Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-02-18
SENATOR PLAINS BILL.

Senator Plains legislation last
week for the reduction in price of
school lards to a minimum of SIS
per acre has attracted the favor
able comment of every holder of
public land in the state and shows
a strong probability of becoming
law. The reduction it is thought
viii stimulate the sale of school
lands which have not higher
value than that and would other
wise be of no practical value. The
full text of his memorial to con-
gress for the reduction as provided
in the enabling act and the amend
ment to the state constitution to
the same effect are given below,
SENATE BILL NO. III.
Mr.. PLAN introduced the following bill:
FOR A JOINT MEMORIAL
OF the Senate and House of Representa-.
tives of the State of North Dakota 10
the Senate and House of Representa-
tlves of the United States, praying for
the passage of an act reducing to SIS
per acre the minimum price at which
lands granted to the State under the
Enabling Act may be sold.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF NORTH
DAKOTA;
That copy of the following memorial,
signed by the president of the senale and
speaker of the house of representatives,
and attested by the secretary of the sem
ate and by tho chief clerk of the house of
representatives, be sent Honorables
Henry q Hansbrough and William N.
Roach of the United States senate, and
Martin n. Johnson of the house of re-
representatives.. at Washington, D. G.
That said Honora5les Henry G.. Hans
brough and William N Roach, represent
ing the state of North Dakota in the sem
ate of the United States, and Honorabl
Martin N. Johnson, representing the
state of North Dakota in the house of
representatives, be, and they are hereby
| respectfully requested to support in their
respective houses and to urge the passage
of AN act of congress in accordance with
the following memorial, to-wit:
| To the Honorable, the Congress of the
United States: The people Of the state
of North Dakota. in legislative assembly
convened, respectfully represent, that,
Whereas, The act of congress, approved
Feb p. 1889. to provide for the division
of Dakota into wo states, and to enable
The people of North Dakota, South Dako-
Ia, Montana and Washington to form
constitutions and state governments, and
to be admitted into the Union on an
equal footing with the original states, and
to MAKE donations of public lands to
such states," provides that no lands ap-
proved to the several states under said
act shall be sold for less than $40 per
acre; and,
Whereas, The compact of settlement of
the eastern portion of the state has ne
| cessitated the selections of said lands in
sparsely settled sections where years will
elapse before they can bring the price
set by congress; lis matters now stand
| these lands are detriment to the state;
they practically prohibit further settle
| ment in some OF our best counties, and
are non productive of income; whereas,
if they could be sold at price common
surate with surrounding values they
would find a ready sale to actual settlers;
| the income thereof would relieve the
state of heavy burdens in the mainten-
ance of our public institutions and place
on the tax rolls several hundred thousand
acres of lands now non taxable
Therefore, The people of the state of
North Dakota do respectfully petition
that so much of the act of Feb. %, 1889,
known as the enabling act, as relates o
the state of North Dakota, be so amended
that lands granted the state under said
act may be sold at minimum price of
IS per acre.
SENATE BILL NO. 1l9.