The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-04
GOBBLING THE STATE
NEARLY HALE OF MINNESOTA Is
OWNED BY THE RAILROADS.
Enormous Land-Grant Scandal Ex-
posed by the State Auditor in
His Biennial Report.

ST. PAUL, Mimi. Jan. 3-The biennial
report of State Auditor Robert c. Dunn to
the Minnesota Legislature was given out
tonight and contains some startling fig
ures and recommendations, drawn from a
rigid Interpretation of the law and a care
full examination of the records of his office
which includes the latest statement The
general land department business shows
that the grant of land 10 railroad COM
panies by Congress and by the State within
the limits of the State of Minnesota, TO aid
in the construction of the 5000 miles of
line, have amounted to over 20. O0O. 900 acres
The total area of the State is about l6, 900 600
acres. A reasonable valuation of these
railroad lands is sl03. goo 000, or about $32 900
per mile. OF these lands the companies
have already received over 100000 acres
and under the swamp-iand act from the
State they have receil ed over 100000 ad-
ditional.
He calls particular attention to the grant
originally made to the Little Falls Railway
and now owned by the Northern Pacific.
1t consists of 800, 900 acres, and was given
10 aid in the construction of that railroad
from it's eastern terminus to the western
boundary of the State For uncompleted
portions of the line tn. ard should revert
to the State. The line was only built to
Morris. altogether eighty-seven and a half
miles and the auditor holds that the grant
does not attach TO the twenty-five and a
half miles from that point TO the State line
making a difference of 10000 acres In the
grant. AS the company has already re-
ceived 100000 acres, which is in excess of
what they earned. the Legislature is asked
10 take proper action to recover these
lands. which are valued ut not less than s.
per acre.
The auditors conclusions and recommen-
dations regarding mineral lands, however,
are most startling. He recommends that
the Legislature direct that action be be-
gun in the courts looking to the recovery
of lands already conveyed to the Duluth *
Iron Range Railroad, amounting TO 100000
acres and that the remaining portion, $4,000
acres be declared forfeited. These lands,
conservatively valued. are worth s3,0O00O0,
being located exclusively in ST. Louis. Lake
and Cook counties. which comprise the
mineral and timber portions of the State.
He then calls attention to the constitu-
tional provision that all state lands must
be sold at public auction. AS the timber
has been considered part of the realty. ii
has been similarly disposed of and the
state auditor now raises the question
the realty and should therefore be disposed
of in like manner. The Rockefellers and
the minnesota lEOI 1Oiupdly IOiQ JO per
cent. of the mining contracts on state
lands-including the famous Oliver mine,
with its great ore deposits-and these were
all secured at private sale, so that If his
contention be 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 1883 the same official-apparently
through an error or oversight-executed a
REIMBURSEMENT back TO the government.
This land is valued at not less than Sl2-
900 600 State Auditor Dunn takes the
ground that possibly the State still holds
title TO these lands under the original Sc
lection, and that the REIMBURSEMENT was
null and void because the auditor had no
power 20 execute such REIMBURSEMENT, that
power remaining with the Governor.