Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-10-06
EDITORIAL OPINION OF
IDAHO EDITORS
STATE LAND VALUES.

The sale of choice sections of state
land at 1925 an acre with unimproved,
sage brush land which is irrigable,
selling at $50 an acre is an indication
OF the value put upon Idaho lands by
her citizens.
Judiciouslyv handled and with the
proper business judgment used this
state asset Is to prove very valuable
and Will contribute great deal to-
ward the support of the state as the
demand and the values increase.
The sale of the safe lands held re-
Gently has proven the wisdom and
foresight of the state in taking over
the lands in question for development
and which has resulted in enabling
number of good citizens to secure for
themselves good and desirable homes
Land values in Idaho are steadily
increasing as witnessed by recent sales
In Bonneville county, where land has
sold at from $500 to 1925 an acre
and with many sales ranging around
the $3.50 price.
Land values in the corn belt of the
country, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, has
advanced in values until owners and
operators warn against particularly
when the buyer has to go into debt
for the lands in question. Those who
warn against too high prices call at
tention to the fact that it is notprob-
able that prices for livestock and
farm commodities will always be as
high as today. There is no thought
of farm products ever going back to
the ''pre-war" prices, or rather prices
of ten years ago, but the condition to-
day is abnormal and the man who
pays an abnormal price is very apt
to find that he has made an invest
ment with little chance for expected
returns
With strictly first class Idaho land
in proven territory as the oil we'll pro-
motors say, at three hundred dollars
an acre for ground that can be wa
tered OF will it seems safer invest
ment than the land of the famous corn
belt at double the price.
The day of cheap land In Idaho is
gone. There are lands, an abundance
of it which may be had at relatively
cheap prices, but the day of good
irrigated land with good water right
at a cheap price is gone in the old
districts.
Leader- Herald, Nampa).
There is some prospect that private
capital can be enlisted for the de-
Velopment of the great Bruneau prof.
ect 1t Is estimated that the cost will
be 90 millions of dollars. This vast
sum and what would naturally follow
would nearly double the wealth of
southern Idaho, and bring many
thousands of people to the sttae
No sooner is the matter suggested
however, than the cheap politicians
and the agitators raise loud cry
One would suppose that some great
crime We're about to be committed.
Public officials are charged with hav-
ing an interest in the enterprise and
using their offices to further the prop
osition. There is of course no proof
whatever to that effect, SO far as hav-
ing any interest In the project Is con-
cerned. Any official ought TO be pub
lie spirited enough tosswant to help
bring this big improvement to the
state, but 1t is not much encourage
ment to do SO to have his integrity
questioned. 1t is argued the govern
ment should do it. Let us concede
that. But there is no prospect at all
that the government will do 1t. Fe-
sides 1t might be recalled that when
the government was putting in irriga-
ton works in Idaho, several Carey
Act companies were doing the same
thing ct considerably less cost. but
that is not the question Just now.
. The land to be watered is not state
land, the state has nothing to do with
1t except to request that il be set aside
for Carey Act segregation. The gov
ernment officials are so well satisfied
that the government will not do 1t
that they are willing to turn it over
to Carey Act company for devel-
opment When it is developed there
Is nothing to compel any man to enter
piece of land who does not wish to
do SO. He uses his own judgment,
and If he desires a piece of land, or
rather a water right on the terms of
the company whose business is it but
MS own. why should the politicians
worry? 1t Is quite likely, however,
mat they will be able to block the en-
,,efprise and this vast tract OF fine
iand Will continue a sagebrush har-
Dor for jack rabbits. when it might be
the prosperous homes OF thousands
ana thousands of people.