The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-11
LANDS OF STATES
LARGE AREAS HELD
Public Lands of Minnesota North and South Dakota-Lo
cation Extent and Manner of Disposition.

While the public lands Of the northwest
were all, originally, in possession of the
federal government, the wise policy Of
ceding to the state large amounts of lands
for educational and other purposes has
made the states large landholders and
dealers. In general grants of lands from
the federal to the state governments have
been of two classes-school lands and
swamp lands. The school lands are the
traditional sections 16 to Sc in every town
ship Of the federal landslide sections that
have been the foundation Of the splendid
western school systems.
In addition, congress has given the state
swamp lands, to be drained and improved
by the latter. But often the swamp lands
are such only In name. Lands that were
swampy fifty years ago are now dry and
the presence of small amount Of swamp
on forty-acre tract often causes it to be
marked as swampy by the surveyors.
In Minnesota it Is not possible to tell
the precise amount of the swamp lands.
About sixty townships, chiefly along the
frontier of Itasca and st. Louis counties,
are not yet surveyed, and there are
number of Indian reservations yet to be
opened which may increase the amounts,
though it seems to be practically certain
that the state will get no more lands in
them, 1t being held that as Indian lands
the school, section and swamp provisions
do not apply to them.
school and Swamp Lands.
The full extent of the school land grant
is set down by State Auditor R. G. Dunn
at 2,840,284 acres. The direct swamp land
grant Is put down at 5,214,235 acres.
Other congressional grants are as fol-
lows: University s2,55s acres, agricul-
tural college, 100000 acres; internal i'm
lions, $4,000 acres; public buildings,
6,398 acres, salt springs, 46,080 acres,
bringing the total up to 100000 acres, in
round numbers. OF this imposing total,
about 100000 acres have been granted
for various purposes or sold by the state
But the state of Minnesota owns
to-day about $500, 900 acres. That
is more than 5000 square miles
or the area Of the state of Massa-
chusetts.
The lands sold have given the state an
educational fund Of SIC, 100000 The dis
position of the remaining lands, taking
into account timber and minerals, Will
probably yield as much more. Thus the
direct financial realizations of the state on
the public lands will be $30,000,O00, the
income on which will take from the
shoulders of the taxpayers a large part
Of the burden Of education. Already the
state has nearly $8,000,000, invested In
good bonds, drawing interest for it's edu-
cational institutions. It has about $780,
900 in cash and the balance Of the $15,-.
O00, 0O0 Is still outstanding in the form Of
land contracts.
..
A person looking for new
home always considers the ques-
tion of taxation and Of the educa-
ton of his children. These figures
will enlighten him as to the pos
!: sibilities In Minnesota {:
Disposition OF State Lands.
But Tor the moment the chief concern
Of the prospective settler in Minnesota
will be the more than 100000 acres
the state has yet to dispose Of Some Of