The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1897-01-07

I department Operat1OnS-One Oh
the Most Valuable Expeditions of
/ a Branch of State Government
. That Was Ever Presented.
Following is the substance of State Au-
dltor Dunns annual report:
The estimated valuation is about $4,000
600 less than two years ago. entail1ng re-
duction in revenue Of 100000 annually. Els
timated expenditures and income Qeccipts
and disbursements for years 1897, 1895 and !
1899 show that on July 81, 1899, there will
be $40, 5749S to the credit Of the revenue
fund, this estimate being based on a tax
levy of 1 5-1O mills Qhe present rate). This
amount will be required, to meet states "N-
penditures until the following February,
and is not subject to appropriation by the
legislature If the disbursements shown In
table hereto attached are exceeded by legis-
lative appropriations it will be necessary to
raise the tax levy.
The report of State Auditor Dunn sug-
gests the ACCESSIBILITY Of lessening tax on
realty and increasing taxes ON corporations,
inheritanceS, annuities, etc.
The actual state debt on July 81, 1885,
was $1,451, 1888. 20, as against $1,959,OO0 on
July 81, 1894.
The amount appropriated for salaries of
Judges by the Legislature is 1000, while
the salaries Of the five supreme court and
thirty district court judges amounts to $780,
HOUU Il ueutleuCy VI PoO,OOU
The condition Of the state printing and
binding fund is serious. Up to Dec. s, 1896.
there was deficiency of $50, 637.O2, and by
July 81, 1887, the total deficiency will be
$4,000, as estimated by the stare printer.
This is exclusive of interest. Fir this def
cheney there will be issued vouchers bearing
Z per cent interest, as provided by section
-2S2, Statutes Of Minnesota The state audit
or recommends the making OF a deficiency
appropriation to meet this and to save this
int and recommends the
peal of the said section 2S2 permitting such
state of affairs to exist. Rec omn"nds that
heads of departments make estimates OF
amount of printing required, and be confined
to that limit.
On July 81, 1885, there was 81, Ia, 151.11
In uncollectcd state taxes, which by Jan. 1,
1897, will be reduced to about $ooO,OOO. Inc
same condition existed in 1877. This delln-
quency covers twenty years past. Suggests
q law be passed to authorize the sale Of all
real property forfeited for non-paynent OF
taxes.
The Question Of Taxation of Iron Lands
To be based on valuation instead OF tax or
I cent per ton on 1he output Such prop
erty was assessed in 1885, the total being
1922, 791.
Taxation of Pine Lands-Taxes declared
to be a lien on the timber as well as the
land. Recommends that all taxes be paid
Before timber is cut, otherwise the taxes
are evadcd.
Land Department..
Estimated area Of state 49,2oO, 900 acres.
of which 46 100000 acres is surveyed. State
has received under its grant of swamp lands
S4O2 GS9 acres. Swamp land grant VIII
probably amount to 100000 acres. Con-
gress has granted to aid in construction or
22O3 miles of railway in Minnesota l',62l,-
952 acres, Of which about lO,OCO,0Oo acres
have been certified to the grantees. The
amount Of land available to fill these grants
will be deficient from 100000 to 5,O0O,OOO
acres About 100000 acres Of swamp land
has been certified to the Northern Pacific
railway by the general government, for
which the state should recei@' indemnity.
~ swamp Aaac.S. -..-.--.- ..3s-- &
From it's swamp lands the state has grant
ed 3,O62 .141 93-1O0 acres to railroad compa-
MES and other grantees, for construction or
$50 33-1OO miles Of line. Total mileage or
land grant railroads, including state ana
congressional, is 3.142 33-100 miles. Total
amount of land so granted is 2OGS4,O94
acres, or about GAIA acres per mile. At 80
Der acre this gives $50 ,910.45 per mile or a
total value (estimated) of $l03, Ala, 404.
&c State Swamp Land Characterization OF
each is shown. Several are held by state
auditor to be invalid in whole or III part.
"A scandalous condition in connection with
the land grant to the Cannon River Manu-
facturers' association is shown. compll'
cation of an awkward character arises by
the refusal of the Great Northern railway
to accept the deed for 27l56o.o4 acres made
by the state to them in 1894
The land grant to the Duluth & Iron
Range Railroad company is held to be in
valid Attorney General Childs reyerses 8
former opinion given by him in 1898 ant
now holds the grant to be valid. State
Auditor Dunn holds the grant to be in
valid and is supported by the opinion Of
\ Mr.. w. P. Warner and or ex-state Auulto,
" Braden. This grant is for GO6,72o acre:
of land in the counties Of ST. Louis, Lake
and Cook counties, and includes much O.
the most valuable mineral and timber land
in the state. Value of interest involved
is not less than S., ZOO, O0O The Legislature
is asked to take action in the matter S.
that the question of the validity Of tn
grant may be tested in the courts.
The land grant to the Little Falls & Da
kota Railway company is held to be Il
part invalid. The company claims 336, I6
acres, but the state auditor holds that b.
failure to comply with the conditions gov
erning the construction Of their line, the
are only entitled to receive 80 400 acres
The legislature is asked to take action
Effect of the constitutional amendmen
Of 1851 in re swamp lands.
school Lands.
The average price at which they hav
been sold to date is $500 per, acre. Wi
ultimately yield the school fund not les
., than SIT OOO 600 by sales Of land and So, 600
900 from sales of timber and mineral lease
and royalties. Average price of schot
land at sales held by state auditor in fort.
two counties in 1896 was $500 per acr
in 1864 and 1871, when gold was at a pr
MUM and sales We're made on greenbac
basis.
The new system Of appraising and az
vertisng as provided in the new law
1895 is found to be very expeGsive.S y
The state has issued 1886 land certi
Gates and S,419 patents. The work Of S
lecting indemnity for school lands 10
to the state by demonstrating. ETC., amotn
4 ing to about 100000 acres, has been enc
getically prosecuted and brought down {
most to date. 1t had been greatly ne
lectcd in the past. The state auditor S
iected $40 acres during 1896 and proyid
complete set Of records. -,
The permanent school fund now amour
to $11,2s7, 423.S4 The permanent uniyersi
fund now amounts to- 81. 159, 100. 10. .sS
Condition of the Reform School Lands
Purchasers fail to pay interesta d
the interest loansS nm madeAs$s
the board of managers cannot s
met by the end Of the next two yea
ttlH Tho amounts TO ST Ii. 600 aI1dStlle STA