The Princeton union., 1904-12-22
A NEW LAND LAW,

ANEW LAND LAW.
representative Cole of Walker Makes Some
Recommendations.
Representative A. L. Cole OF
Walker, who has addressed an open
letter to the people of Northern Min
nesota favoring the creation of State
immigration board and the enactment
of a law to prevent the sale of State
lands to any person who will not
utilize it for agricultural purposes,
said in explanation of the proposed
measures: ~,
Il am much encouraged by the IA
vorable attitude assumed by the local
press and by letters I have received
favoring the proposed measures.
Ever since the adjournment Of the leg
islature eighteen months ago I have
sorely regretted the defeat of the bill
providing for the immigration bureau.
[ believed then and I am convinced
! now that the sentiment in favor of a
bureau of immigration is very strong
among men of intelligence and energy,
who are foremost in assisting in the
States development. All that it is
necessary to do is to call for an ex-
preston of that sentiment. This,
believe. will be followed by such a
positive declaration in favor of these
measures that every one will know
what the people want. just before the
convening of the Legislature is the time
when this declaration should be made.
''What stronger evidence of the ne
cessity of board of immigration can
be given than can be found right here
in St. Paul? Here is an establish
ment maintained by the Canadian
government of offices. full
corps Of agents and an abundance
of literature setting forth the advan-
tages Manitoba affords. Every ex-
pense is met by the Canadian govern
ment. Is it any wonder that with such
energy on the part of the Canadians,
and with inactivity, disinterestedness
and paralysis on our part, they get
the settlers and we get few, if any?
Again. say, in self-defense we must
have an immigration bureau.
"The other proposition, to sell State
lands only to those who will settle
upon and improve them, is new ques-
tion. But the more it is studied the
more it is favored. What reason can
be urged why the State should sell it's
lands to lot of speculators: when by
a display Of little energy it can as
we'll sell them to actual settlers, and
at prices fifty per cent higher than it
is getting for it's lands to-day?
1.-The law contemplates competition
when it provides that the sale of State
lands shall be at auction to the high
est bidder and after due publication
of notice of sale. But that expecta-
tion is not realized The speculators
who meet to buy State lands farm out
the lands in such way that no two of
them bid on the same tract There is
land enough for all and there is no
need Of competing with one another
when they can fix things right before
the sale begins.
"If the State has it's lands appraised
by men of known ability instead of by
farmers, who have never made a study
of values, as the law now provides,
it will do precisely what every success
full land dealer or lumberman does be-
fore he buys or sells lands, and if the
State increases its prices of lands
fully fifty per cent the actual settler
will even then own his lands cheaper
than he will own them after they have
first passed through the hands of a
speculator. If an immigration board
is created and instructed to advertise
the State lands and assist settlers in
locating and buying them, the State
can sell lands faster than it is now
selling them and there will be more
money in the treasury to show for it.
i IAN advertisement Offering State
lands on forty years time at four pei
cent interest would be the next thing te
advertising the giving away of home
steads.
4 1T may be said that the State
should not go into the real estat.
business. It is already in this bust
nses and will remain in it until every
acre of State lands is sold. It is nov
in the land business in old discarded
methods. These methods may hav,
been good fifty years ago, but the,
are not good to-day. Any man in th'