The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1904-12-29
Calumet
Baking
Powder
The Standard Of
Perfect Baking.
TO THE PEOPLE OF NORTH.
ERN MINNESOTA
The Standard Of
Perfect Baking.

During the past few years, Wis
consin and other states south of us
have maintained boards of immigra.
ton, vigorously at work attracting
settlers within their respective borders
And Manitoba has had such board
for several years that has done most
successful work. And at the present
time there is a small army of men at
railroad terminals, and more espe-
ciaily in st. Paul that are doing all
that it possibly can to direct the line
of immigration from our state to the
province of Manitoba. Thousands OF
settlers who without this extraordinary
effort would have been residents OF
Minnesota, have been DETECTED to
that province, therefore, the state is
just so much the loser.
For purpose of self-defense, and in
order that we may keep pace with our
sister states and Manitoba we must
have an immigration board. An
effort was made at the last session of
the legislature to create such. The
proposition was favored by nearly
every representative from the north
ern part of the state, yet in spite OF
this influence it was finally defeated
when bill creating a board of i'm
migration was up for its passage.
Such defeat was a most disastrous
blow to the northern part of the state.
Had the bill become law, the many
thousands of settlers that were in
duced to locate in Manitoba would
doubtless have found homes in our
own state.
When the bill was defeated two
years ago, the time was ripe for such
an immigration board, and it is
nearly as propitious at the present.
Realizing the importance of securing
additional settlers for our immense
tracts Of unoccupied lands similar
bill will be introduced at the early
days of the ensuing session with
better chances of success than two
years ago. If the measure becomes a
law the northern part of the state will
necessarily be largely benefited by
added settlers through this immigra-
ton board.
Another question which seems to
demand very serious consideration,
and that is the method of disposing
of state timber lands. Under the laws
now upon the statute books the lands
are appraised by the residents of the
county in which the lands are situated
These appraisers are temporarily
employed at insufficient wages, and
the easiest way to earn their money
is the most liable to be adapted.
Often the appraisal is made without
viewing the lands, and tracts covered
with valuable pine have been sold at
five dollars per acre. More than SO
per cent of the state lands are sold to
spectators or persons buying them
as investments and without competi.
ton. AS an example: At sale OF
state lands recently held, there were
1913 forty acre tracts sold. One hun
dred and eighteen of these tracts were
sold at the appraised price and nearly
all to spectators. OF the five forties
that were sold under competition four
of them sold at $3.50 per acre; one fol-
$500 per acre. The law providing fol-
the selling of state lands at public
auction and under competition is
beautiful in theory, but will not work
out in practice. This is especially
true in the counties where the re-
naming state lands are located. All
such purchases are harmful to the
state and disastrous to the counties
where the lands are located. The
Spectator who is generally successful
at these sales of state lands immedi-
ately places his newly acquired pur-
chase upon the market at greatly in.
creased price, often doubling OF
trebling the price paid. This in.
creased price only arguments the
difficulties to be met by the settler to
whom the Spectator sells. Higher
prices, increased rate of interest and
shorter times of payment are often SC
discouraging as to cause the settler
to abandon his home. And the per.
son who purchases as an investment
is similar to the dog in the manger,
he will neither improve the lands
himself nor sell to another who will
improve them. AS the volume OF
state lands is steadily growing less,
the liability of their being bought in
by syndicate or stock company
greatly increases, as was the case
with the residue of the Northern
Pacific and Great Northern railroad
lands, few years ago. For some
time have been considering the
ACCESSIBILITY of introducing a bill al
the ensuing session, providing thai
state lands shall be sold in limited
quantities to each purchaser and onI,
/ to persons who will imnrove thorn