IDAHO

the population in 1920 was 431,866, of which the rural population, 312,829 constituted 72°4%. the total population in 1926 was estimated by the bureau of the census at 522,175. the average number of inhabitants per sq. m. in- creased from 3-9 in 1910 to 5:2 in 1920. boise, the capital and largest city, had in 1920 a population of 21,393 (17,358 in 1910). _ agriculture —agriculture continues to be the principal source of wealth. in 1925 the number of farms was 40,582 as compared with 42,106 in 1920 and 30,807 in 1gt0o. nearly two-fifths of all the farms were between 100 and 174 acres. the average value of land and buildings per farm in 1925 was $0,213 as compared with $313,811 in 1920 and $7,955 in 1910. the number of mortgaged farms nearly doubled in the 10 years 1910-20. the farm value of all crops in 1923 was $81,308,000 as compared with an average value for the period 1917-21 of $106,200,c00. the following table indicates the statistical position of several of the more important crops for the year 1924:— farm value crop acreage production oats 184,000 6,624,000 bu. | $ 3,842,000 barley 162,000 2,958,000 bu. 2,426,000 wheat 933,000 | 17,828,000 bu. | 23,355,000 hay i ,018,000 2,059,000 tons| 25,120,000 potatoes . 67,000 | 10,725,000 bu. 5,792,000 specialised cash-crop agriculture is replacing the older type of farming. because of transportation costs on bulky products, more attention is being given to seed production, beans, peas, head lettuce and the like. dairying is of increasing importance, much of the output being marketed in the form of cheese. asa sheep-producing state, idaho ranked fourth in 1924 with nearly 2:05 million head having an estimated farm valuc of 22 million dollars. the total value of all livestock on idaho farms was esti- mated at $49,000,000, in 1924. poultry production for the pacific coast market is rapidly becoming a leading agricultural enter- prise. about half the farms in the state were under irrigation in 1920. the enlarged american falls dam, which was in 1925 the largest federal reclamation project, was undertaken to provide additional storage capacity for the existing irrigated areas of southern idaho. mining.—-mining continues to rank second in economic im- portance. the following table shows the value of mineral pro- duction since 1920:— a lead | gold silver copper zinc 1920 + $459,000 |$8,379,000 $22,292,000$ 491,000 [$1,785,000 1oai 552,000 | 6,184,000 | 9,559,000) 172,000 94,000 | 1922 458,000 | 6,149,000 | 11,762,000} 394,000 431,000 11923 | 733,000 | 6,158,000 | 18,550,000; 2,292,000 603,000 ee. oe lead is first in importance, the principal mines being in the coeur d’alene district. successful developments of lead-silver and lead-zinc ores have been made in the east central part of the state, largely stimulated by the mining activities of the ford motor co. the extraction of silver is in most sections incidental to lead mining. in recent years there has been a renewed exploit a- tion of zinc ores. the interstate-callahan mine is probably the third largest producer of zinc ore in the united states. the largest copper-producing area is in custer county. the seven devils range in adams county is one of the most extensively mineralised copper belts in the west. tungsten mines are being developed in lemhi county. in southwestern idaho are great quantities of phosphate rock which are being gradually exploited. manufactures—there has been a marked growth since roro both in the number of manufacturing establishments and in the value of their products. the following are the chief industries, in order of importance: lumber, flour and grist mills, car and rail- way shops, printing and publishing. about half of the value of all manufactured goods is represented by lumber products. idaho ranks first among the states in the area of state and nation- al forests, aggregating approximately 19 million acres. in addi- tion there are large stretches of privately owned timber land. trans port.—in 1923 the state had 2,877 m. of steam railway and 89 m. of electric track. in 1915 the celilo canal, on the idaho—illegitimacy oregon side of the columbia river, was opened and vessels can now pass from the pacific to lewiston, a distance of 480 miles. government.—the legislature of 1919 completely re-organised the state civil administration in so far as the limitations imposed by the state constitution permitted. the administrative con- solidation act abolished some 46 boards, commissions and of- fices and gave idaho a consolidated form of state government, or, as it is locally called, a cabinet or commission form of govern- ment, with the governor at the head, assisted by nine depart- mental commissioners. these nine departments are: agriculture; commerce and industry; finance; immigration; law enforce- ment; public investment; public welfare; public works; reclamation. each commissioner is appointed by the governor and, except “those under the constitution who are appointed for specific terms,’”? may be removed by him at his discretion. in certain departments a small number of designated officers are appointed by the governor, but on the whole the organisation within each department is under the control of the commissioner. this consolidated form of government concentrates authority in the hands of the governor to a marked degree. the jaw provides an executive budget system for thestate. the eighteenth (pro- hibition) federal amendment was ratified jan. 8 1019. education.—in 1924-5 there were 137,256 pupils enrolled in the state schools, of whom 19,759 were in the high schools and 117,497 in the elementary schools. the state university com- prises colleges of letters and sciences, agriculture, engineering and law; schools of forestry, mines, education, business ad- ministration and graduate study. the total enrolment in 1925 was over 2,000. idaho has attracted much attention because of its scientific and economical administration of higher education. a board of education of tive members appointed by the gover- nor forterms of five years, has general supervision over the nor- mal schools and the technical institute, and, as a board of re- gents, over the university as well. the result is a unified system of higher education with little duplication, low cost and excel- lent standard. the governors during the period 1910-25 were: james h. brady, rep., 1909-11; james h. hawley, dem., 1911-3; john m. haines, rep., 1913-5; moses alexander, dem., 1915-9; d. w. davis, rep., 1919-23; c. c. moore, rep., 1923- bibliograpity.—brosnan, history of the state of idaho (1918); hailey, 7tstory of idaho (1919); biennial reports of the commissioner of finance, the board of education °and the inspector of mines; bulletins issued by the state schoot of mines (bureau of mines); the idaho economic bulletin, issued by the school of business administration; and the forestry bulletin issued by the school of forestry at the state university. 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