Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-03-18
GOOD FORTIES
In WOOD COUNTY
State Sale of Lands at Stevens
Point Tuesday, March
u
WORK OF TREASURER
KEMPF PAST WINTER
Brief History of Land Sales.
$500 Pieces of Land Ap.
praised.

hN oPSh ClSiS "a CLS RAolAS A0hAO vi
the state that has been in progress
since early in July, Under the personal
supervision Of State Treasurer John J
Kempf, is rapidly drawing to a close
and but few pieces now remain fol
prospective purchasers OF this land t6
to buy at these public sales, which
have taken place in almost every
county of the state.
Mr. Kempf will be in Stevens
Point Tuesday, March %, to offer fol
sale at the court house, beginning at
nine O'Clock in the morning on that
day all the lands owned by the State
in Wood and Portage counties.
The lands in Wood county number
about eighteen different descriptions,
of probable total of 800 acres, and Of
an assessed valuation of S5l65. The
average price per acre of this land
compares very favorably with that OF
any other part of the state, and prin-
cipally because most of the land is
valuable for certain agricultural pur-
poses. AS matter of fact there are
some good forties in Wood county, and
persons who are familiar with their
location and needing perhaps an en-
largement of their own holdings, may
be able to pick up some bargains at
this sale. There is very little timber
left on the property, but here and
there may be found some second and
third grade white pine, with some
second grade Norway.
In order to understand the nature
of this sale, it should be remembered
that the state for a number of years
has been the owner of land lying in
various sections of the commonwealth.
These lands have not been on the
market, having been withdrawn a
number of years ago by an act of
Legislature, but in 1903 they were re-
stored once more and the plan of dis
posing of them at public auction was
determined upon by the land COM
mlsSioners. This involved an enorn-
Gus amount of work for these
commissioners, as the number OF
separate pieces owned by the state
exceed 1900, and each of theS. had to
be appraised. This meant that the
commissioners had to familiarize
themselves with the lay of the land,
the character of the soil, the acreage
thereof for any productive purposes,
and the amount of timber, of twenty
three different varieties, to be found
on the land, They worked earnestly
for over year on the large number Of
descriptions, and finally completed
their task, the results Of which are
shown by large printed volume
issued under their direction.
When the property had been finally
appraised, State Treasurer Kempf
understood to dispose of it as one of
the land commissioners and custodian
of the fund arising from this sale. It
was big undertaking for him. and
IN order to successfully run the sale
that he might cover the greatest
amount of ground in the least possible
time, he was forced to plan his trips
with nicety, making stops when he
could, and connections as we'll as
possible. Most Of his time has beer
involved in the northern part of the
state, and he has met with some
severe weather, but feels that the
results of the sales justify all the
trouble to which he has been put
AS matter of fact, Mr.. Kempf
reports that, the revenue derived from
the sales has been very gratifying.
Mr.. Kempf will only be able to re-
main at Stevens Point but one day,
where he will be glad to see those who
are either interested in the land sales
or care to see him personally.