The Minneapolis journal., 1905-11-09
URGES DRAINAGE
OF SWAMP LANDS.
A. G. BERNARD OF CAss LAKE AT
WORK IN CITY.
Importance Of Reclaiming Immense
Areas in Northern Minnesota Being
Urged on Business Men-11, !, ,000, 900
Acres Can Be Drained at Cost Of
Less than 81 an Acre.

Minneapolis seeking to interest busi-
ness men in the commercial wisdom of
the movement to drain large areas OF
swamp lands in the northern part OF
the state, which, it is contended, it
drained would add materially to the
best agricultural soil of the state. An
outline of what Mr.. Bernard desires
to accomplish is afforded in the follow
ing statement:
The subject of drainage is not a
new one to The people Of Minnesota. 1t
has been before them in various ways
for number Of years. There are
number of laws on the statute books,
yet none Of them have proved satisfae-
tory. It remained for A. l.. Cole of
Walker to frame bill, which passed
the last session of the Legislature, and
of the state than anything vet attemp-
ted. A result Of Mr.. Cole IS law was the
convention at Crookston in September
and the organization of the State Drain
age league. Since that time a campaign
of education has been maintained and
will be continued until the people in
all parts OF the state are aroused to the
Importance OF this question and it's ben
efts to the entire state.
Eleven Million Acres.
s'In northern Minnesota there are
approximately 100000 acres Of
swamp lands which, il drained, would
make the very best farming lands, be-
cause the soil is of the richest kind
These lands would afford homes of 100
acres each to nearly 100000 settlers. A
Of these swamp lands, and Topographic,
cal engineer states they can be drained
at a cost of less than 81 an acre. These
lands belong to the state, and one of
the objects of the league is to edu-
cate the people of Minnesota to the
benefits to be derived from drainage
50 that the next legislature will make
purpose. The state could not make a
better investment nor one that could
be more profitable to the entire people.
Years ago J. j. Hill realized the
Importance na3p OF drainage and gave $25,-
invariably produced the best crops.
....-, Reservation Lands, .~.a...
=" Besides the state swamp lands, the
government. as ward Of the Indians,
has nearly two million acres Of land on
the Red Lake and other reservations
subject to homestead entry. On account
Of their swampy condition, these lands
are not taken. 1t is the intention Of
the congressional delegation at Wash
ington to endeayor. to obtain a reim-
of draining these reservations, thus
making them fit for agricultural settle
ment, the cost of this drainage to be
plus $1.25 an acre, which the home
steader has to pay for these lands. As
there is a large sum of money to the
credit Of the Chippewa Indians. which
they cannot have for fifty years, it is
a good business proposition to use a
part Of this fund, thus enabling them
de? !? treaty stiphiatioasy ] HS '
At meeting Of th4 executive com
mittee of the State Drainage league
held in St. Paul on Oct. 13, with
the congressional delegation, the dele
cation asked that q committee be- sem
to Washington to assist in obtaining this
iappropriat as well as to furnish data
and statistics showing that the lant
would be fit for q agricultural purposes
after being drained.
Irrigation Expenditures.
sit is just as .lepal to appropriat
federal money for the purpose Of drain
age as it is for irrigation. During tn
past few years, by dint of persisten
lobbying, the western states have sue
ceeded in obtaining from the genera
government $34,00O,0O0. For this vas
sum less than two million acres of Ian,
startling things in connection with thi
} irrigation appropriation is the stata
ment Of W. E. Culkin, register of tn
United States land office at Duluth
that about $6,000,0O0 of the publ
land funds of the state of Minnesot
have been, given to the western state
for irrigating their arid lands. II
: 1T is the intention of the Stat
Drainage; I? rair leagueto have a represents
session to watch the interests Of Mil
sr,esota and to assist the congressions
delegation in obtaining the necessar
appropriation for draining these India
reservations. These reservations az
the keynote of drainage. When the
T are reclaimed it will be much easie
matter to drain the states swan
2jSlands.
az ssIts has been difficult matter to COZ
<. tinue this work Of education on accou1
q Apf lack Of funds. So far all expense
S connected with it have been paid by tn
e officers of the league. In view of tn
v Importance of this drainage movemer
e to the wholesale, jobbing, manufactu
Q ing, railroad and other interests of th
q state, the league considers it no MOI
: than proper and just that they shoul
: be asked to contribute their share {
q expense towards sustaining the carryin
! on Of the great work, which, when con
e pleted will mean in few years the ado
tion Of hundreds Of thousands of Sc
/ tiers to the northern part Of the stat
q and a subsequent benefit to all inte
t ests. The case is SO plain that it r
quires no argument to convince any ma
of the results that will come to IL
state thru this work. Is 3
' TWINE NOTES STILL DUE