The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-03-15
Legislative Topics.

APPRAISAL, SALE AND LEASING OF
SCHOOL LANDs.-One of the most impor-
tant laws passed this session is " an act to
provide for the appraisal, sale, aud leasing,
of the School Lands and the investment of
the funds arising therefrom," and was in
troduced by Senator McLAREN, of Good.
hue:
Section one creates School Land Bureau
consisting of the Governor, Attorney General,
and Superintendent of Public Instruction, who
are constituted State Board of Commission.
ers. The State Auditor is made Register, and
State Treasurer Receiver.
The State Board have power to procure
copies of all plats, maps, and field notes of the
governmental surveys; to provide suitable books
for the register and receiver in which to pre-
serve records of the doings of the State Board,
entries of sales, contracts or leases, record
of all appraisements and surveys.
The State Board shall cause appraisement of
the School Lands in any portion of the State
when they think the interests of the School
Fund demand it, shall appoint some suitable
person State Appraiser, to act with one ap.
pointed by the County Board of Commission.
ers, and one by the Supervisors of the town.
Sec. 8. Provides that " no School Land held
by this State shall be sold or offered for sale
at less than seven dollars so per acre, which
shall be the minimum price for all such
lands in all cases.
Secs. l0-17. For the purpose of fixing value
upon lands of greater value than the "mini-
mum" the three appraisers shall, before en-
tering upon the duties of their office, take and
subscribe an oath that they will faithfully dis
charge the duties of the office, and that they
are not interested directly or indirectly in any
school lands or improvements thereon in this
state. They shall divide the school lands to be
appraised as will best advance the interests of
the school fund, not to contain more than one
hundred and sixty acres. Timber land Except
pine lands) shall be sub-divided into ten-acre
lots, and the State Board may direct lands ad-
jacent to towns and cities to be plated into
lots not less than one acre. A copy of these
plats shall be filed in the office of the County
Auditor. The appraisers shall make a personal
examination of lands so divided, and if worth
more than the minimum shall set it oppo.
site the description of the land. They shall
appraise all permanent improvements, and af-
ter deducting damages and waste by cutting
timber, shall place the balance as value of i'm
prOvements.
Section eighteen provides that settlers shall
give to the appraisers statement in writing.
how much in legal subdivisions they are desi.
rous OF continuing to occupy. Copies are to be
filed with the County Auditor No one is al
lowed hereafter to go upon school lands, and
the provisions of the law are severe upon those
that do.
Sec. 90 The Town Assessors shall tax
those upon school lands as other settlers.
The County Auditor shall add to the tax roll in
a column designated ''school distribution fund.-
to be paid by the settler as by the statements
given to the appraisers, on the real value of the
land so claimed five per cent, to be collected by
the County Treasurer, as rent for the use of the
the school lands.
Sec rs. After the school lands in any portion
of the State have been appraised and the ap-
praisal returned to State board, any person
wishing to buy may send to the State board
his offer, not less than the appraisal. If suffi.
cient in any one county bid, the State board
may order sale, and authorize the County Au.
ditor to advertise the sale in the County where
the lands lie Each lot or tract shall be offered
separately and as they are advertised, not less
than the appraisement or minimum" The
highest bidder takes the lands. The purchase:
gets certificate from the County Treasurer
by paying one quarter down and giving notes
at one or twenty years for the balance at six
per cent interest. No patent issues till all
principal, interest and taxes are paid. Should
any but the actual settler bid off any tract, he
shall, on the day of sale, pay to the Treasurer,
to the credit of the settler, one half of the i'm.
provements, and the balance in six months
with interest at six per cent, and the balance
shall be a lien against the land to all except
the State. Should purchaser fail to pay in
terest after six months, he forfeits all right
under his certificate, and the State can
have the lands. The County Treasurer shall
remit in gold and silver once in three
months all ''school funds" and "school distri.
button funds in his hands, the State Board
shall distribute among the counties of the
State. according to the number of children be.
tween the ages of five and twenty-one years,
the " distribution fund" and the interest of the
"scho0l fund.-" the Board shall invest the mo-
MES arising from school lands in United States
stocks or stocks of the State of Minnesota, at
their current value in the city of New York.
When bought, there shall be written upon each
certificate of stock Minnesota School Fund.-"
and when sold must have each name of the
State Board. to the effect that said stocks are
no longer school fund pr operty. No compen-
sation is given to the State Board the Regis.
tel and Receiver each have salary of $3.50.
The State Appraiser is allowed So per day, to
be paid out of the rents arising from the occu-
pants of school lands. The counties allow
$3.50 to the County Appraiser, and the town
the same for the Town Appraiser.
Execution at Albert Lea,