The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1896-09-05
|mcH N SCHOOL LAND
South Dakota Has a Very Large
Area.
Figures From the Annual Report Of
the Land Commissioners OF the
state--Much ofthc Prop
crty Unavailable.

Pierre, S. D., Aug. "S.-When South
Dakota was admitted to the union the
general government made grants to the
state of 2,S4S, 4S0 acres of land for edu-
,ational and charitable purposes. OF
This amount the common school fund
received 2,15O, 400 acres, and under the
provisions of the constitution none OF
these lands may be sold for less than
10 per acre, and the income therefrom
s to be invested at a rate of 6 per cent
Der annum. If these lands were all old
ut the minimum price and the sum thus
secured under the terms OF the consti-
luton the income would be sufficient
10 run all the schools of the state with
out one cent of local taxation. The
ands which have so far been disposed of
lave brought an average price of about
1880 per acre, and If it is all disposed
II at this rate the income would be yet
greater. So far the state has disposed OF
i45, GS5 acres, leaving an immense area
20 be yet disposed of. and 1t VIII be many
years before it Is all finally taken, but
With an improvement Of the financial al
fairs of the country there Is but little
question that the sales would soon reach
/, point where the income from the fund
received would keep pace with the needs
IF the state for school purposes. While
the fund does o yet cut much inquire
In the reduction OF the taxes, there was
distributed among the schools, IN the ap-
environments made December Is, 1898,
and June II, 1896, s1.35 per capita, on a
school population of lO4.02s.
The money which goes to the school is
that secured from the interest on money
received from the sale of school lanes, ana
from the leasing OF lands yet held III the
name of the state. At the present Tune the
state has invested in the various counties
IN real estate loans, and school bonds. stz3'-
| n7. SO, the county securing the largest
amount OF this sum being Union. with
1889. 74O, There were issued this year 3si,0o9
acres of land. the largest acreage taken In
any one county being 80, SOS acres in Brown.
The state as yet derives no revenue from
a large acreage of its lands, which are To-
yated in the unorganized counties west OF
the river.
Naturally the sales of land have been
principally in the older counties OF the
southern and eastern portion OF the state,
and while most Of the lands have been dis
posed of IN several counties, the only one
in which all of 1t has been sold is Clay, In
the southeastern portion.
Besides the common school fund the
commissioner of public lands has the man
agement of about 100000 acres of land for
the benefit Of the various state educational
inc charitable institutions. This land was
not granted to the state IN specific sections
as was the school lands. and it was neces-
sary for the commissioners to select the
acreage granted, from any u~nappropriated
public lands in the state. OF this amount
there has been selected up to the present
time over $4,000 acres. most of which has
been apport.oned to the various tnstitu-
ions which are to be benefited.
In addition to the statistical figures the
report of the commissioner will contain q
valuable summary of the work of the
office up to date, with suggestions toward
the best methods FOR safe management
and investment of the funds of the state
which are handled by the Office.
The report is very thorough and shows
that Commissioner Lockhart has made a
study of the management of the office In
such a manner that the state shall secure
he greatest possible returns for the money
controlled by his department.