Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1906-09-28
ton IN tho splendid work accompliahed

-
ton in tho splendid work accomplished
by this board 80
state Binding Irvine Plant.
Another matter In which the farmers
OF Minnesota have q keen and vital
interest ID the manufacture Of binding
Irvine at the state prison. For many
years the state has maintained q man
sufacturing plant at this institution for
the manufacture OF this important
commodity. Believing that the farmer
OF Minnesota should have his Irvine at
the lowest possible price. and believing
that the state prison plant has done
much to reduce the price Of this
product to the grain growers Of Min
nesota, I was and am convinced that
practically all the convict labor which
could possibly be devoted to this enter
prise be directed to the statemanu-
facture Of twine.
have urged upon the board Of con-
troll the extension Of the prison Irvine
plant, and am proud to say that as
result of this effort, supported cordially
by the board and by Henry wolfer,
warden Of the state prison. the ca
pacity Of this plant has been increased
two millions Of pounds per annum
!, I am also in favor Of modification
Of the present law which will permit
the sale Of the excess product in the
open market Of the world, that the
plant may be protected from annihila-
ton by the cordage trust.
Prison labor Sh0n16 nof novno in
competition with the free labor Of the
state. Instead Of that, the labor Of
the prison should be so far as possible
devoted to, the manufacture Of goods
which would not compete with the
product of the legitimate business in
situations Of our state. Our present
contract system is open to a great deal
Of criticism, and have done what
little could to bring about a change
in. this direction, with the hope that
the results will be to the best interest
Of the taxpayer and to the laboring
people Of Minnesota.
Drainage, Forestry and Good Roads.
AS member Of the state drainage
commission it has been my desire that
every dollar appropriated by the legis-
lature for the drainage Of swamp lands
should be honestly devoted to this pur-
pose. The drainage board, in my
judgment, has acted wisely and well
in pursuing the policy that state Of
ficials had no right to spend money
appropriated by the state for the i'm
provement Of private property, and we
have insisted at all times that every
dollar given into our hands for this
purpose by the state legislature should
be used for the Improvement of state
property. ! am satisfied that the
legislature should make more liberal
appropriations in the future than they
have in the past. The state Of Min
nesota has upwards of 100000 acres
Of swamp lands in the northern part
Of the state, and good business policy
demands that these lands be improved
that they might be open for settle
ment as early as possible During
the past year Typographical survey
has been made Of the lands owned
by the state Of Minnesota. A COM
plete and comprehensive report will be
made. by the drainage commission
through it's engineer at the next SEES
sion of the legislature, and am of the
opinion that the state of Minnesota is
proceeding along the proper lines.
This. however, is matter for legisla-
tive consideration and legislative
action, and am certain that whatever
policy is outlined by the legislature
looking toward the development of
these resources Of the state will be car
:ried out in both letter and spirit by
the state officers appointed for this
purpose. a.*.2..
Drainage, forestry, and good roads
ars three sister lines Of state develop
ment, which go. hand-in-hand. The
state has made marked progress by
legislative and administrative action
along each of these lines during the
past ten years, and has received In this
work the hearty and effective co-opera-
ton Of the respective counties and
towns. as well as of public-spirited
individuals and interested corpora
tions. The important work Of develop.
ment for which the people of Minne-
sofa have created and maintained the
state drainage board, the state forestry
commission, and the state highway
commission, has the hearty co-opera-
tive support Of every section and class.
0VOAy AAANuoSAA1A anu QO11SACA1 interest
in the state, and there is every assur-
ance that the work so well and aus
piciously begun will be pushed with
even greater vigor In the future in
step with the growing public interest
therein.
The allied causes Of drainage.
forestry and good roads have been and
are especially effective in the develop.
ment Of the newer counties OF the
northern section Of the state. How
swift and substantial has been the re-
cent development Of this northern
section is shown by the statistics of
the recent state census Of 1905. The
net population increase OF the twenty
seven northerly counties during the
brief Ave years period, 1900 to 1905.
is given by the superintendent Of the
state census as no less than 97,720
people; and the population gains of
this great and fertile northern domain,
through which four railroads are now
building. promise to be even greater
during the next I'VE years.
The Public Schools.
The marked educational growth Of