The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-01-12

H's lsP9lt' ine1eu.ysc! rs resPec1'ally com.
The number Of lite insurance policies issued
in Minnesota during the year covered BY this
report was 1858. The amount insured there
by was sc, 053, 1853, Tor which the premiums
collected were. $497, 704.26 The amount Of
losses paid was 500 1914 'i'''" - 9I.1 ~
The commissioner renews his recommended
reserve be changed from six per cent: to four
and one-halfpef cent. interest in conformity
with the action of nearly all the other States.
LUMBER INTERESTS. - 49, -.
The condition OF our lumber interests ia ex-
hibited in the reports of the Surveyor Cen
eral: '.-.,'
In the First or Saltwater Dis =
trict there were scaled. 49,. 1T ,3O6, 829 feet.
In the Second or Minneapolis
Dist lct.... l49, $3.50, $40 feet
In the Fifth or Duluth Dis
trict 49,. 49,. $500. ~. 55,7el feet
ST. cRo1x AND LAKE SUPERIOR CANAL.
By an act OF the Legislature approved March
9Th, 1875, board of commissioners was con-
stituted and named in the act, whose duties
were prescribed by the statute. To carry cut
its provisions 81, 900 was appropriated. Hon.
w. Il. Ward, one of the board, declined to
act. Their duties were:
First--To examine the country, rivers and
lakes lying between the head of steamboat
navigation on the St. Croix river and the
lake, to determine the most feasible route for
canal connecting those points.
Second-TO make careful and correct sur
vey ofthe route which promises most for the
future development OF the country.
Third-To make report to the Legislature,
which report shall be accompanied with maps
and drawings, showing as near as practicable the
features of the country over which such survey
may pass, and careful estimate of the cost
for the construction of such water channel or
canal.
They were also required TO extend their sur
vey SO as to be able to include in their reporta
correct statement regarding the feasibility OF
Mississippi river near Sandy Lake, in this
State.
The report of the commissioners is here
with transmitted. 1t will be seen from this
document that the board has performed only
the first OF the duties prescribed by the act,
commissioners state that they had not time or
means sufficient to make survey.
Three routes were examined, and the con-
clusion at which the board arrives is that the
preferable one is via the Bots Brute and Saint
Croix rivers, noting as the greatest and only
objection to this route the fact that there is no
natural harb0r at the mouth of the Brule
river-an objection which without explanation
would seem decisive against the conclusion of
the board-the report stating that this stream
enters the lake where it has STRAIGHT line OF
shore for many miles, afording no natural har-
Dor whatever.
Another route examined was from the Dalles
at Taylor's Falls to the mouth Of the Name
coggin river; thence up that river and across the
summit to the waters of White river, or some
stream to be ascertained to he most feasible to
connect with the waters of Lake Superior.
This line is two hundred and fifty miles long
The report does not state explicitly how many
miles OF canal excavation will he required It
does state that it will involve the construc
ton Of nineteen dams and nineteen locks, and
unfortunately speaks of "several more"
The third route examined lies via the Saint
Croix, Kettle, Black Hoof and Lett Hound
rivers, distance OF about two hundred miles,
There is a tall OF torty-tive feet in
nine miles above the mouth of Ket-
tie river to overcome, for which
dams Will be manifestly necessary, though how
tie river make descent of nearly eighteen feet,
and from the head of lower falls, so-called, to
the head Of upper falls, distance Of four and
one-halt miles, the river falls distance of
twenty five feet How many dams or locks
will be found necessary to overcome these OBJ
stacles is not stated.
1t is to be regretted that the board had not
time and means to come to more explicit re-
suits: It is for the Legislature to consider
whether the conclusions OF the commission
warrant further appropriations.
TIE COMMON SCHOOLS.
On the third day OF April, 1876, appointed
Rsed B%r of Wnona to the Office
This officer brought to the discharge Of
his duties large experience in our common
schools, warm sympathy with the cause of
popular education, and the special quali6ca-
ton OF a finished and tolerant scholarship. His
report is practical document and deals with
several questions which will engage your con-
am unable to agree with the superiuten-
dent in his animadversions upon the act OF
1875, by which it was in substance provided
that an annual tax of one mill on the amount
of assessment shall be levied, and when col
lected distributed by giving to each school
district the amount Of tax collected in that dis
annual tax of two mills was levied and appor-
toned among the several school districts of
the county in proportion to the number OF
persons in the district between the ages of five
and twenty-one years. 1t will be perceived
that the operation of these statutes differ in
this, that the former law, while it exacted
taxes OF the entire county, distributed them on
per capita basis, whereby the large towns or
cities were made, as general rule, to contrib
ute tor the support OF schools in the country,
While under the present law each district re-
c ct: Jqst whatit pays. Under the former
system the city of Winona raised 1924, OF
which s., Ol4 went to the support Of the schools
sn1 that ety. ! %hls was applied to tue
county outside-et Winona. 1t happened in
one instance that the systam worked the
other way, for St. Paul received from
Ramsey county $1,000. But this too
seems unjust. The citizens OF Minneapolis, as
am informed, ascertained that under the
former law that city would be obliged to con-
tribnte nearly SIC, Zoo to the support of the ru-
raj schools ofthe populous and wealthy county
OF AenOepin. and therefore for the snecia1 re-.