The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1920-01-08
98. .328. Al Acres Sold Last Year
55,857.95 Acres Leased;
n Rentals, $19, ,634.62
VAST TIMBER VALUES
10, 100, ,O00,00 Board Measure
Feet Of Merchantable
Timber in State. U

The following report of the years
work in the state land department will
probably open the eyes ofba number OF
our readers relative to its magnitude
and Importance TO the state. The re-
port is issued by State Land Commits
sioner /. III. Nash: 4N \
Few people realize the magnitude Of
the States land interests and fewer
yet, the Importance Of an intelligent
lbusiness-like administration.
Approximately 3,88S.OOO acres Of
LAND were granted to the State Of Ida
y no for the benefit of her institutions.
eOut of each township sections 16 and
T86 were given for the benefit Of our
public schools, comprising about
three million acres; the balance was
selected from the unappropriated pub
lie lands of the State.
4 Since these grants were made about
GAG, 8,1OS.65 acres have been sold, leav-
ing 3,O21 ,s91.35 acres. h
OF this acreage about 2,29S, 1.35
acres is agricultural and grazing land
! This has never been properly classified
ard through Lack of funds, which
should be provided for this purpose,
the State loses thousands of dollars
each year that should come from rent
y ais alone, based on no less than five
percent of the value OF the land. The
{ contention is made by many. (and the
J. policy has been followed by some past
administrations) that these lands
should be rented or sold at low fig
ure, ard by so doing, help the indi-
vidual farmer or stock grower, who
perchance is the successful party in Sc
curing the lease or purchase.
have never been able to take this
view. These grants were made for the
benefit of our public institutions, and
not for the individual citizen of the
State. Our penitentiary needs extern
sions, ard betterment, our universities
need new buildings, our insane asy-
lums are over-crOwded, and the poor,
helpless inmates are suffering today
K because there is not sufficient funds
1 ito provide for their comforts.
Our common schools should be given
the financial support necessary to
insure our children the best education
possible to be obtained in the State.
These lands are the heritage of these
institutions why should they be
bartered away for less than their
value?
The taxpayers of the State are
called upon to assist in the support of
these institutions. If we give them
what rightfully belongs to them our
tax burdens would be materially re-
duced.
l believe it a good business policy
and have worked to the end of dispos.
ing of these lards at their value as
fast as the law permits and a good
market is available. and to make my
point clear cite the following fig
ures from our 1919 records:
OF the 9S,32S41 acres OF land sole
this year to December 10, only 55,S57.
96 acres were leased, bringing an an
nual rental of $19,634.62. The pur
chase price of the same land sold
will yield an annual return. at six pc
cert of $127, 7,125.25, or an earning il
interest cf $107, ,49O,63 more per year
than we We're receiving in rentals.
Forest Lands.
We have I'm forest area, including
barren or grazing lands, young tim
ber growth and merchantable timbe
within such area. 723.000 acres. o
this acreage there are about $4,000
acres In Northern Idaho ard about 143
600 acres in Southern Idaho. The to
tai merchantable timber belonging +
the State is approximately as follows
Northern Idaho S,7O0,OOO.OO0 fee
board measure.
Southern Idaho 1.430,O0O,OOO fee
board measure. Total 1O,113O. 900. 90
feet board measure.