The census of 1870 showed 77,189 acres of farms, of which 26,603 were under tillage. The assessed value of the property for taxation in 1876 was $4,381,227. The taxes levied for the same year, $114,198. The debt of the territory was $127,993. In 1870 there were in the territory 101 manufacturing establishments, with a capital of $742,300, and disbursing in wages annually $112,372, The annual product of these establishments, which were mostly gold and silver smelting furnaces, was valued at $1,047,624. There was one national bank at Boise city in 1870, with a capital of $100,000; there were also several private banks in the territory. The schools of Idaho, like those of all sparsely settled communities with a heterogeneous population, are feeble and inefficient, though no more so than might be expected. The whole number of children of school age in the territory in 1875 was 3,852; the number attending school, 2,093. In 1876 the number in attendance was 2,724, Receipts for school purposes in that year, $36,215.42; expen ditures, $16,590.55. The reports, however, are far from complete. Some of the schools were flourishing, and there is no lack of an intelligent public spirit to make them good in time.
The territory has but one railway, the Utah and Northern, a narrow gauge, on its eastern border, via the Bear river valley, coming to the Snake river at Black foot, crossing it at Eagle rock, traversing the lava fields n to Pleasant valley, and thence up the Rocky mountain divide into Montana. Nearly the entire line in Idaho was built in 1878-79; and the profits of business that accumulated upon it in its progress almost built the road. A branch to the Yellow Stone park is under construction from Pleasant valley on this road. The Utah and Northern railway is owned by the Union Pacific railway company. Surveys have been made from this road at Port by river and from Blackfoot westward across the lava beds to the Wood river and thence to Boise city; also from Ogden up to the Snake river, on several lines designed to try the route of the , Snake river s. of the lava field for a road to Oregon. Some one of these routes will be
• chosen the coming year (1881) by the Union Pacific company, and work prosecuted on - it. The Central Pacific company are also contemplating the construction of a branch from Kelton, or near it. across the lava plain to the mining camps of the Wood and Salmon valleys. The recent development of mines in the interior of Idaho has stimu lated the construction of wagon roads and trails; but the territory is in its infancy in this kind of work and needs the help of the government to give access to its mountain heart by roads of a better character than the poor miners can make for themselves. A. movement of great value to the miners in its mountain recesses has recently been made for the purpose of encouraging the making of toll trails for mules and horses, which can be made at slight expense at elevations on the mountain sides where wagon roads would cost more than the returns from them would warrant.
Government.—Boise city is the capital. The governor and secretary of the state, the surveyor-general, U. S. district attorney and marshal, register of land-office, and receiver, are appointed for four years by the president; the comptroller, treasurer, and superin tendent of public instruction, are elected. The legistature has a council or senate of 13 members, chosen for two years, and a house of representatives of 25 members, chosen for one year. The U. S. court for the territory consists of a chief justice, two associate judges, clerk, district attorney, and marshal. There is one delegate to congress. The territory is divided into ten counties.