Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-01-09

pense to the counties. This uniform
system of accounting would enable the
state examiner TO audit all Of the books
of all the counties OF the state in less
time than is now required properly to
audit the books of one county alone.
l suggest that the Legislature author
ize the converting of all OF the county
auditors OF the state at the state capt.
toll on or before July /. 1917. and that
the state auditor be made ex-officio
chairman of the convention thus pro-
vided for. and 1t should be made the
duty of this convention to determine
upon a uniform system of accounting
for the various counties and county
officials, which all such county Off
cials should be required to adopt, be-
ginning with the fiscal year 1918.
GOOD ROADS.
The question of the construction of
good roads and acceptance of the ma
tional aid for same extended to the
states that are willing to avail them
selves of the provisions Of the act OF
congress, approved July IL. 1916, is
called to your attention.
The people of idaho are thoroughly
alive to the benefits of good roads. AMI
ton be made through a bond issue IN
aid of their construction and to furnish
funds with which to enable this state
to cooperate with the federal govern
ment under this law. Especially do l
believe that the people throughout the
state desire north and south high
way that will make it possible for the
northern and southern sections to lie
ri caly oh u.l ~
built at this time will lay the foundn-
ton for the construction of an electric
or steam railway in the near future ard
will tend toward the development Of
electric energy that is now lying dor
mant. 1t will also open vast min
eral belt and a great stock country and
before the bonds mature it will have
repaid the cost of construction many
times over.
There is nothing so much needed as
closer fellowship between the people
of north Idaho and the people of south
Idaho. and there is nothing more con-
ducive to bring this about that a north
and south highway. The report of the
highway commission will give good
idea on this matter, as that commits
sion has done much work on this sub
preparation required.
The highways of the state are in
charge of the highway commission,
consisting of the secretary of state and
two members appointed by the gov
ernor. AS this commission is now con-
stituted, it does not give fair repre-
sentation to all parts of the state. The
secretary of state heretofore has been
art af "a
state, but the present secretary of
state is from the southern part of the
state, SO that, by the vote of the peo-
pie, the northern part of the state has
no representation upon this commls-
sion and therefore, it's enlargement 10
consist of four members to be appoint
ed by the governor is recommended
thus enabling the northern part of the
state to have representation to which II
is Justly entitled The highway COM
mission is of sufficient Importance to
have equal representation from all
parts of the state.
KING HILL.
Through the purchase of receiver
certificates out of Carey act funds and
subsequent final purchase by the state,
the state became the owner of the
King Hill and the King Hill Extension
irrigation projects. Two years ago the
legislature made an appropriation OF
s26 900 for this project.
An endeavor has been made through
the state land board, by our representa-
tive in congress and by special repre-
sentatiVes sent to Washington, to have
the United States government, through
it's reclamation department, take over
this project. Up to the present time
these efforts have not succeeded. but
hopes are entertained that this may
be accomplished, but In order that the
settlers living on this project shall not
be deprived of their livelihood and thosr
investments, there should be fail
appropriation made by the state &c
keep it alive and going until such
times as the government may be In
duced to take it over. This is one of
the assets of the state that has beer
turned into liability, but the faith 81
the state is pledged through it's owner
ship and the state should perform its
duty in connection Herewith insofar
as it is financially able TO do so.
CAREY ACTS.
There has been a great deal of crit
i icism relative to Carey act projects
! that have not fulfilled the fullest eX-
pectations of the state. the settlers and
the bondholders. This is not true alone
of Idaho, but of every state Where
/ Carey acts have been undertaken
! Idaho has The largest number of Carey
act projects, covering the greatest area
of any state in the union.
Following the act of congress, known
as the Carey act law, great impetus
was given to the reclamation. Of ARD
lands Capital rushed in to finance
various projects. People came from al
over the country, induced by the mos
] liberal terms to take UP lands under
the irrigation systems. Everybody ex-
Z pected to prosper and make money. but
naturally many failed to realize theil
expectations
Looking back at 1t all and consider
! ing what little accurate information eN-
/ listed when all of this took place, We