The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-01-09
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
TCeNTINuFD FROM FIRST PAGE

the highest interest and giving, as they
do, faint glimpse of the immense
value of public lands under the sew
eral denominations of School Lands,
Capital lands, Salt spring lands, Swamp
lands, Agricultural college lands, will
induce the Legislature to continue its
careful guardianship of this immense
estate, which will. in due time, pay the
public debt erect all the necessary
public buildings, educate its children and
meet the necessary expenditures OF the
State, without resort to taxation.
This can be surely done, but the closest
vigilance will have to be exercised, not
only by you, gentlemen, but by the success
sive Legislators:that may have the interests
and destinies Of the State in charge.
The rock, upon which the like rich en-
dowments of some other States have been
stranded, should be perpetual warning
to the people and their representatives,
and Should admonish them to guard with
Jealous care this source of wealth.
During the autumn, 49,, 1892 acres, a por-
ton of the school lands in twenty-five
counties, were appraised, and in thirteen
of those counties 1882 acres were Of
fered fer sale, and 39,O47 acres sold
for the aggregatesum of $242,53l. The
cash received upon the sales was $5l ,992.-
%, and the remainder, viz, $l9O, 1898,
continues lien upon the lands sold, bear
ing an interest at the rate of seven per
per cent per annum.
The interest upon these sales to june 1868, -
will amount to the sum Of S7,502 US
Forty three thousand six hundred and forty
two acres under leaes at an annual
There is in the Treasury, receipts for sale
Of grass upon school lands 5922S
The Commissioner estimate that $780,
900 will be added to the permanent school
fund during the present year, and that there
will be- with what is now to the credit of
that account, the sum of $4,000 for dis
tribution.
The amount Of school land already
surveyed is stated at 1,256,320 acres.
The aggregate amount to which the
State will be entitled, when all the lands
have been surveyed has been estimat-
ed at 2,SSS,000 acres, much of which
of course. will not be available for many
years, and it is fortunate for the interest of
the school fund that it is so.
The vicilant attention of the Commits
sioner of the Land Office will be required
to secure to the State the assignment by
the General Government of other lands in
place Of those of which it has been de-
prived by presumption and otherwise. And
although there may be difference in the
valuation. it is hoped a partial compensa-
ton, at least, may thus be received for the
losses we have sustained
The State continues to maintain before
the Land Office at Washington its right to
the 10th and Both sections of the half
breed tract on Lake Pepin, or of other
lands in lieu thereof AS also, her right
ito similar sections on the several Res
ervations as they may from time to time
be added to the domain of public lands
The Swamp lands are among the most
valuable of our land grants. as we'll in view
of the amount in acres, as OF their value for
tie support Of the stock, in the several
counties in which they are located These
lands, which in very many instances were
passed over 10y the early settlers, are now
sought for with great avidity by the farm
ers living in their vicinage
I cannot but trust that the people and
their representatives will continue to have
an increasing appreciation of the value Of
these lands, and will steadily resist every
application that may arise for their appro-
prjaticn, unless for the most assured public
necessity and benefit.
Unless some new policy Of this kind is
inaugurated, these swamp lands which l
confidently anticipate, will, in few years,
furnish US with large reserve fund.- of
millions Of dollars, to discharge whatever
OF indebtedness the necessities or the fOllies
of she State, in its earlier history, may have
imposed upon Us, as also for the erection
and maintenance Of those great eleemosy-
nary institutions which, before many years,
the State will be called upon to erect, at a
cost OF several hundred thousand dollars
each, such as asylgms for the Insane, Deaf
and Duyab, and Blind, will have been vast
ed; and nothing but taxation, the great him
drance to immigration will be left to US as
resource for such purposes.
These lands are being allotted to us
from time to time by the United State au-
thorities. But, for obvious reasons, the
process is somewhat slow.
As fast as the title to them becomes
absolute in the State. I trust it may be
stipulated liat all prOcteuS, iIoHl lHe SAFES
.Ghereof shall he safely invested and solemn
.ly dedicated to the great pulic objects have
iust named; for ann convinced that moth
ing can be done. 10y us, which will so soon
encourage large immigration, as the
knowledge of the fact that the great land
grants to the State, by the general govern
mept are carefully and prudently managed,
and that taxation to every possible degree,
is avoided.
The act OF Congress donating public
| lands,to the several States and Territories,
which may provide colleges for the benefit
of agriculture and the mechanic arts, APP
proved on s.he 9th of July, 1862, provides
in the seventh clause Of the fifth section,
that No State shall be entitled to the bene-
fit Of the act, unless ii shall express its ac-
ceptauce thereof, by its Legislature within
two years from the date Of its approval by
the President
Under, this act Minnesota is entitled TO
one hundred and twenty Thousand acres.
Ifselected judiciously and at all early date,
the fund realized from so large donation