The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-10-02
seek TO RECLAIM
MINNESOTA LANDS
Residents Of. Northern Part Of the
State Present Claims to the
Twin City Party.
From q Staff Correspondent.

From q staR Correspondent.
Northome, MINI, Oct. 2.-Northern
Minnesota and it's resources and posi-
bjlities are under consideration today
by the drainage investigation party
that is to spend several days in the
north. The party consists Of represent
tatives Of the Minneapolis Commercial
the Duluth Commercial club, United
States Senator Clapp, congressman
Stevens and Bede, members Of the leg
islature and state officials, and railroad
representatives. About thirty-fve are
The plan is to tour the northern part
of the state along the line of the Min
nesota & International railroad. Stops
will be made at every station Of any
size on the line. The settlers have ar
ranged displays and exhibits Of the
products Of the surrounding country,
and thru their representatives will ask
The purpose Of the TRIP IS to bring
to the attention of Minneapolis, st.
Paul and Duluth business interests the
possibilities Of northern Minnesota. It
is maintained that with an adequate
drainage system, millions Of acres Of
valuable and fertile lands, now swampy
and worthless, can be reclaimed. The
exhibits have been prepared with care
and skill, to show what has already
been accomplished on small tracts. that
have been reclaimed. III. ~
tied today and tomorrow. Several
1'tions, Big Falls, Northome,* Bemidji,
Brainerd. A special train furnished BY
the Minnesota & International, Rail
way company is carrying the party,
thus allowing short stops at smaller
stations on the main line and branches.
.',. For Drainage. -
| The twin city and Duluth interests
will be asked to use their influence for
both state and national appropriations.
The state and the national government
own large tracts, now practically
worthless, that will be Of great value
if drained and opened for settlement.
| The party formed in Minneapolis and
St. Paul, leaving Minneapolis at pm.
last night in two private cars at
tached to the regular Northern Pacific
train. Arriving at Brainerd the cars
were attached to the Minnesota & In
ternational special.
Big Falls, present terminal of the
Minnesota & International, 1874 miles
north of Brainerd, was reached
today. :. Leaving Big Falls :, after
a meeting, stops were to- be made at
Magic, Gemmell, Mizpah, Northome.
Houpt, Kelliher, 'F'unkley, Blackjack.
Ten Strike, Farley, Turtle River and
Bemidji. The party halts tonight at
Bemidji and will leave tomorrow morn.
ing, visiting Guthrie, La Porte, Walker
Hackensack, Backus, Pine River, Pc.
quot and Brainerd.
Exhibits Revelation.
The exhibits at the stations were a
revelation to most Of the party. Con
gresham Bede, who is at home in his
own district, gave impromptu speeches
. for the benefit Of the visitors. Grasses
and coarse grains, and root crops were
the special features of the exhibits. Fine
specimens were shown and the exhibits
were not confined to these crops, ,bu1
v showed a wide range. 49,.
On the way from Minneapolis tx
Brainerd, last night g. A. Ralph, state
drainage engineer, addressed the party
illustrating his talk with maps show
, ing the country and the proposed work
He furnished estimates of expense pc
, acre in the various sections and called
attention to the great increase in val
ues to be gained and the resultant in
crease in school and public funds of tn
: state from the sale of state lands re
claimed by drainage. The cost of ade
quate drainage, he says, will averag
not more than $3.50 an acre. More. tina,
100000 acres can be reclaimed.
In the discussion following Nj
, Ralph's talk attention was called t
,, the fact that settlers are going thr
) Minnesota and western states are grow
ing faster taan Minnesota. This, it
mo tai no cfnr
, nesota greatly developed by settlement
: John Abercrombie, one Of the stat
!, drainage engineers, followed with st;
Y tistics and figures showing that til
land is easily recovered, that leve
and pitches are adequate and that tn
!. engineering problems are easy to solv
Y The interest Of Minneapolis, St. Pa,
g and Duluth lies in the exp cctation thu
: with the land open and settled, til
jobbing and manufacturing interests {
the cities would be enormously il
creased. For this reason, the ASST
r lance of the cities is asked. Small Sc
tions Of the southern part Of the stat
are opposed, on the ground that the
= have done their own ditching and tn;
s. the north should do likewise. The ne,
e legislature will be asked for a lare
IS appropriation, and it is maintaine
n that with the cities and the northe,
l. counties cooperating, it can be ca
2 ried. ~.r:- :, =
4 Minneapolis Possibilities. ;.
IS In his remarks to the Minneapol
9 delegation Mr.. Ralph said.
1t "With this northern district divide
the population of the state will east
double in ten years, and your city, no
IS less than three hundred thousand, wi
J. have a population of 100000 and pro
perity and business corresponding
" The members Of. the party are
=. follows: +. =
s. Duluth Commercial Cuba. ]
tn Comstock, W. A. McGonagle, H.
&c &c Eva, -
e ee Minneapolis Commercial Club-B.
Sc Nelson, W. H: Heffelfnger, w. G.. Ny
George Partridge, Fred R. Salisbur
- H. R. Yerxa. - -. 80
st. Paul .:Jobbers' Association
: George M" Tibbs, P. W. Herzog, G..
II Gordon, J. H. Beck, George Sonime,
Senator Moses E.. Glapp, Congress
man J. Adam Rede, Congressman FIR
a G. Stevens, Andrew Boss. D.: w: Ra
y dali; John Abercrombie and G.
a Ralph, state drainage engineers; Fra
/ Clague, speaker Of the Minneso
:, and John j.. Lanleen; Peter E. Ha
a., a. son, secretary Of state; Senator A.
- Hayes
u u j. M. Hannaford and Thomas Coor
- of the Northern Pacific, NJ. j. Coste
~ Of the Great Northern, W. II. Gemn
~. ~ and w. H. Strachan Of the Minnesc
h. & International.
M nNz5nur uFrncurY