The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-04

ST. PAUL. Mfnn.. Jan. s.-The biennial
report of the state auditor. Robert Dunn,
90 the Minnesota legislature was given 20
she press tonight and contains some start
ling figures and Recommendations. drawn
from rlg-d Interpretation of the saw. and
a careful examination Of the records OF his
ONCE. which include the lard department.
The general land department business
shows that the grants Of lands 10 rail-
road companies by congress ard by enc
state, within the limits OF the state of Min
nesota. 10 aid in the construction of the
s.eeo miles of laFe. have amounted TO over
-. o.eoo.e90 acres. The total area az the state
IS about "a 0asl. 600 acres. a reasonable val
uation OF these railroad dauds IS si0S. .fll
eco, or about So. 600 per mile. of these lands
the companies have received over Ia. .0aa 600
acres already, and under the swamp land
act from tae state they have received
over 2.eoo.eoa additional
The auditor calls particular attention 10
the grant originally made 10 the Little
Falls railway. and nowowned blythe North
ern Pacific. consisting of $40 0oo acres II
was given 20 aid In the construction of that
railroad from its eastern terminus TO the
western boundary OF the state. For un-
complete portions OF the line the land
should revert 10 the state. The line was
only built 20 Morris. Ssia miles. and the
auditor holds that the grant does not at
state line making a difference of 10000
acres in tho grant. As tho company has
already received 20A.0oo acres In excess OF
what they earned, the legislature Us asked
TO take proper action 20 recover these
lands. which are valued at not less than
s. per acre.
The auditors conclusions and recon-
mendations regarding mineral lands. how
ever. are more startling. He recommends
that he legislature direct that atcion he
begun In the courts looking 10 the recov-
cry of lands already conveyed TO the Du-
luth & Iron Range railroad. amounting TO
20a, coo acres, and that the remaining por-
ton. 10000 acres he declared forfeited.
These lands. conservativeiy valued. are
worth 5000 COO, being located exclusively
in ST. Louis Lake and Cook counties.
which comprise the mineral and timber
portions Of the state.
He then calls attention 10 the constitu-
tional provision that all state lands must
be sold at public auction. As the timber
has been considered part of the realty, Il
has been similarly disposed OF. and tho
auditor nov raises the question whether
the mineral is not also a part OF the real
ty and should be disposed OF in like man.
ner The Rockefelers and the Minnesota
Iron Company hold % per cent. OF the
mining contracts on state lands. and these
were all secured at private.sale. so that II
the contention be approved. there would
be a general shaking up In mineral con-
tracts.
The land where the rich Mountain iron
mine Is located was selectsi In 1888 by the
then state auditor for indemnity school
land. In fsss the same official. apparently
through error or oversight. executed a re-
linqulshment back TO the government
This land Is valued at not less than Si2.-
600 000 The state auditor takes the ground
that the state still holds title to these
lands under the original selection, and
that the REIMBURSEMENT was null and void
because the auditor had no power 10 ex-
ecute such relinquishment. that power re-
naming with the governor.