Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1920-01-04
STATE STATISTICS
DEPARTMENT FINDS
MUCH WORK TO DO
Commissioner Barber Assists
in Sale of State Lands-Col-
lects Valuable Information
on Idaho Resources.
BY o. Fl. BARBER
Commissioner immigration, Labor and
Statistics

BY o. Fl. BARBER
Commissioner immigration, Labor and
Statistics
The department of immigration. la
Dor and statistics was called into ex-
istence on April IA, 1919, after lapse
OF several years.
The new department found a clean
slate All the furniture and records
belonging to the department had been
d1sslpated among other offices and de-
parments and effectively lost While
somewhat perplexed to find a proper
place to begin, we were not handicap
ped by having to follow a trail
which some one else had blazed. We
found an opportunity for constructive
work in laying a foundation for de-
partment which will increase in use
fuiness as the years come and go.
We began our work by conducting
survey of ldaho's resources and oppor-
tunities through county agents, county
assessors, secretaries OF commercial
clubs and private agencies and organ
izations which We're interested in tho
development OF the state. There were
many inquiries to be answered which
glittering generalities and seven year
old statistics would not answer The
inquiries covered wide range from
opportunities to obtaining free land or
land by purchase. the price of land.
crops grown and yields per acre. cost of
water rights. climate, rainfall. schools
churches. roads, dairying. stock grow
ing, general farming conditions, bus-
ness and professional openings to an
almost endless variety of these Much
OF the specific information requested
could not be furnished but the in
quiries were useful in Indicating the
kind of information that was in de-
mand, and arrangements were accord
ingly perfected to secure IT,
The department of immigration, la
Dor and statistics, is clothed by law
with authority to call upon county,
| state and other officers for such in
formation as their offices may contain
; or as they may be able to obtain in the
, ordinary discharge of their duties The
greatest single source OF information
. Is the county assessor. While making
their assessments they gather such in
formation as the department may re-
quire. But as they make but one as
sessment year, the gathering of in
formation is necessarily slow. Yet by
1 cooperation with other state depart
ments and governmental agencies II is
hoped within the next few months to
De able to give very accurate report
OF the crop production of every county
In the state, listing the principal crops.
per acre, the cash value per acre and
the revenue derived from dairyit-.
livestock and kindred activities. CO.
operating with the department I'm this
work is the state department Of agri-
culture, the University of Idaho extern
sion service. the county farm bureaus.
and the u. s. bureau of crop estimates.
There has not heretofore been such a
well organized force of investigators
and reporters brought together and
better service Is bound to result.
For the first time in the history of
the department comprehensive indus
trial and labor statistics have been
gathered. The foundation for this
work will be the reports of the county
! assessors who are being provided with
special blanks for the gathering OF
certain information. Questionnaires
mailed from the department will Sc
| cure such other information as may be
desired.
There will be the fullest possible CO.
operation with the census bureau in
both the agricultural and Industrial and
labor surveys; and the census returns.
which VIII probably be available by
mid summer will operate as a check
upon the accuracy of the returns made
by the county assessors
For the first time In the history Of
the state there has been cooperation
between the state Hand department
and the immigration bureau in the sale
of state lands. In July under most
unfavorabdle conditions, 43.90O acres
of state land were sold in the counties
OF Butte, Bingham, Bonneville. Teton,
Madison and Fremont. bringing to-
tai OF $1.1S2,567 the highest average
per acre ever secured from an equal
amount of state land. Included In this
sale was tract Of 1000 acres Of land
which had been sold during the fall Of
1918, but owing to alleged Irregularities
the sale was cancelled. At the July
sale the 1900 acres We're resold, bring
ing $1S7, 900 more than at the first sale.
In September 110S acres of land in the
Gem Irrigation district were sold, this
bringing to the state $172.750 in addi-
ton to $4,000 that had been expended
by the state as its share Of the expense
of the Gem district. Thus from these
turned into the endowment funds of the
state and is earning $7s.3ls in inter-
est charges every year.
This department handled the pub
licity for these sales. Inquiries were
stimulated by advertising In papers
from which It was hoped to secure bid
ders, and every piece Of literature that
OF direct inquiry for state land or for
opportunities to- secure land within
the state. We feel that the results
secured In these two sales alone amply
justify the $14. 900 appropriated to main
tain this department during the entire
henninm. even II no other service 10
rendered.
In the old days OF hand to hand
fighting the most deadly of all weapons
was the Roman short sword. Caesar
reported that at the battle he saw
fought near Namur his soldiers slew