourth of this land at
I6.14 per acre. This is certainly
,nservative enough. State Treasurer
agleson estimates that we can real !
e one hundred million dollars from s
Iese lands, and other well informed '
en- place the value at which they s
in he rapidlv sold at from fifty to c