Governor Cutler Correspondence (outgoing), 1905-1908.

Governor Cutler's outgoing correspondence is organized into eighteen folders and five bound letterbooks; the first letter book has been unbound and constitutes seventeen of the folders. This correspondence consists of copies of letters sent from the governor's office. The main events of Governor Cutler's administration are documented in this correspondence. His concern with capital investment to encourage industrial development in the areas of factories, mines, railroads, and agriculture is apparent; a State Bureau of Statistics was charged with gathering comprehensive data on progress in these areas. He also implemented several social programs.

As a member of the State Board of Equalization, and in responding to financial reports, Governor Cutler proposed that the Board generate more revenue by more equitable collection of taxes from mines, car companies, telephone and telegraph companies, express companies and electric light and power companies. He further recommended that revenuecould be generated by allowing public monies to accrue interest by being lent under approved security.

Cutler was a member of the State Board of Park Commissioners which was established to control the administration of state owned lands. Their responsibilities included regulating the cutting of timber and livestock grazing. Experiments to improve irrigation and drainage practices were evaluated and significantly improved, and a state engineer was appointed by the Governor to measure water resources and to supervise its allocation.

The Governor was a member of the State Board of Horticulture. His role in its restructuring is well documented. The state was divided into four districts. Lectures and institutes were held to impart the latest horticultural knowledge, and the Board was empowered to quarantine infested orchards. Improved methods of handling and shipping were adopted. The quality of fruit was excellent and a large out-of-state market was created. Cutler stressed that thesuccess of agriculture and other enterprises was largely dependent upon the availability of mineral resources, which resulted from successful operation of Utah's mines.

The Governor was instrumental in having the name of the Deseret Agricultural and Manufacturing Society changed to the Utah State Fair Association. Money was also appropriated to complete a building to be used for housing exhibits.

Governor Cutler urged the Seventh Legislature to authorize a Code Commission to compile and annotate the laws of the state. The task included omitting repealed laws, inserting amendments and new laws, clarifying vague description, and preparing a comprehensive index. The work was published under the title "Compiled Laws of Utah" during 1908. Cutler also supported the establishment of juvenile courts to hear the cases of children; this resulted in fewer children being committed to the State Industrial School. Furthermore, probation officers were assigned to each county in the state bydistrict court judges.

The Governor's support of veterans and his attitude toward the military is documented. Those who served in the Utah Indian wars between 1854 and 1867 became eligible for pensions. Military bases at Fort Douglas and Fort Duchesne were placed under the domain of the federal government.

The Uintah reservation was opened for white settlement. The assessed valuation of the area was low and the needs of the sparse population great. Cutler, being sympathetic to reports describing hardship, supported appropriations to build roads and bridges and to assist indigent settlers to become established.

The State Board of Health, appointed by the Governor, was made responsible for collecting and compiling data on births and deaths. The medical department of the University of Utah was authorized to receive unclaimed dead bodies; the bodies were used for medical instruction including surgery, anatomy, and embalming.

The Lewis and Clark Centennial was held in Portland, Oregon,during 1905; the Jamestown Exposition was held in Norfolk, Virginia during 1907.The Governor's support for participation in both of these events is described; they provided Utah with opportunities to display exhibits of its resources and to learn from exposure to the resources of other states.