IDAHO 



2914 



IDAHO 



of the legislature are held every two years, 

 commencing on the first Monday after the 

 first day of January. Idaho sends two mem- 

 bers to the United States House of Represen- 

 tatives. 



The executive officials, governor, lieutenant- 

 governor, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, 

 attorney-general and superintendent of public 

 instruction, are elected each for a term of two 

 years. The governor has the usual veto-power, 

 and the lieutenant-governor is president of the 

 Senate. These officials constitute a state board 

 of land commissioners, which has direction, 

 control and disposal of the public lands. 



At the head of the judicial department is 

 the supreme court, consisting of five justices, 

 each elected by the people for a term of six 

 years. Below this there are nine district courts, 

 each with one or two judges, elected direct 

 by the people for four years. A prosecuting 

 attorney is elected by the people for each 

 county and his term of office is two years. 



For purposes of local government the state 

 is divided into counties, but the most impor- 

 tant government units are the cities. A city 

 charter may be granted to any town with a 

 population of over 2,500 inhabitants. Since 

 1911 such cities may adopt the commission 

 form of government. 



History. Beginnings. It was at the begin- 

 ning of the nineteenth century that white men 

 penetrated this region. In 1805 Lewis and 

 Clark were the first to explore those parts 

 which are now known as Idaho (see LEWIS 

 AND CLARK EXPEDITION). The town of Lewis- 

 ton and the Clark River commemorate the 

 names of these early explorers. But, with the 

 exception of fur traders and prospectors, the 

 region did not attract many settlers until 1860. 

 In that year Captain Pierce found gold in the 

 region around Orofino. The news spread rap- 

 idly, and settlers from all parts rushed to the 

 new Eldorado, as they had rushed to California 

 a decade earlier. 



Formation of a Territory. Three years later 

 the region was organized as the Territory of 

 Idaho, which, however, comprised the whole 

 of Montana and nearly the whole of Wyoming. 

 In 1864 Montana and in 1868 Wyoming were 

 separated from it, and the territory assumed 

 its present size and area. Since that time the 

 progress has been rapid and steady. For a 

 few years the settlers suffered more or less 

 annoyance from the Indians, but these were 

 finally induced to part with most of their land 

 and retire upon reservations. 



Many Mormons settled in the southern part 

 of the state, and their numbers excited such 

 alarm that the legislature in 1883 passed a 

 law depriving them of the right to vote. When 

 in 1893 the Mormon Church rejected polygamy 

 as a necessary part of its creed, all Mormons 

 with one wife were again enfranchised. 



Progress as a State. In 1889 the territory 

 adopted a new constitution, and in the follow- 

 ing year, July 3, 1890, Idaho was admitted as 

 the forty-third state in the Union. 



With the growth of the mining industry 

 conflict between the miners and the mine- 

 owners became frequent. In 1892 a strike at 

 the Coeur d'Alene mine lasted six months, 

 and was accompanied by riots and more seri- 

 ous conflicts between union and non-union 

 miners. Federal troops had to be called in to 

 restore order. Another strike, also accom- 

 panied by much violence, broke out in 1899, 

 and also necessitated the use of the Federal 

 troops. Bitter feeling continued long after 

 this strike and culminated in the assassination 

 of ex-Governor Steunenberg in 1905. The 

 murder attracted national attention, and the 

 chief officials of the Western Federation of 

 Miners were arrested, charged with complicity 

 in the crime. After a trial characterized by 

 many sensational incidents they were acquitted. 



In 1806 an amendment to the constitution 

 was approved by the people granting the frai 

 chise to women on the same terms as to mei 

 For dealing with the liquor problem Idah< 

 has adopted state-wide prohibition since Jam 

 ary 1, 1916. From 1909 until that time 

 state was under local option. In 1912 

 amendment to the constitution was carried ii 

 troducing the initiative, the referendum ai 

 recall. From these measures and others nc 

 ticed in the course of the article it can 

 seen that Idaho is one of the most prosressh 

 states in the Union. 



Other Items of Interest. The wheat grov 

 in Southern Idaho is of a variety particularl 

 suited for the making of macaroni. 



The Indians of the state, who are of seve 

 different tribes, live on four reservations, 

 each of which a school is maintained. 



Idaho has many mineral springs and h( 

 springs, no fewer than eleven of the countif 

 possessing them. Water with a temperatui 

 of 165 flows from many wells at and m 

 Boise. 



The farmers who obtain the largest yiel( 

 from their land are the Chinese, the value 

 whose crops per acre is about fifteen tii 



