The herald., 1897-01-04
MINNESOTA RAILROAD LAND
Embraces Almost the Half of
the State
STATE AUDITORS REPORT
Startles the Citizens and May Startle
the Landgrabbers
Recommenda tions Are Made That Ir-
regular Transfers Be Set Aside and
the State Assert Her Rights
Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
ST. PAUL, Mimi, Jan. 3.-The bien-
nial report of State Auditor r. c. Dunn
to tho Minnesota legislature was given
to the press tonight and contains some
startling figures and recommendations,
drawn from rigid Interpretation Of the
law and q careful examination of the
records of his office, which include the
land department. The land department
business shows the grant of lands to
railroad companies by congress and by
the state within the limits Of the state
Of Minnesota to aid in the construction
of 1900 miles of line have amounted to
over q, 900, 900 acres. The total area Of
the state is about a, ,0o0, 900 acres. A rea-
sonable valuatio Of this railroad land
is $103, ,000, 900, or about $4,000 per mile.
OF the lands the companies have re-
ceived over 100000 acres already and
under the swamp act they have over 49,
0oo,0 900 addition.
He calls particular attention to the
grant originally made to the Little Falls
railway and now owned by the Northern
Pacific, consisting of 100000 acres. 1t
was given to aid in the construction of
that road from its eastern terminus to
the western boundary Of the state.
On portions of the line the lands revert
to the state. The line was only built to
Morris, S71k miles. and the auditor holds
that the grant does not attach to the 221a
miles from there to the state line, max
Ing q difference of 100000 acres in the
grant. AS the company has already re-
ceived 200, 900 acres. which Is in excess of
what they earned, the legislature is
asked to take proper action to recover
these lands, which are valued at not less
than IS per acre.
The auditors concluding recommen-
dations regarding mineral lands, how
ever, are most startling. He recon-
mends that the legislature direct that
action be begun in the courts looking to
the recovery Of lands already conveyed
to the Duluth and Iron Range railroad,
amounting to 100000 acres, and that the
remaining portion, 403, 900 acres, be de-
clared forfeited. These lands, conserv-
atively valued, are worth 81, 900, 900, being
located exclusively in Lake and Cook
counties, which comprise the mineral and
timber portions of the state.
He then drew attention to the consti-
tutional provisions that all state lands
must be sold at public auction. AS the
timber has been considered part of the
realty, it has been similarly disposed Of,
and the auditor now raises the question
whether the mineral is not also part
of the realty and should therefore be
disposed of in like manner. The Rock
efellers and the Minnesota Iron company
hold 80 per cent of the mining contracts
on state lands and these were all Sc
cured at private sale, SO that II his con-
.ention he approved there would be a
general shaking up In mineral contracts.
The land where the rich mountain iron
mine is located was selected in 1883 by
the then state auditor for indemnity
school land. In 1888 the same official,
apparently through error or oversight,
executed REIMBURSEMENT back to the
government. This land Is valued at not
less than $12,000000. The state auditor
takes the ground that probably the state
still holds title to these lands under the
original selection and that the relin-
quishment was null and void because the
auditor had no power to execute such re-
linquishment, that power remaining
with the governor.