The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1893-04-07
SOUTH DAKOTA SCHOOL LANDS.

~ si' ONNOtA oS6OOc EANO0.
The Annual Sale Begins Today--The Estl-
mated Results.
Sioux City Journal: The Hon.
Thomas H. Ruth, commissioner of
school and public lands of South Da-
kota, arrived in the city last night on
his way north.
1--WE have been getting ready to start
on the land sales which will begin We'd
nesday at Canton. A bill was introduc-
ed into the legislature last winter
which, if it had passed, would have
prevented our making any more sales.
The proposition was to provide for the
leasing of all school lands, but to pro.
hibit their sale. The idea was to give
the state the benefit of the apprecia-
tion in values, but 1 don't think the
effect would have been satisfactory.
The farmers who leased the lands, hav-
ing no permanent interest in them.
would have got all they could out of
them for the time being, and paid no
attention to any permanent improve
ment. The result would have been a
lot of run down and seedy farms. AS
general thing the farmers prefer to
take unbroken land and get a fair start
on it rather than to begin with a farm
which has been worn out by former ten
ants. The effect might not be SO bad
in the older states where it is necessary
to make the best use of the land in Or
der to make it pay.
1--WE have in South Dakota 5000, 900
acres OF schools lands, besides $40, 900
acres OF endowment lands given by the
general government for the purpose of
the state institutions. We are permit
ted under the statute to sell one-third
of this amount during the first ten
years that we hold it. We have, how
ever, sold about 1000 more this year.
The minimum value for which we are
allowed to dispose of it is $40 per acre.
That which we shall sell has been ap-
praised at from S12 to $50 per acre. Our
sales will be from the school lands
alone, however, and the endowment
lands will not be touched at present.
We shall not have any trouble in maxi
ing sales as we have land boom on at
present. The terms, too, are very reas-
enable and the buyers appreciate the
fact.
''The proceeds of the sales, of course,
become part of the school fund. That
now on hand amounts to 81, 100000 and
the present sales will add something
like $3.50, 900 more.
"We have $4,000 acres near Sioux
Falls and 80, 900 near Watestown. This
land is, of course, very valuable. Then
there are a number of sections near
other large towns. During the sum-
mer we shall plat one section at Cham
berlain and sell it as town lots. Parts
of sections will also be plated at Mitch.
ell and Huron.
another source of revenue for the
school fund is the per cent. it receives
of all sales of government land within
the state. We shall claim our regular
per cent. for lands sold both before and
since the admission of the state.
"By an act of the last legislature the
office of state agent was created to pros
ecute these as we'll as other claims
against the general government. This
office was given to Goo dykoontz Of Cham
berlain and we shall push matters.
"south Dakota will, I think, when
her lands are all turned into money.
have the largest school fund of any of
the states. 1 should estimate that it
would amount to s40,o0o,OO0.