The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-10-27
MINNESOTA in LEAD
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SECURES MORE SWAMP LANDS
FROM GOVERNMENT THAN ANY
OTHER STATE
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER
1t Contains Much of Interest to the
NOrthwest-NOrthe rn Pacific Leads
All Other Railways In Securing
Patents on Land During the Past
Year-ChiDpewa Land Question Is
Discussed in Report.

WASHINGTON, OCT 2e.-Minnesota
leads all other states In securing swamp
lands from the general government dur
ing the past year. There has been ap-
proved 125.029 acres Of swamp land, Of
which 10, 1856 has been patented.
Land Commissioner Hermann made
public his annual report today, and in
addition to the above figures the follow
ing Is of much interest to the Northwest:
The Northern Pacific railway leads all
others in securing patents on land during
the past year. 1t acquired 125. 100000 acres
in North Dakota. 163, 900, 600 in Idaho, 49,
600. 900 in Washington, 100000 in Montana
and 100000 In Minnesota Unadjusted
grants to several roads are still pending.
Three thousand six hundred and tWen-
ty-seven acres Of land in the Duluth land
district were granted to the state for ex-
perimental purposes. North Dakota re-
ceived 1000 acres under legislation enacted
during the last session Of congress for
agricultural college, state university, re-
form school and school of mines. South
Dakota secured an award of 5000 acres
for the same purpose.
There is still upward of 3,000,0O0 acres
vacant public land in Minnesota which
has been surveyed and 100000 which Is
unsurveyed. These lands are unappro-
priated and unreserved. OF the area re-
served there is 100000 acres, mostly In
dian reservations About 100, 00@ acres has
been surveyed during the past year IN
Minnesota. nearly 100000 acres in Mon
tana, 225, 900 00D In North Dakota and 1,7"o,-
900 in South Dakota. Minnesota receives
far tba II q
Montana receives $4,000. North Dakota
$20, 0OO. Idaho 1000, and Oregon, the COM
missioner's own state, $4,000.
A considerable portion Of the report Is
devoted to surveyors in each state, and
the surveyor general of Montana has
asked for $4,000 for next year. only six
contracts have been awarded and ap-
proved in Minnesota. One contract for
$1,000 was Cancelled owing to the poor
health Of the contractor, which prevented
him from carrying 1t out.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
An important portion of Commissioner
Hern:ann's report relates to the Chippewa
land question in Minnesota. He alludes
to the progress Of the work until the
famous order of the secretary of the
interior Of March 80, 1899, which directed
that all estimating, appraising, examin-
ing, cutting of timber and letting OF
further logging contracts be suspended.
Commissioner Hermann then goes on to
show that the Seeleye corps have ex-
amined about 655,03S acres of land in
reserva tons, including lands found to
be embraced In Indian allotments and
school sectiops5 at q cost OF about S62,-
$780, or a fraction over 912 cents per acre,
and about 10 cents per 1000 feet of pine.
There has been realized from logging
operations for the season the gross
amount Of s271, 1880, and there has been
PAID into the hands of the Indian agent,
but not yet fully adjusted, the sum Of
s63S. 81, giving a grand total of receipts
from this source of $271, S20.17. OF this
amount there should be deducted for the
Indian fund $40, 1892. From the latter
amount there should be deducted for
compensation of superintendent and eX-
.penses of superintendent and assistant
superintendent about $500, leaving net
total realized for the Indians from log
gins operations for the last year Of prac-
tically $39,27902.
Contracts to cut and bank timber to
the amount OF 1S,0l0,000 feet at prices
ranging from $3.50 to $3.50 per thousand
feet, entered into between Indian loggers
and certain contractors, were confirmed
by this office during tho logging season
of 1885, 99. '-i - 49,
Under the contracts settled at the end
Of the fiscal year; dead and down tim
Der to the amount of 1S,b74,45l feet was
cut, for which the sum Of $10S, 1863 "a was
paid and green timber for sticks and
roadway to the amount of 592,4iV =, -
for which the sum of SS,521.16 was pa1G
1t is estimated that the unsettled con
tracts will cover over 100000 feet, and
will yield over $250,0OO in addition to the
amounts already received. 1t is esti-
mated that there will be realized for
Indian funds this year gross amount
of about 100000.
Regarding the location of forest reserve
scrip on new lands which had been
originally embraced within q forest re-
serve, Mr. Hermann cites an important
decision by which it is established that
unsurveyed as well as surveyed land
either contiguous or non-contiguous,
which is vacant and open to settlement.
may be selected and that any land except
mireral may be made the basis of such.
CASs LAKE CASE.
A. A. White accompanied by Attorney
Rhinehart, appeared at the interior de-
partment today, and filed an appeal and
protest against the decision of the gen
eral land commissioner on his right to en-
ter scrip on portions of Cass Lake town
ship A hearing will probably be held
tomorrow Commissioners Hermann and
jones would not venture any opinion reg-
ative to the existing condition.
Mr.. Jones did say, however, that he
thought the prospects were good for the
sale of Nov coming off. But others,
who are we'll posted, say that the order
of ejectment will never be enforced, and
that the settlers will be allowed to go
ahead with rebuilding the town Senator
Nelson is expected to arrive tomorrow
or late today, and the hearing may not
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