St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1863-01-08

must De satisfactory to the State, and which |
is not inequitable to the creditors "A be-
ginning has thus been effected, towards q |
release Of the University from the incubus !
which has SO long rested upon it and dis
position shown on the part Of the Regents to
do what lies in their power, to meet its OBJ
legations 1t is hoped that all the credi-
tors may be persuaded to accept the equi-
table proposals made to them. 1s
p, DISPOSITION OF INSANE PATIENTS.
Under the advice of the Legislature, I
addressed the Governors of several of the
Northwestern States, last spring, to ascer-
tain whether they would receive and care
for q limited number of the insane of this
State in their curative asylums, and if so,
upon what terms. -..#5- =
The only favorable response came from
Iowa, where the authorities agreed to re-
ceiye such patients as the State might send,
not exceeding twenty in number, at the
charge Of three dollars per week for board,
care and attendance; and that the neces-
sary clothing the patient might require
would be furnished at wholesale price,
which it was judged would not average oy-
er fifty dollars per annum. These charges
to he met in quarterly payments. ..@
After due public notice given by the
Secretary of State, six persons from the
counties of Meeker, Washington and Ram
sey were assembled in this city and placed
in charge of the agent appointed for the
purpose of taking them to the Iowa Asy-
lum for Insane, and were by him deliv
cred to the Superintendent of that institu-
ton on the 4th of December last.
An account should be kept with the
several counties from which these patients
are received, and they should be required
to reimburse the State Treasury for the ex-
penses thus incurred.
The appropriation made at the extra
session for the support of the Insane, will
be sufficient to meet all charges to Decem-
Der 4th, 1868. if there should be DO increase
of numbers;- but as there probably will be,
I recommend the appropriation Of a few
thousand dollars, to meet possible contin-
gences. .a-...-. - ....
BUREAU OF PUBLIC LANDS. ...
The operations in the Bureau of Public
ands which have been conducted with
eat prudence and ability, are possessed of
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 a perpetual warning
to the people and their representatives,
and should admonish them to guard with
Jealous care this source Of wealth.
During the autumn, 1882 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 for sale, and 3S,047 acres sold
for the aggregate sum of $242,53l. The
cash received upon the sales was $5l ,992.-
%, and the remainder, viz, $l9O,539.38,
continues lien upon the lands solo, 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 $780, 0S
Forty three thousand six hundred and forty "
two acres are under leaes at an annual
rent of 4,1ss Os
There is in the Treasury. receipts for sale
OF grass upon school ltnls IS
The Commissioner estimate that $780,
600 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 l,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 2,689,O0O 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 vigilant 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 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 Seth sections of the half
breed tract on Lake Pepin, or of other
lands in lieu thereof. AS also, her right
to similar sections on the several Res
eryations 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
the support of the stock, in the several
counties in which they are located. These
lands, which in very many instances were
passed over by 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-
prjation, unless for the most assured public
necessity and benefit. ~ (.
I Unless some new policy of this kind is
inaugurated, these swamp lands, which
!; 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