Brookings register. (Brookings, S.D.) 1890-1894, 1891-03-27
$4,000, 900.
This Sum to be Realized by South Da-
kota from Her School Land EndOw-
mont.

Falls Argus-lIeader Is we'll worth re-
production:
Very few people comprehend the
magnitude OF the patrimony in lands
lett to education, at the decease OF
the Territory Of Dakota, and few peo.
pie will comprehend it unless the cold
figures are presented 20 them. Ac-
cording to information furnished by
Land Commissioners Thos. H. Ruth,
who has just appraised some of the
school lands of Minnehaha county.
The school lands of the state number
2.73O,sOO acres, which at the mini
mum price of $40 per acre, fixed by
the constitution, with 100000 acres
OF endowment lands divided among
the university, agricultural college,
normal. reform and deaf mute schools,
form a grand aggregate OF 33, 800, 800
acres OF lands worth at least $35, 600
600, which when all lands are sold
vii! furnish an annual revenue OF
50, 100000 divided per capita among
the school children OF the state.
Commissioner Ruth, says that in q
very few years the interest at 6 per
cent from tie fund arising from the
sale anu leasing OF school lands will
be sufficient co cover and assume all
state, county and municipal indebted
ness, which will leave the interest in
the state of sending it to eastern
owners of our securities.
One hundred and sixty sections OF
land lying in Yankton, Clay, Union,
Mlnnehaha, Moody. Brookings, Cod
dington, Grant, Ro oberts, Bon Homme,
Hutchinson, Turner and Hanson will
be offered this year, and all lands re.
naming unsold, will be leased at
auction at minimum price OF 10 cents
per acre. The lands offered for sale
will be sold by the county superin.
tendents OF the respective counties at
auction on the dates named, at not
less than the appraised values. The
terms one-fourth cash, one-fourth IN
five years, one-tourth in ten years,
and one.fourth in fifteen years at 9
pei cent interest, lands may be paid
for in cash at time OF sale, but the
purchaser will be required to pay one
years interest at g per cent upon
three-tourths OF the purchase price.
Commissioner Ruth estimates that
the revenues from sales and leases
will, in 1891, amount to 81 900, 600,
will increase year by year.
Commissioner Ruth, when asked
about the matter OF investments ex-
pressed q wish that the school fund
as it accrues, might be invested in
part in township irrigation bonds as
provided for in the Melville bill.
However, he was not ready to express
his opinion as to the legality of such
an investment, until he had thor
roughly investigated the matter. But,
said he, IF the fund arising from the
sale and leasing OF the school lands Of
this state can be safely and legally
invested in township irrigation bonds,
it will keep the interest IN the STAGE
and provide q most magnificent sys-
tenn OF irrigation for South Dakota.
AS irrigation by artesian wells is sure
of success, and in few yesrs instead
of drouth. stricken district, Dakota
which will be the garden of the world.
In addition to the regular school
lands, sections 16 and 36, in each
township. there are 100000 acres OF
endowment lands, to be selected this
year by the commissioner, these are
divided into 100000 acres for the
agricultural college, $4,000 for the
state university, $4,000 acres for
normal schools, 10000 acres for
school of mines, 10000 acres for re-
form schools, etc, to be selected from
the unoccupied lands of the state.
The school fund is also entitled to q
large amount of indemnity lands, to
make up for the lost sections in the
mining regions. these lost by the
msandering OF lakes, the Missouri and
other rivers. These lands are also to
be selected and located by Commits
sioner Ruth this season.
The endowment and indemnity
lands will be selected from lands in
Meade, Butte, Fall River, Lawrence,
Pennington and Campbell and Mis-.
souririver counties, where thousands
of acres OF good grazing and agri.
cultural lands are still open.
Apropos. to the above information,
it may be said theiand commissioner,
Thomas H. Ruth, came to Dakota in
1880, during the interim he has been
engaged in private banking at De-
Smet in Kinesbury county. He is
clearly one of the most level-headed
fnanciers in the state, and according
to his own avowed intention proposes
to make the school land deal yield
every dollar in the interest OF educa-
tional funds that it is capable OF.
Should Commissioner Ruth in addi-
tion to providing the state with q
muni6cent educational fund, make it
possible through the investment OF
the principal OF that fund in town
ship irrigation bonds, giving to South
Dakota the grandeet educational
fund, and tho most perfect system OF