The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-09-30

State Auditor 8. G. Iverson. This state
ment includes every item mentioned in
the report of Public Examiner Johnson
relating to state timber and takes
them I'D seriatim. in the order in which
they are given il. the public examiners
report. This statement has been made
under the direct and personal supervision
of the state auditor. s. g. lverson. VINO
has checked every item and statement
and is absolutely correct, as SHOWN by
the books and records of the state au-
ditor's office. 1t shows that the state
ments made by the public examiner are
false and untrue and that his asSump-
lions and conclusions are unwar-
ranted and misleading in every
particular 1t also shows that the
public examiner is entirely ignorant of
the timber business in general and the
states timber business in particular as
is shown by the false construction he
places upon terms in common use IN me
lumber industry. For instance, he pre-
tends to believe, and would have the
public understand that the term new
cutting, commonly used by TIMBER
never been cut, means that such timber
has ben cut or partially cut. He also
pretends to believe and attempts to con-
vey the impression. that when a state
cruiser, afer making an examination of
state timber land, reports cutting on
south and east, that this means that the
TIMBER on the state land has been cut
on the east and south. when as fact,
such a report means what it says, name
ly, that timber on the lands adjoining the
state lands on the east and south, had
been cut. 1t is stated by employees in the
state auditors office that the meanings
OF these terms were explained to the pub
TIC examiners assistants but that they
dlSregarded all information and eXplana
ton.
Comparison Is Invited.
Any citizen possessed of ordinary in
telligence is invited to take the certified
statement of State Auditor S. G. Iverson
On . NV
item, with the published report of the
public examiner, and by so doing can
satisfy himself of the utter falsity of the
statements made by the public exam
iner
For. the. benefit of citizens who have
not the time to make a complete com
TO a few cases Illustrative of the false
hood and misrepresentation of the public
examiners report The items can be
identified in the state auditors certified
statement and in the public examiner
report by the description of the land
which precedes each item.
Seventeen Thousand Dollar False
hood Shown.
Take the first item in the public ex-
aminer's report which says that ST. 225
for pine cut on section 16-55-22 was not
paid. State Auditor Iverson certifies that
this money was paid into the state treas
ury on August 13, 1894 and that the pine
land investigating committee reported
the collection Of this money to the state
legislature. filing its report with the gov
ernor on Dec. 81. 1894
Sections 33-5S-19 and 36-59-19 the Sec
ond item in the public examiners report
and the second and third items in state
auditors statement, is also cited to show
the falsity of the public examiners state
ments. He alleges that no effort was
made to collect the balance of the money
due the state for timber cut from this
land. The state auditor certifies that
the cutting was done before state auditor
Dunn assumed office. for the most part
and that the timber had been shipped out
of the state. State Auditor Iverson' also
certifies that Mr.. Dunn placed the coll
lection of the money for this trespass
in the hands of the proper state officials,
namely, the state treasurer and the at
torney-genera1 and that they followed
the timber to Cleveland, Ohio, and that
the attorney general collected SO. 800
which was turned into the treasury but
trespasser was bankrupt and his bonds
men were financially irresponsible.
Another Sample of Misrepresenta-
ton.
16-55S. The public examiner among
other misleading and false statements
stys Cruiser Mckenzie reported that
the section had been cut south and west
and that no payment had been made be-
cause of this cutting. State Auditor
Iverson, certifies that Cruiser Mckenzie
reported that the timber was being cut
on the lands adjoining this section of
state land and that there had not been
any cutting on the state land
16-52-12 Public examiner reports that
Cruiser Mckenzie made an estimate of
the timber on this land and reported that
there had been cutting done ON this land
did this alleged cutting or how much was
cut. State Auditor Iverson certifies
that the exact language of Cruiser Nc
Kennels report was this: New Cut
ting which means that the timber had
never been cut into and that no cutting
had been done. The cruiser does not
section. ana the public examiners state
ment is an absolute falSehoOd.
36-52-12. The public examiner makes
a similar false statement regarding this
section. He says the cruiser reported
.'that there were new cuttings and that
he estimated the amount of timber stiIl
standing at 100000 and he further
alleges that the records show no at
tempt to collect for these new cuttings
and although the cruiser reported 1000
600 feet of timber, all the timber
sum en th of sS snd s With at either u te
densest stupidity or malice the public
examiner asks THE query is: what
became of the 1000, 600 feet?" State
Kenzie never made an estimate or report
that there was $4,000 feet of timber on
this land but fhat there is an estimate
town. He also certifies as to what tim
Der was sold, cut and paid for on this
land.
Inc IOTeSOlHS are al ICW VI ShO III %
cases in the public examiners report and
1t is not necessary to weary the public
with citing any others as they are all
alike throughout the entire list. The
above samples are not exceptional cases
but every item of Public Examiner John
sons report is shown by the certified
statement of State Auditor Iverson to
be Just as false and full of gross mis-
representation, a fact which can be
proved by comparison.
State Auditor s. G. Iyerson's certified
statement is printed in full below
state Auditor IversOn CertiAes to
This.
The following Is certified abstract of
the stumpage and other records in the
state auditors Office by State Auditor
Samuel G. Iverson:
Sec. 1862. The public examiner says
that there is no evidence that ST, 225, be-
longing to the school fund OF pine cut
from this section, was paid.
On page IS, pine land investigation
committees report to the legislature, filed
with the governor Dec. y, 1894, the COM
mittee report having collected $4,000.
Gov. Nelson on Aug. ID, 1894, paid into
the state treasury S17, 342 O4 on account
of collections made from Itasca Lumber
company for timber cut in this section.
deducting attorneys expenses from orig
inal amount. (See state treasurer's re-
port. page So 1889
Sec 33-5S-19. Sold in 1894 under an
estimate of 65O,000 feet for 50 per thou
sand, reported cut Aug. p, 1895, 1920
feet, draft drawn for 81, 1854
Sec 36-59-19 Sold in 1894, estimate
100000 feet, for $500 per thousand. re-