The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-06-15
STATE MUST AID
IN IMMIGRATION
CONVENTION SAYS LEGISLATURE
SHOULD ESTABLISH BUREAU.
Tide of New Corners Now Goes to Ca
madam Northwest and Elsewhere,
Commercial Clubs Asked to Co.
operate Papers to-day.

The state immigration convention in
session at the Peoples church, ST.
Paul, to-day, went on record in
favor of the establishment by the
Legislature Of state immigration
bureau. and arranged for the forma-
ton Of a permanent committee on i'm
migrttion.
General M. D. Flower, chairman of
the committee on permanent organi-
cation, made a report which was
adopted recommending:
FirSt-A central state immigra ton COM
mittee with the presidents, secretaries and
immigration committees Of the Minneapo-
lis, st. Paul and Duluth Commercial clubs
as members.
Second-That this committee invite all
commercial bodies and citizens generally
to cooperate.
Thrd-That the committee have one
vice chairman appointed from every coun-
ty IN the state.
Resolutions were adopted calling at
tention to Minesota's exceptional ma
tural resources, it's large areas Of un-
cultivated rich prairie lands and virgin
forests, it's mineral deposits, it's health
full climate and it's railway and water
transportation facilities, and to the
fact that no concerted or systematic
action on the part Of the citizens or
officials of this state has been taken
to encourage immigration, while on
the other hand powerful organizations
are at work to influence the tide of
immigration to the wheat fields OF
western Canada, as we'll as the south
western states, all of which is detri-
mental to the natural development of
Minnesota. The resolution concludes,
that it is necessary that some action
on the part Of the legislature be taken
to stimulate immigration and that the
best results would be obtained by the
establishment of a state bureau Of i'm
migration with sufficient apprOpria-
tons for it's creation and maintenance.
Land Values Increase.
W. M. Hays of the State Agricul-
tural school, spoke on agricultural
Resources" He asserted that the past
five years many settlers in Minnesota
have refused to sell their lands at
double their price when purchased. AS
the state becomes thickly settled, Mr..
Hays predicts that southern Minnesota
land will reach $50 an acre and equal
northern Minnesota to-day presents
great opportunities for the poor man
to make a good home at little financial
outlay.
Professor Green Of the state agri-
cultural school read a paper on Cor
chards and Gardens" 1t is impor-
tant to know, he said, that in Minne-
sofa can be reached a satisfactory
degree Of horticulture, for otherwise
there is a large class that would not
be attached here. The climate is
we'll adapted to fruit-groWing; and
SO are the soils.
Secretary M. j. Donnelly read a
number Of letters Of regret from alb
sent delegates. F. S. Ives Of Cass
Lake wrote desiring an investigation
of what he termed "a monstrOus
steaP' by the state forestry board. He
asserted the board held 100000 acres
Of land as a forest reserve" but lille
gally had included in the selection
thousands of acres of fine agricul-
tural land which should be thrown
open for settlement.
Daniel Shaw of Thief River Falls
wrote q lengthy plea that the con-
vention demand of the next legisla-
ture a large appropriation for the
drainage of the thousands Of acres
of swamp lands in northern Mime
sofa. He termed the $4,000 annual
appropriation now made for this pur-
pose ridiculous