Omaha daily bee., 1905-12-01
PAYING FOR SCHOOL LANDS
Men Who Have Purchased on Tine Are
Lifting the Mortgages,
SCHOOL FUND IN THE MARKET FOR BONDS
Indications There viii he a Large
Attendance at the Corn Contest
Participated In by school
Children.
tFrom a stan Correspondent

H'rom a stan Correspondent
LINCOLN, Nov. 3O-CSpecial) - State
Treasurer Mortensen said today that dur
ing the past year holders Of school land
contracts have been paying the principal
al the rate Of $500 a day, on the average
He regards this fact an indication that
the people living on such lands are anxious
TO own their own homes, although the low
rate of interest prevailing and the ease
with which money is secured plays a part
The interest on these contracts is per
cent under the terms of the statutes. The
payment OF this principal necessitates the
purchase of additional investments and it
means much lower interest return also.
The average interest received will not much
exceed 80 per cent.
Originally the state had two sections in
each township, which would now have an
aggregate value of many millions. Most
of the land still held by the state in fee
simple is in the west and has Mr.. Morten-
sen estimated value not much in excess
OF S,OO00O0 at the present market figures
The plethoric condition of the county
treasures received additional confirmation
In the payment of $4,000 by Otoe county
ana $1,000 by Howard county this morning
Tor the redemption of bonds to the amount
OF $4,000 held in the permanent school
FUND
Tomorrow morning there will be about
$4,000 in the permanent fund. Treasurer
Mortensen, in anticipation OF this condi-
ton. sent out notices to bond sellers sew
eral days ago informing them that the
state board will consider propositions for
the sale OF investments to the fund on De-
cember IL. No county bonds are available
so that the securities of Massachusetts or
some other state will be tp..en. MIR. Nor
Jensen said today that he gave general
notice so as to insure the greatest possible
competition among the brokers.
At the treasurer's Office the intimation
was given out today that the total out
standing state general fund warrants will
be shown by the report for the fiscal year
ending today to have reached S2.5OOOOO
although the exact figures are not yet
available. OF this amount over $2OOOOOO
is held as investment in the permanent
fund 'F
Corn Contest Outlook.
Deputy State Superintendent E. c.
bishop has completed the premium list for
the corn contest to be held December IA
and Is. A large number of prizes are
offered Applications are being made for
reservations of hotel room, and the state
official believes that there will be a large
attendance Several of the leading special
lists OF the state are on the program, in
GLIDING Chancellor Andrews of the state
university. who will talk on 1.-The Re-
formed Public School" Many special
features have been arranged for the en-
tertainment Of visitors. Miss Rosa Bouton
director of domestic science at the uni
Versity, will lecture. She is assisting the
girls who viii compete in the corn cooking
contest with needed information, at the
suggestion OF Mr.. Bishop.
An official list of the boys in the corn
growing contest was issued today by Mr.
Bishop. Lancaster leads with sixty-four
contestants. while York county is second
with forty one. Douglas county is repre-
scented by only seven, the names and ad-
dresses OF whom follow: Nelly A. Ryan
A Martha street. Omaha; George Caugh-
lin. 514l West Sixteenth street, Omaha;
Clair Spargus 3OO2 Vinton street Omaha
j. c. Root Omaha; Charlie Root, Omaha {:
John A. Wellman. Station B.. r. F. d.
Cremona farm, Omaha; Henry Jensen,
Station Il, Omaha.
The corn contest in connection with the
numerous other duties of the superintend-
ent's office makes 1t necessary to employ
an additional force of stenographers and
clerks. Today that was the only Office In
the state house where the busy click of the
typewriter could be heard. Treasurer
Mortensen was at his desk for brief time.
Everything else was Theoretically sealed
McBrien on Passes.
State Superintendent McBrien has writ
ten the following letter defining his posi-
ton on the subject of free passes. That
portion Of the latter dealing with the
AFFINITY OF his office to get along without
free transportation is of interest in view OF
the general contention that the state
officials would be hampered in the per-
Torrance of their official duties IL the
transportatio ton was cut off. He is Obliged
to travel more than any other state
of1cial and, yet. he says, 'the public is
ready and willing to meet our expenses
for all the field work we can possibly dc
and properly look after the office" The
letter follows:
LINCOLN, Nov. 29.-'rhe Express Pub
fishing Company Beatrice, Neb.: Gentle
mem Your letter of the 2lst inst; reached
the ofilce during my absence therefrom On
my return many letters, with yours, wer'
You ask ~. 'Nnl you please tell us &
you approve of the action of public oficial
IN requesting, free transportation at IN
publican state platform has the same bind
ing force that II had a month ago. e
DO you think II safe tor public officials t
write letters requesting free passes wheI
the letters are liable to be used in the fu
ture for purposes Of intimidation or tinan
can best and most briefly answer all n
these questions by answering No. p o!
This hangs the whole issue.
consider the republican state platform
adopted AT oUT last state convention Al
binding now as when Il was adopted. A re-
publican platform Is as binding on me
statutory enactment.
Therefore, Immediately following tn
adoption OF the republican state platform
for 1895 we enclosed in every letter answer
ing invitations for our services tho follow
ing statement, signed by myself ana deputy
In accordance with the spirit of the time
aud the platform OF our party IN convention
last assembled. we have returned our an
nual railroad passes, Hence. we cannu
travel as cheaply in the past. However
our services are at the command of ~
public for orr actual expenses includini
railroad fare both ways meals en- route
loCa! entertainment. etc"
To he sure, our official duties make
necessary for US to visit certain state I'm
stituttons and accredited private Sc hools
we then travel at the expense of the statr
For this purpose We have purchased 900
miles Of TRANSPORTATION at the expense a
the state, the recetDts for which are an nj
in the auditors Office. A strict acCountin
viii De made 10 the governor under oat 10
tho use we have made Of this tTansporta
ton.
II was thought by some when We turne
I'm our transportation that il would great
hinder the work Of the Office owing to M