Semi-weekly herald., 1916-01-11

water possibilities and favorable
climate, the state can get no better
return for its investment than to
push experimental and demonstration
work at Fort Lewis and the practi-
cal education Of the young men and
women of that neighborhood to be
leaders in the necessary development
to come.
Land Board,
Four years ago constitutional
amendment was adopted creating a
new board of three members to ad-
minister our state lands. The salar-
les were to be paid out of the in
come of the office which was held by
the supreme court to be limited to the
fees collected, which were intended
and required for other purposes. As
a result the board went in debt for
the legitimate purposes of the fees
and used them to pay the salaries
of the board. When this condition
became known in 1918 and the mem.
bers of the board resigned to accept
positions under the city and federal
government l appointed Attorney
General Fred Farrar president of the
board and State Engineer John F.
Field as the engineer member with
out additional pay. Volney T. Hog
gait was made register and the only
paid member. By strict economy the
debts were paid and the board has
been able to proceed without further
Indebtedness. While the work has
taken from two otherwise busy off
cials considerable time it has been
most efficiently done and until our
financial difficulties are relieved may
well be continued. The new board
has pursued policy of putting act
ual settlers and those who are willing
to make improvements upon the
land.
| Immigration.
With greater and better opportuni-
ties to offer to settlers and investors
than ever before, it seems advisable
to reopen officially immigration work,
which was stopped in 1918 for want
of funds. During the past year pri-
vate sums were subscribed to assist
the immigration board in preliminary
preparations for exhibits at the Pan
anna exposition and sufficient money
should be provided to complete the
exhibit and transport and care for it.
Register Hoggatt of the land board
accomplished much in connection with
other duties of his office to secure
settlement on Colorado lands.
Penitentiary.
| Your attention is called to the com
prehensive report of the warden of
the penitentiary. The work of this
mstituton during the past biennial
period has been Of great variety and
unusually meritorious. Nearly one
hundred and fifty miles of splendid
wagon road has been added to oui
highway system and much of it
through most difficult rocky canons.
A new administration building, silos,
new garden lands and other improve
ments are among the achievements of
the convicts.
| The parole system has continued in
most successful operation and the
pardon board has devoted much time
and care to working out policy of
reward for good conduct and service.
The experience at this institution
shows that many convicts, even those
guilty Of most serious crimes, have
been led into useful and honorable
citizenship. While following a policy
intended to call out the better i'm
pulses of the inmates, the board has
not been unmindful of the work of
the district attorneys and the courts
with whom it has tried, with gen.
eral success, to work in harmony for
the encouragement of crime.
Mining.
The interesting report of the com,
missioner of mines shows that the
year 1914 closed with a brighter pros
pect for metalliferous mining than
has been enjoyed for several years
past. Exceedingly rich discoveries
Itv,o onx ,f Il
pie Creek and elsewhere are crafty
ing in the fact that they indicate a
greater permanency in the production
of our mines than was formerly sup
posed to be possible. Favorable re-
ports come from practically all of
the districts, and the establishment
Of this business on a firm basis is
certain to greatly increase the output
in tho f,,t,ra