Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-01-15
THE 100000 ACRES OF LAND.
Il Proposition to Use Then, for Internal
Improvements.
To the Editor of the Globe

Il Proposition to Use Then, for Internal
Improvements.
To the Editor of the Globe.
As your columns are always open to any SUBJ
ject that pertains to the welfare of the people,
allow me small space for few lines in rela-
ton to the 100000 acres of internal improve
ment lands and the current avails thereof, as
they are likely to figure conspicuously in the
present legislature, as they have in many legis-
latures in the past. They have, indeed, run
many narrow escapes, and trust they will be
finally disposed of at this session. Thank God.
they yet in the hands of the people. Ipro-
pose to give brief history of the many at
tempts to rob the people of them, and to sug-
gest the most just and proper disposal of them,
or, more properly speaking, of the current
avails of them, as the principal cannot be re-
duced ''by any means whatever" which is
constitutional provision.
In 1867 the legislature merely threw them in
as a sort Of make-weight, or incidental aid to-
ward paying the old railroad bonds. The propo-
sition was rejected by the people by a vote of
Is to l. Three years afterwards, viz: in 1870,
the legislature offers the once merely incidental
as the principal thing with which to pay said
ponds. The arrangement was cunnlngly de-
vised A special election was appointed in May
when the farmers would all be busy, and it was
home and let the matter go by default. It did
60 by default, and majority of a very
meagre vote cast mostly in tho cities
elected to give the lands for the bonds. The
bondholders began to have courage and would
not take the lands on the terms proposed-they
hoped for something better. The next move
ment was by the legislature of 1871, when w.
D. Washburn and associates divided up the
lands among four new railroad companies, the
formers company to get the largest share.
This scheme did not need the ratification of the
people, but it was saved to them by the patri-
otto action of Gov. Austin, which act was the
most important ever done by any chief execu-
tive of our State (banishing the grasshoppers
always excepted) The lands were most in
jeopardy at the juncture cited, as they were
out of the reach of the people when appropri-
ated for railroad purposes. Hence the import
ance of Gov. Austin's veto. The people had
viewed the action of that selfish legislature
with alarm, and the next legislature, viz: that
of 1872, was determined to snatch the lands
from the reach of selfish, soulless corporations,
so they proposed an amendment to the consti-
tuition providing for the sale of the lands and
for tying up the proceeds beyond the reach of
selfish legislation. The people ratified the
amendment by a very preponderating majority
There was now rest for five years, when a leg
islature assembled that had forgotten the les
sons of the past. 1t was that of 1877, which
made the monstrous attempt to abrogate the
pIOGtCGAOu 10 Gue lduOS ana GQelf
avails, which was so dear to the people, to get
at them for paying school fund bonds which
| were to be given in exchange for old railroad
bonds at the rate of $500 for
every $1,000 of old railroad bonds! Constitu-
| tional provisions were mere straws in the
| way of this scheme. Need I tell that the peo-
pie rejected it with disdain-the farmers leav-
ing their plows to defeat it. The Governor still
| has the brass to urge the bond question upon
| the next legislature upon the pretext that the
people did not understand the question! The
bondholders, not willing to take mo- for an
| answer, urged the legislature of 1878 to offer
them the lands again, which it did; but the
people rejected the proposition by very de-
cided and unmistakable majority. So the
lands and their avails are still in the hands of
the people, after many hazards and trials.
Now let the present legislature do wise and
patriotic deed, and by enactment devote the
interest of the internal improvement land
fund, where Congress intended by the grant it
should be devoted, to construction and repair
of wagon roads and bridges. Such an act the
people will ratify. EBENEzER AYREs.
Cottage Grove, Jan. s, 1879.
The Mack murder trial cost Rock county