Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1883-10-29
BOWEN = K1NGsBURY. Prop'4.


Office on Third st., Press and Dakotsian
BOWEN = KINGsBURY. Prop'tx.
The constitution Of the proposed state
has. among it's many merits, one that
transcends all Others, the article relating
to education and the school lands. The
public schools have been endowed by
the nation in every public land state.
In one after another Of these this en-.
dowment hos been largely wasted, lost
and frandulently squandered. From
two to five millions of dollars are the
total proceeds in such great states as
Michigan, Illinois, Iowa. California and
others, states rich in every element Of
natural wealth. Taxation takes the
place OF income from these wasted
funds. All this evil resulted from lack
OF constitutional protection and limita.
ton. This would have prevented the
loss in every case. Had the provision
in our constitution been in theirs Wis.
consin. Illinois. Iowa and other states
would have now held twelve to fifteen
millions each as vested school fund.
They might have held twenty million
dollars each. In every state there is .
regret, shame, an historic chapter that
is hidden, and wonder that the last
generation should have been 30 indiffer.
ent.
Here we stand In Dakota at the title
page of our state history and have the
character of every page in our control.
We are to write the preface. declaring
the policy, the philosophy. the entire
scheme of the work. Tho work We do
for education is not for the future and
for honor merely. It is for our own i'm.
mediate advantage and that of our chill.
dren. We have in prospect and now
largely selected about three millions Of
acres of school lands of all classes, and
these are chiefly for our common schools.
The constitution provides that these
lands shall be sold and the income only
of the proceeds devoted with other
funds to these schools, uniformly
throughout the state. It further pro-
vides that not over one-third of these
lands shall be sold in the first ten years,
that none shall be sold at less than ten
dollars an acre, nor until publicly ap.
praised and after three months adver.
tisement and at public auction. These
limitations are vely complete, and being
in the constitution they bind absolutely
the legislature, all officers and the courts
Within the proposed state there are now
over million acres, more than can pro.
perly be handled in ten years, between
the eastern boundary and the west side
of the Dakota valley. Over half this
is now worth ten dollars an acre. Much
OF it is of higher value, from twenty.fv
dollars to five hundred dollars an acre
Lands of this class near Yankton and
other places are worth fifty dollars an
acre. A few sections practically within
towns like Huron, Mitchell and others
are worth hundreds of dollars an acre
The constitution requires that the land
of highest. value be sold first.
Under this constitution in few year,
we shall have without taxation Longer
terms of school than we now have
Within eight years one million acres car
bring US not less, probably more, thar
fifteen million dollars. Make the calcu
lation for any county on the basis of IF
teen dollars an acre and seven per cen
interest on tie fund. That is low rate
Indiana and other states get eight pc
cent. Yankton county twenty Thousand
acres, three hundred thousand dollars
income twenty.one thousand dollars
year, or seventy schools for six month
each year and forty dollars q month 70
each school. 1t would support our pre-
sent schools eight months year. 1t
this or better that statehood will secur
to us. 1t renders it certain, and this l
without considering the university, NO,
NAL and other school lands.
For this end we sincerely desire state
hood. We should vote for this constitu
tion If it had otherwise serious defect,
The school land question il the grea
issue, the one high point OF honor, goo
faith and permanent public advantage
In this and on education. NO constitat
in the union now does or ever did equ,
ours. II that be lost it will be Difficult
to save it. If any other single point b
omitted, it can be taken up hereafter an
saved. Two or three years without pr
tectlon will lose this heritage for on
children. Such is the record in ever
state.
But the constitution is admirable. -
plainly provides and clearly reads,
every feature. It makes for % what 4
want, simple, economical, closely lin
tied government, suited to . people SOC
as We are and to our permanent progres
Believing and knowing this We suppo
the constitution and in doing 20 see
need of quarreling with others who
: not, but great need Of voting uuanimou
~ against them, and for free schoo
. without school taxes.
Premature R.sss or HAIR
May be entirely prevented by the use
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