The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1906-05-03
THE BILL PAYERS CANDIDATE.


territory that now constitutes the
great state of Minnesota the land
that was presented to their gaze
was one of unparalleled richness
of prairie fertility, forest wealth
and later there developed within
it's boundaries a mineral wealth
that eclipses any other state OF
territory in the union.
Of course such opportunities as
were presented were not passed up
and settlers poured in in flood.
Development retarded by the civil
war and checked somewhat by the
terrible Sioux massacre of 1862,
assumed renewed activity when
these causes for delay passed away
and it is doubtful if any state in
the Union ever moved forward with
leaps and bounds in the race of
progress as has this state of ours
since 1868. Immigrants poured in,
each bringing with him store of
wealth and if he did not, he found
abundant employment at lucrative
wages. The soil was fertile beyond
comparison. Game and fish were
so abundant that it was a mighty
poor frontiersman that with rod
and gun could not supply his table
with all the flesh meat and fish meat
needed from forest, field and
stream. The soil indifferently
sown and carelessly harvested filed
the barns and granaries to repletion.
The constant influx of new settlers
made markets good and fortunes
were accumulated at a rate that
makes one dizzy to contemplate.
In this city alone we could name a
dozen men who thirty years ago
used muskrat and mink skins as
currency whose wealth today must
be measured by five or six figures.
Such conditions as these naturally
bred private and public extrava-
gance. Our children today demand
as necessities things that their
parents only dreamed of as Injuries.
Public extravaganza more than kept
pace with private excuses. I'm
numbered useless offices were
created. Fees of officials were
made almost princely. The states
agricultural lands were disposed of
at ridiculously low figures and it's
forest wealth was given away for
song and the people not only sung
the song themselves but played the
accompaniment. The states min
eral resources have been disposed of
in a way that has made millions for
individuals where the state only
received hundreds. Priceless
franchises were not only given
away but literally thrown at the
heads of corporation. We are not
criticising, we are only stating
facts, cold facts. No particula-
complaint was made by the men
who paid the bills for when men
have pocketful of money easily
made and know they can make more
equally easy, they seldom complain
of extortion. They do not cavil
about the price as long as they get
what they want.
Things have changed, however,
our best young men, following the
example of their fathers, are turn
ing their eyes and steps westward
in hopes of repeating the things
their elders accomplished and are
taking with them the capital of the
state, brain, money and muscle
capital.
There is no doubt that during
this year more capital will be taken
out of this state by emigrants than
will be brought in by immigrants.
The pristine fertility of the soil
is fast becoming exhausted and
farming in order to be profitable
must now be science instead of a
recreation. 1t is true that we have
much nnoccupied territory and
many undeveloped resources but we
have arrived at period where
inducements must be offered instead
of having inducements offered us in