The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1906-08-03

constructive mind and the benefit hid
services were to the state by reason
of his capacity, his ripe Judgment and
his untiring industry In transacting
the business of the session. What
gave him the greatest prominence In
that legislature. however, was q bill
introduced by him providing for the
taxation Of logs in the counties where
they were cut. In seeking evidence
In support of his contention that the
bill should become law he discov.
cred that under the then existing
statutes It was difficult, II not impos-
sible, to locate the ownership of half
the logs in such way that they
could be placed upon the tax roll and
that in the city Of Minneapolis it had
long been the custom to tax only one
half the logs that the assessor found
were owned there. The bill passed
the house after one OF the hardest
fought battles Of the session, and, al
though defeated in the senate, the
exposures made by Mr.. Cole have re-
suited In the most glazing of the
abuses being corrected. The lumber.
men, however, took notice Of his per-
nicious activity and resolved to pun
ish him for it. In the following cleo
ton whenever in the district where
there was a saw mill In operation
there was a marked falling of in the
Cole vote.
Cole and the numbering Interests.
In December. 1904, after he had
been elected the second time, Mr..
Cole wrote an open letter to the press,
which was published in the Twin City
papers, in which he said:
Another question which seems tc
demand very serious consideration Is
the method of disposfng of state tim
Der lands. Under the laws now upon
the statute books the state lands are
appraised by the residents of the
county in which the lands are situated.
These appraisers are temporarily en-
ployed at insufficient wages and the
easiest way to earn their money Is
the one most liable to be adopted.
Often the appraisal Is made without
viewing the lands and tracts covered
with valuable sapling pine have been
sold at S. per acre."
In that letter Mr.. Cole advised that
the appraisal be made in part by
cruisers appointed by the state audi
tor, whose tenure of Office depends
upon accuracy and efficiency. Con-
forming to this suggestion law was
enacted at the last session Of the leg
islature providing that one Of the
appraisers should be selected from
the states best cruisers. This law
guarantees to the people of the state
that each piece or parcel of land has
been thoroughly examined by the ap-
praisers, as the law all along has con-
templated, and in consequence of, its
been saved to the state.
Mr. Cole was member Of sub.
committee Of the house which drafted
& Fill which is now law, which pro.
vilos that stealing OF timber from
state !ncd shell never outlaw ana also
~ w kE4E-- XXI u tC"A! u, t4SG ~ S-N"'0HEet
$500, 10 lie Eaid to any person fur
niakIng evidence leading to the con.
r;::!iun {. Any cnc found guilty u
~; cIing standing til2Der from state
= ~ .>;Ct i? twGntr years, and 'l7.'-
.::"'..;-n<,t il? tne history. Of iaaiai2'''
* -fru sr@re, I,;;ss Say person ir} -
& .:~-r! :~ in~sy hills or at'21 jp 10
@'~' ct@.@,4t :: 90 :iI""% Laws to ">E>-
I. '.s.,' ~ rae cgatHst ttrntor t'>t.>;-
7 '.s:s...a'I y ,,:,1&,, she lam hariog i7."r,
"".s II - Sc to pay 14etg, nsls
s:..:,.a IT t. :.
site s.@@=; ..:::@..snt A9saeqr&s.
n 5:.~ sezai>7 Of 1905 a1r, <jo1a was
~-.>c- ~ -. securing e74a passage of
{ :'.et' t,l:.o,~;>nt !.--t..'as-E>.r which he
had Oh, :~.tA in 1919 AID which from
(hat time Ne WIS r~r3is. eat IN bring
irG to. the attention f the house and
tie people 0 the state, The Cole i'm.
T.: Gra+;cH law WIS really Eis first
move in the direction c; that we'll de-:
hacd policy of state development
which has CONE to be associated with
!! Is name. lis purl0aa is 10 advertise
tie state lands widely among home
zrCi5o1a a4r>kun.o and abroad and to
<si2 =. II ;jo.N C1ly,tC acT'taI settlers,
v 10 ere r:rrTlNul to cultivate them.
The res:'i! Of It's cnoTatton has been.
t. }+traC1 vu..ia atGs 1ticn TO car unoe-
culiod !: nIs, u sacQTe larger at.
tendance al the periodical land sales,
10 hrec'; w -spco0larors' combines
nd. TO e. : Letter price for the lands
I'D. .LAN;tor 7vcr&oa Is On record as
styling rl@t. Rad the law been passed.
:'@ars 80, it Hou:I lave saved mil
tora Of dollars to tie state funds. It
- a;~e21v Qut hundreds OF thousands
: G3i.a-s IN the STATE treasury more
.h2a would have been received under
he o,5 law. ~.:,s-s -