Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1897-01-08
LANDS ARE IN DISPUTE
,INNEsoTA,s ACREAGE HAS BEEN
ALMOST GIVEN AWAY.
RocLefe1Iers and others Have u Mo-
nOpoIy of Iron Mines Claimed
by the State.

St. Paul, Jam. S.-The biennial report of
State Auditor Robert c. Dunn to the Min
nesota legislature was given to the press
tonight and contains some startling figures
and recommends tons drawn from a rigid
Interpretation of the law and a careful
examination of the records of his. office,
which includes the land department The
general land department business shows
that grants of land to railroad companies
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 10000, 900 acres. The
total area of the state is about A. 900 600
acres. A reasonable valuation of these
railroad lands is $103, 10000 0O or about &c.,
600 per mile. OF these lands, the companies
have received over 10000 900 acres already,
and under the swamp-land act from the
state they have received over 1900, 900 acres
additional.
lie calls attention to the grant originally
made to The Little Falls railway, and now
owned by the Northern Pacific, consisting
of 600 acres. 1t was given to aid in the
construction of that railroad from its east
ern terminus to the western boundary of
the state. For uncompleted portions of
the line the lands revert to the state. The
line was only built to Morris, altogether
S71a miles, and the auditor holds that the
grant does not. attach to the 221a miles
from there to the state line, making a diff
ference of 100000 acres in the grant AS
the company has already received 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.
Mineral Lands Lost.
The auditors conclusions and recon-
mendationS regarding mineral lands how
ever, are most startling. He recommends
that the legislature direct that action be
begun in the courts looking to the recov-
cry of lands already conveyed to the Du-
luth e. Iron Range railroad, amounting to
100000 acres, and that the remaining por-
ton, 403,0 900 acres, be declared forfeited
These lands, conservatively valued, are
worth $3,000,000 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 ait public auction. AS the timber
land has been considered part of the real
ty, it has been similarly disposed of, and
the auditor now raises the question
whether the mineral is not also a part of
the realty, and should therefore be dis
posed of in like manner. The Rockefellers
and the Minnesota Iron Company hold so
per cent of the mining contracts on state
lands, and these were all secured at pri-
waite sale, so that If his contention be APP
proved, there would be general shaking
up in mineral contracts.
The land where the rich mountain iron
was located was selected in 1888 by the
then state auditor for indemnity school
lands. In 1888 the same official, apparently
through an error or oversight, executed a
REIMBURSEMENT back to the government.
This land is valued at not less than $12,-
100000. The state auditor takes the ground
that the state still holds the title to these
lands under the original selection and that
the REIMBURSEMENT was rendered void.