The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-11-07

report on this it is with some trepidation
because I desire to do no injustice to any
one, yet find it my duty to call your
attention to certain possible facts there.
in shown.
In these sales Of lots noticed sales of
numerous lots to various parties. No
tably: w. w. Folwell and John G.
Moore, and in 30 doing do not desire to
make any comments on either further
than to say that each has purchased
number Of lots and that I presume Mr..
Folwell Is or was one OF the professors.
do not know whether the prices paid
were fair or otherwise; nor do I make
any intimation that the price was not
just or that Mr.. Folwell had not per-
feet right to buy the lots
AS to Mr.. Holmes may have to make
some comment, and suggest that the
committee inquire whether he is the Mr..
Holmes of the Holmes and Brown Land
and Loan company; also whether said
lands are any part of these alleged to be
covered by bonds held by the St. Paul
and Minneapolis Mortgage, Loan and
Trust Co, $4,000 of which bonds now
form part of the illegal deposit made
by said Trust company with the state
auditor; and if such be the fact it may
be well to cause an inquiry as to the
value OF the same and how and by whose
advice these bonds came into the posses
sion of the Trust Company.
Again let me call attention to the fact
and that without in any wise rejecting
on Mr.. Merriman-that these records
should be kept under the control of the
state and not in some banking office in
Minneapolis, since it hardly seems meet
that the business of the State University
should be transacted almost, if not quite,
entirely, in private institu ions.
From the auditors books the commit
tee are aware that G. A. Smith & Co.,
and the Gull River Lumber &c. have
purchased large amount of timber from
the University, or the state, but the CON-
mittee may not be aware that John S.
Pillsbury is the company with G. A.
Smith and president of the Gull River
Lumber Co.
Whether the last two transactions
are actually fraudulent the committee
may be advised, but that they are con-
structively so in view of Mr. Pillsbury's
curious connection with both buyer and
hoe NV,
The committee are aware of the prices
to be paid the state under these con-
tracts and the apparently low price per
thousand feet, but 1t is we'll that I should
call attention to the fact that l am adj
vised that the st. Paul and Duluth is
getting 1915 per thousand stumpage
and that Weyerhauser & Co., have con-
tracted to pay 81 Is per thousand on
certain Mile Lac lands whenever the
parties can get the titles settled, these
parties being, if I mistake not, A. H.
Wilder, D. M. Sabin and r. B. Walker
In view of these facts it is for Mr..
Pillsbury to explain the fairness, loyalty
and integrity of these transactions if he
can and not for the state to show the I'M
fairness since the very unfairness itself
presupposes an unfair, interested or BIZ
ased Judgment, if not an actually dis
honest proceeding.
In view of these last transactions and
other loose business methods herein
shown, believe that thorough over
hauling of the whole management of the
institution should be had and that
speedily, because know it to be fact
that Mr.. Pillsbury has been connected
with at least one financial concern as a
director that has been carelessly or
criminally mismanaged.
know whereof l speak that records
of the secretary of states Office, of the
inspector of finance of Vermont; of the
register of deeds of Hennepin county
show, taken together, that one or all of
the past representative officers of the
Northwestern Guaranty Loan Company
have been guilty of gross fraud, also that
at one time John S. Pillsbury was held
forth to the world director thereof.
AS to how long ne held such position
or that he had actual knowledge at the
time Of these facts / do not attempt to
state, but I do say that the substance
thereof was left at his office two years
ago; also with the other directors; also
tnat the same has been published and
charged more than once in the public
press, but none of said letters have been
replied to nor have said charges been an
swered or refuted; neither can I find
that Mr.. Pillsbury, Thomas Lowry or
any other past or present directors have
taken any steps to investigate or put a
stop to the acts and crimes shown to
have been committed.
deem it my duty to also state that 1
am advised, but have no record evidence,
that the firm of G, A. Smith & Co., have
cut almost 100000 feet of timber off
the Winnebagoshist Reservation under
an alleged contract to cut burnt timber
I remain, gentlemen, your obedient
servant, JOHN H. BURKE.
ST.. PAUL, March 16, 49,
In later report to the committee Mr..
Burke finds ON inquiry that the Holmes
named is a resident of Detroit, Becker
county, and not of the Holmes & Brown
land and Loan Co He also made the