The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-11-05
R.. c. dunn Fan. ADVOCATE
OF SWAMP DRAINAGE:
Strongly Advocates Extensive
Swamp Land Drainage in
Northern Counties.
This Will Mean Much to Terri
tory Tributary to Duluth
and This County.

R. c. Dunn, the Republican candid
! ate for governor, has taken a firm
! stand in favor of the drainage OF
swamp lands. 1t is no new position
for Mr.. Dunn, for as far back as 1889
when he was in the Legislature and the
question first arose, Mr.. Dunn was
strongly in favor Of the proposition
for the drainage Of swamp. land and
secured the state and other aid for
that purpose. In speech delivered by
Mr.. Dunn at West Duluth on Aug. g.
1904, Mr.. Dunn said "All of North
ern Minnesota and Duluth in partic-
ular is deeply interested in the re-
clamation Of the hundreds of thous-
ands of acres Of swamp lands owned by
the state. The original purpose of the
grant by congress was for retaining
these lands. Our Legislature seemed
| to think that aiding in the construc-
ton Of railroads was compliance
with the terms of the grant, for
about three million acres have been
devoted to that purpose. BY virtue of
the constitutional amendment, adopted
in 1881, the proceeds of the sales of
swamp lands remaining or that may
hereafter accrue to the state are de-
voted to the educational and charitable
institutions. One small tract of swamp
land containing about thirty-six acres
will swell the states institutions fund,
it is estimated, by half million dol
lars. That tract is located in St. Louis
county, and 1T was owing to 1ntatory
steps taken by me that it was secured
to the state.
1.-The state could well afford to spend
large sums annually in reclaiming it's
swamp lands, and the Increased selling
price Of the lands thus identified would
amply repay for the outlay; besides,
it would materially aid the upbuilding
and development Of Northern Minne-
sofa. The counties in which these
swamp lands are mainly situated are
naturally tributary to Duluth
In strong contrast to the position
Of Mr.. Dunn on this important ques-
ton of drainage, a question which al
ways so deeply interests the people of
Southern Minnesota as it does those
of the northern districts, for the rea-
son that drainage work undertaken to
reclaim state swamp lands means that
those lands will be enhanced in value,
and the state school funds and state
institutions funds will be direct bene-
flciaries Of the increased value is the
position of John A. Johnson, the: Demo-
cratic candidate for governor. In 1899
when Mr.. Johnson was serving in the
senate he had an opportunity to vote
on bill IS. F. No. 21D which provided
for the creation. of a drainage commits
sion and for the drainage, Of .marshy
and swamp lands Of the state and an
appropriation Of money to carry out
the provisions of this act. There were
eight senators who voted against this
measure, and among the number was
John A. Johnson, the present Demo-
cratic candidate for governor. Since
beginning a gubernatorial candidate
MIR. Johnson evidently sees that he was
very much mistaken in 1899, and now
he processes to be a convert to the pro-
position Of reclaming and draining the
vast areas of swamp lands in Northern
Minnesota. How sincere he may be in
this eleventh hour of repentance is left
| to the voters to judge.