The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-09-19

be placed on the defensive in my campaign for
the gubernatorial nomination | had supposed
that after the convention Mr.. Johnsons malicious
attacks would cease Several weeks since
learned that he had filed another report with the
governor, having previously taken good care to
give synopsis of the same to the newspapers
that We're unfriendly to me- and also having I
taken care to nstill into the minds of the people
with whom he came in contact that his latest
effort would, metaphorically speaking, wipe me
off the face of the earth. waited patiently
the publication of the same until became con-
WINGED that it was being held back to be sprung
on the eve Of election for the sole purpose of
influencing voters against me and in favor of
the democratic candidate for governor. Then 1t
was that determined to request a copy of the
report in question from Governor Van SAINT In
order that might refute the charges therein
contained being fully convinced that could do
so before went out in the state to commence my
canvass. Hence wrote the following letter:
(Mr. Dunn here gives q copy, of his
letter to the governor asking for the
manuscript of the report.)
Meant to Make It Public.
My intention tomake public Mr.. Johnson's
report after I had examined into it, and at the
same time give my refutation of the to
the public. Evidently Governor Van SAINT knew
full well that I could refute and prove conclu-
siyely from the records that Mr.. Johnsons re-
port was totally devoid of truth, and before
received copy Of the same it was given to all
the newspapers for publication
The democratic newspapers, under glazing head
of their circulation. The reader should bear in
mind that In his last report, far timber
matters are concerned, Mr. Johnson deals with
permits issued under previous administrations,
long before I assumed the duties of state audi
tor, with the evident intent of confusing dates
and deceiying the people. Let it be thoroly I'M
office of state auditor there were no timber
records to speak of In the office, everything be-
Ing in chaotic state. More than that, the
appropriation for caring for state lands had
been exhausted and obliged to wait several
weeks for the passage of deficiency appropria
ton to enable me to put cruisers in the field.
AS soon as funds were available I employed three
rehaoie cruisers and put them to work, and
later employed several additional cruisers tenn
porary. AS far possible the timber covered
by every legal permit outstanding looked
over and every precaution taken to protect the
interests of the state. Several scores Of per-
| mits were arbitrarily cancelled by me. OF
on their face, and the bonds required by law
were on file, and 1t not within my power
to cancel such permits. 1t must also be remem-
bered that the timber belt of Minnesota at that
| time extended over an area of 10000 square
| miles, an empire in ITSELF 1t would have been
| a physical 1mpossibility for of cruisers,
| much less three, to cover the territory In ques-
| ton inside of twelve months. Our cruisers
| worked night and day and Sundays and were I'M
firing in their efforts. One Of the first permits
| that investigated covered land in twenty
sections in township 81, range IA, and had been
| issued to man named Murray In 1892 to run
| for period Of five years. The permit showed
| tnaI the TIMBER was estimated at ,OOO QUO feet,
| and the price $175 per thousand. The
| permit and bond were in conformity with the
| existing law, but ! came to the conclusion that
there might be more. than 200, 900 feet, as the
| estimates were far from being correct The
| states cruisers were sent to the town in ques-
| ton and after making rough estimate, which
occupied three weeks time, they reported that
| there were over 80 900, 900 feet standing on the
| territory covered by the permit. I Immediately
| notified Mr.. Murray to come to the office as
desired to talk with him in relation to the per-
I info mad that h
| init was legal on its face, but that it had al
ready run for two years and that the state would
have no redress If the timber in question should
be destroyed by fire or windfall, and l gave him
my ultimatum to deposit $13 900 with the state
treasurer and give an additional bond of 600
and let him litigate If he so desired. The re-
suit OF the matter, was my terms were complied
with, and to make long story short, the state
received pay for 37,ooo0oo feet Of logs, more
than five times the amount Of the estimate.
The land in question belonged to the university
and John S. Pillsbury personally thanked
me for the admirable manner he said, in
which / had guarded the interests of the state
and the university. I cite this instance simply
to show that there neglect of duty on
my part as far as the permits issued by my
predecessors were4 cepeerneds a.4i'{l.h ri az
My efficient deputy, the present state auditor,
who was thoroly posted no the affairs Of the
office. having served under Mr.. Braden and also
acted as deputy state treasurer for four years
the stumpage clerk, Mr.. Molander, and myself
worked increasingly for months to bring order
out OF chaos ana get the stumpage records OF
the office in decent shape. Prior to 1895 timber
permits were issued indiscrimnately, and the
permit holder was not required to make any
advance payment. He simply held an option or
state timber, and he might might not cut
the same. AS matter of fact, of per
nits were issued to men who never Intended tt
cut the timber. They simply bid to keep others
from getting the timber, and they could do Sc
with impunity without the expenditure Of {
!, dollar on their part.
Both Governor Van SAINT and Public Examine,
Johnson think, or pretend to think, that S. G.
lverson, the present state auditor, is honest ant
efficient, in which view I heartily concur. Blu
these gentlemen seem to forget that Mr. Iver
son was my deputy for eight years and had i'm
mediate supervision of all the details of the office
and that he personally handled many of tn
trespass settlements and was consulted In almos
every instance. II Mr.. Iverson Is honest an,
? efficient now, is 1t not reasonable to presume
that he was equally honest and efficient sdurn,
the eight years he served deputy auditor
VIII Mr.. johnson Governor Van SAINT pleas
point to single trespass of any fmportanc
that was settled by without advising an
o consulting with MI. Iverson?
\ AS to Mineral Leases.
l With reference to mineral leases: First an
3 foremost want to say that not now an
never have been, directly indirectly, intereste
: In any mineral lease or contract either durin
+ my term Of office state auditor Or since t
the extent of 5-cent piece. There is nothin
q In the law governing the leasing of state land
. Tor prospecting purposes that prevents anyon
9 amount fixed by law. The law provides that a
t applications for mineral leases must be accom-
t panied by the cash.; that is to say, $25 must b
paid for each 160-acre tract or less The pros
a pecting lease gives the holder the right t
. prospect for ore for period Of twelve months
. ana at the expiration of that time he must tax
,. out hfty-year contract at the rate of $40
c per year. and when railroad gets within
g certain distance of the land covered by the COT
n tract after period of five years. 8, 600 tons c
h | ore must be mined or an amount equivalent
the royalty on 5000 tons; that is to say 81 pa
must be paid into the state treasury annually
9 One mans money is just good as another
+ to the state. Probably nine-tenths of til
h leases issued are dropped at the expiration {
a the year. Taking out mineral lease is lik
a buying a lottery ticket The knowledge oil
a tanned BY any clerk in the auditors office wit
e reference to the value of any piece of miner.
land is practically worthless The only wa
l. to discover whether there is ore on the land
b, by drilling or test-pitting.
r The law provides that where two or MOI
parties apply for lease on the same piece {
land at the same time the lease must be au
,, toned off to the highest bidder That proyisio
u OF the law was strictly complied with during II
It eight years I served auditor. defy an
living man to prove to the contrary. If the,
was no competition, the first applicant who paj
his $50 received the lease
| There is no question, therefore, that the sta1
, was possessed of this land on Dec 30 100
and that 1T was lawful to issue q state miners
| lease covering 1t, in the usual manner smile
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