The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1906-10-25
POSSIBILITIES OF THE syAaIPs.

POSSIBILITIES OF THE SWA1IPs.
Anent the possibilities of the swamp
lands Of northern Minnesota the fol-
lowing from the New York Evening
Post, giving a synopsis of the situa-
ton as reported by the government
surveyors, is of more than passing
interest:
It is in Minnesota that the first ex-
tended work of the geological survey
experts has been undertakent!! They
went there some months ago under
provision of an appropriation made
at the last session of congress making
available the sum of $4,000 for a
comprehensive survey of a great tract
known as 'the ceded lands of the
Chippewas.:' The region is land of
swamps, some of which approach in
depth and area the Importance of in
land lakes. The whole tract aggre-
gates about 100000 acres, which
have been held by the government for
allotment to homesteaders at Sl.25 an
acre in the same way as any other
public lands. The country at large
has protited none from the sales of
land, as the receipts have been held in
trust for the Indians. Less than half
these lands have been entered upon so
far by homesteaders, however, and all
the remaining portion awaits federal
drainage before it will be ready for
cultivation.
Advocates of the new principle of
land reclamation point to the fact that
such lands as have been taken up in
this section of the country have proved
wonderfully productive. The lands
first taken were, naturally enough,
those on which the amount of surplus
water was small, and where it proved
Objectionable only in winter and early
spring. At other times it is above
water, and all the more arabic be-
cause of the fertility insured by the
water leaving rich soil deposits on re-
ceding. On such lands. as these the
homesteaders have been able to raise
splendid crops Of garden produce,
especially such plants as celery and
all kinds of small fruits requiring
much moisture. Cranberry bogs have
been found to return fair profit.
From data obtained from the sur
veyors in the field the Minnesota
lands can be reclaimed at cost OF
approximately S1.25 to $3.50 an acre.
Adding this to the price at which the
land can now be obtained by home
steaders who will not now buy it,
however, so long as it is covered with
water from one years end to another
all this vast section could be put on
the market at less than So an acre.
Judging by the jump in price of irri.
gated lands in the west in recent years,
as we'll as the drained lands which
have been put under extensive truck
farming, the federal government could
realize on it's present worthless land
as fast as the drainage work pro.
crossed. Even if the supply of home
steaders attracted to the newly de-
veloped region is not enough to take
up the lands, there is no doubt the
property would find ready purchasers
in the persons of spectators who
would appreciate its real value under
new conditions. s.,..
Exact details of cost will be forth
coming as the datails prepared for
the consideration of congress. In
general it is known that it will not be
as expensive as irrigation, since there
are no dams and costly construction
work required It will be most ad-
vantageous to do the work under
federal auspices, of course, and to this
end, if the approval of congress is
gained, negotiations will have to be
undertaken with some of the states
for REIMBURSEMENT of special rights
heretofore granted.