Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1895-06-13
"CRAND army POINT" SOLD
SpiritWOOd Lake Picnic and
Camp Grounds 20 to
J. r. WinSlOW.
Spirited Bidding for a Small
Slice of State School
Lands.
The Sale of 2SI Acres Will
Net the State Over
$1,000.

The grand army boys will not be able
to get title and full possession of their
beautiful camping grounds at Spirit
wood lake, as they have long desired.
The tract of ground belonged to the
school lands of the state and was sold
Tuesday by Land Com'r Williams.
at the court house, to j. r. Winslow of
this city, for S156 an acre.
There we're two parcels Of land offered
for sale, one 2S115 acre piece on which
the buildings and picnic grounds Of the
grand army have been located and en-
campments held for several years; an
other, 40 acre tract adjoining, de-
scribed as the Se14 Sell of sec. 36,
142-63. The 2S15 acre piece lies along
the shores of the lake, and is the most
commanding and beautiful spot on the
shores. 1t is heavily timbered and ele-
gantly located for a grand pleasure
resort.
The state appraisement of the 2S11a
acres was only $3.50, and of the 40 acre
piece $4OO. The latter is broken and
billy ground and not nearly as desirable
for camping purposes as it has water
frontage of no value, and lies directly
south of the tract fronting on the water
line. It is chiefly used for pasture. A
section line runs on the east of this land,
along which 1t is said a road can be con-
structed to reach the lake and the
property bid IN by Mr.. Winslow.
The 40 acre field was not sold, DO one
appearing to want it under the clrcum-
stances. The amount paid for the 2S115
acres will aggregate s4,446, probably the
highest price ever paid in the state for
80 small tract of land. It was the first
school sale ever made in the county and
starts off such real estate sales on quite
boom.
There we're but two interests bidding,
the grand army association represented
by Geo. Kurtz, and Mr.. Wlnslow. No
bids could be received for less than $40
an acre. Bidding began at that figure
and ran rapidly up to $50 an acre then
to 800, and finally reached the amount
named. A certified check for one-fifth
the amount was offered and taken by
the county treasurer for the first pay
ment, as required by law. The remain
ing payments are due respectively on
January lst, 1901, 1906, 1911 and 1916,
with interest at per cent until all are
paid. The university and school land
board has ten days in which to approve
the sale.
There is considerable disappointment
among the veterans in not getting the
camp ground for permanent possession,
but their pocketbook was not as long as
their competitors. The property with
the interest on the deferred payments.
will cost the purchaser handsome sum
of money. In fact, taking the inter-
est on the deferred payments it is
figured that this sale of 2S1s acres of
school lard will represent with the prn-
cipal, at the end of 20 years an outlay of
nearly $1,000, to say nothing OF taxes,
and improvements. The purchase price
can not be paid in any other way than
as the law deslgnates. There will soon
be leasing of the other tracts Of school
land not sold today. Some of the prior
leases of school land that were bid IN for
too small amounts. have been set aside
by the school land board. These to-
gether with others will be offered for
lease next Saturday and number of
the parcels near the lake, are included
in the list. The lease will be for five
years, and more than the usual interest
in the same will no doubt be mani
fest. What disposition the pur-
chaser will make of the property is not
stated. 1t is reported that the tract will
be offered for sale in lots 1t Is also
said that use of the same has been
offered the Grand Army post if they
care to hold an encampment this season.
There are good many conjectures
concerning the sale and the high price
paid for the land. One rumor discussed
is that it Is believed the ground contains
some kind of valuable mineral; another
is that the 500 railroad may be in the
future desirous OF obtaining site for
hotel, as the lake IS only some eight
miles from that road, and is the only
fresh water sheet in the state where
summer resort could be made attractive:
another ls that private parties may build
hotel there.
Children Cry for