New Ulm review., 1900-10-31

tSpOAt VI liiC oAlilsSOl11iAIIIlSS8Ol Lie %IWO
houses, to investigate the Mountain
Iron property. He wrote a letter to the
state auditor Mr. Braden, in regard to
this land He testified:
Some time in September, 1887, my
SELF NJ w. Mcdonald and C. C. Mer-
ritt applied to the state of Minnesota for
lease or otherwise to obtain title from
the state to those lands, the northwest
quarter of the northwest quarter and
the east half of the northwest quarter
of section 3, township 58 north, range
49," 80 :.
This was in 1887, the year before the
state auditor relinquished these lands.
%. This is the land emb1 aced in the
Mountain Iron mine property? A. Yes;
known at that time as the indemnity
school lands. And some time after writ
ing this letter we received an answer to
our request at Cloquet, Mimi, that the
land could not be purchased, leased or
retained by any other title from the
state, as the state had no mineral leases.
Now. to the best of my recollection
that letter read
q. That is the letter from the state
auditor?
"A. Yes. Gentlemen: Your request
IN relation to the lands noted. In reply
would inform you that the lands are
selections herein mentioned by the state
OF Minnesota, and at the present time
we have no way to inform you that you
can obtain those lands by lease or pur-
chase. The pine timber on said lands,
or other lands, are always subject to
sale at an annual sale, once year, by
permit. applying to the governor of the
state, that such lands shall be offered
at an annual land sale and there sold to
the highest bidder for SO many dollars
4 thousand feet (but amount not in
cluded).
%. Did you state in your letter to
Mr.. Braden, or to the state auditor,
that you wanted these lands under a
mineral lease? A. Yes, sir.
@. You stated that there was iron
a. We stated that we wanted the
land for its mineral purpose.
%. Did you ever have any further
correspondence or any communication
with him as to the Mountain Iron prop
erty?
"A. No other communication.
%. After your discovery of this iron
on these lands, and the publication of
that article in the Pine Knot, did it
create much talk and discussion?
"A. \ great deal, and great deal of
investigation. I would venture to say
that there was a leading about to the
full development of the range"
MORE TESTIMONY.
John Helmer, another witness, was
called and testified:
%. What is your name?
a. John Helmer.
%. Where is your place of resi-
dence?
"A. Hibbing, Minn., at present.
%. Mr.. Helmer, you are familiar
with the property that is under investi-
cation here, lots 3 and a. and the south
west quarter of the northwest quarter
and the southeast quarter of section 3,
and the southeast quarter of the north
east quarter OF section 4, township 58,
range 18?
"A. Yes. sir.
@. When did you first become ac-
quainted with that property, or see it?
"A. I was on that land in 1885,
%. In 1886?
"A. Some time in the fall of 1885,
%. Are you the same Helmer that
appears to have been at one time
claimant of the title to that property?
"A. No. sir; it was my brother.
%. What was his name?
"A. Joshua Helmer
%. Was he living upon the land in
1887?
"A. No, sir. He did not go there
until 1888, some time in the winter, if I
recollect just right; he didn't go on un-
til some time after he got filing on it.
%. Is that your handwriting? (Pa-
per shown wltness.)
"A. Yes, sir.
%. 1t states here, in 1887.
"A. 1t was at that time we got the
filing on tin 1887. You asked me
when | first became acquainted with the
land. l was acquainted with the land
some little time before we got anything
to do with it.
%. But in 1887 you located upon
the land. did you?
"A. Yes, sir; located my brother on
it. | have no homestead right myself.
%. That was what was called a
scripted right, l suppose?
"A. Yes, sir.
@. Now, Mr.. Helmer, in so doing,
were you acting alone, or in connec-
ton with other parties?
n. LII CO1l1ltCtlOH WIFI lawyer.
%. Will you be kind enough to
give us his name?
"A. R. N. Marble was the attorney
and also an interested party. You have
heard of Mr. Marble: he was my attor-
ney, and an interested party in the case.
@. Well, was there anybody else
had an interest in that?
"A. Not directly; no, sir.
%. Were any of the Merritts inter-
ested in it?
"A. No, sir; only through advice. I
used to consult with Alf Merritt about
great many things, and the way l
come to, after looked the land over
and see that it had very good pro-
spect.
@. Prospect for what?
"A. OF iron. There was no timber
on it of any account, and went to
Mr.. Merritt and told him about it, but
it was I. S. L., and so he said he would
look the matter up carefully, and see
what could be done about it. In the
meantime I consulted Mr.. Marble, and
he said he thought there was possible
way to get it..