The Irish standard., 1908-09-05
SCHOOL LANDS OF MINNESOTA.
Tho States Many Advantages Referred
to by State Auditor lver.on.

|
The success Of state or nation and
its people must have its beginning in
those resources with which it is en-
lowed by nature. These sources Of
wealth in the hands Of thrifty and in
telligent people, in an advantageous
geographical location convenient to
the trade and commerce of the world
and agreeable climatic conditi ,ns, con-
stitute strong basis upon which tc
build commonwealth.
The State Of Minnesota appears to
have been favored by all these condi-
tions. In my opinion. Minnesota has
more advantages and a larger variety
Of great wealth producing natural re-
sources than any area Of equal size on
the North American continent. Our
forests. mines and fertile agricultural
lands have for a half century bounti-
fully yielded Of their wealth to feed,
clothe. educate and enrich our people.
Our majestic. primeval forests are
/
houses, barns and fields Of the farmer.
Our agricultural land then is the en-
during anchorage for the maintenance
Of the state and its people. The land
owning farmer, in all ages. and in all
countries, has been a commanding fE
ure. and nowhere is this truth more
in evidence than in Minnesota. At the
present time there is considerable UNI
rest in the financial and industrial
world, and it would seem that this
would be an opportune time to fortify
a we'll established and undisputed fact
that there is one certain and reliable
resource that a man can secure for
himself and family to guard against
the changing conditions Of the times,
and that is land. With this an adj
mitted fact the natural inquiry is.
where is the best place to settle and
acquire land?
Minnesota has 100000 .arms o.
about 1873 acres each, and have enough
uncultivated land to make 100000 moro
farm homes We have in all about
255,000,000 acres Of land under cult
walton, and each acre produces annu-
ally a crop worth about $500, or
grand total Of s2ss.5oo,ooo. This sum
comes from wheat, corn, fax, oats,
barley, rye. and other seeds, potatoes
and other vegetables, apples and other
fruits. live stock. poultry and dairy
products. A quarter Of million dol
lars Is a princely sum to add to tf.,:
wealth of the state and nation in one
year, and speaks for itself as to the
productivity Of our soil. With the i'm
proved methods Of farming now be-
ing taught by many associations and
societies and our agricultural colleges.
we may confidently look for an even
larger return per acre in the near fu-
ture.
The following additional facts may
be of interest: In 1850 the territory
had nine counties, and a total popula-
ton Of SOFT; in 1860 We had 172,025:
in 1905. the state census shovel 1,s79.-
912. and we now have considerably
over 100000 population. Tie total
assessed value in 1860 was $36.753 400:
in 1907, it was ,04s,200,45s, of which
1892 100000 was on iron mines in the
northeastern part Of the state, ard
1886 100000 on farm lands. In 1862 tho
state had ten miles Of railroad. now
we have 1885 miles Of the best
equipped railroads in the country.
We have splendid system Of state
institutions, covering all the modern
requirements for school, charitable and
renal purposes The total amount paid
for buildings Of state institutions up to
and including 1907 was s1s,1so.435.57.
In 1861. we had only two state insti-
buttons, and the total cost for main
tanning them was $7.5s7.53. in 1907
the total cost for the support Of the
state institutions was $2,444,s5e.54. In
| 1860 the total receipts OF the state
treasury amounted to $13s,522e2. and
the total disbursements s13s,sies4
making a total Of $27s,see.4e Of casa
handled by the state in that wear. In
1907 the total receipts were $12.446,-
05o.26. and the disbursements s11,s7s.-
43o6s. making total Of s24.s24. 4s0e3
L. state business transacted during
that year.
The permanent school fund at the
present time amounts to soo.os5, 900.
all Of which Is invested and drawing
about 4 per cent interest. Large iron
mines are on school lands and 1t Is
believed that $loo.ooo,ooo will Ultimate
~ be received by the school fund from
| fhis soyrcA The srhooI fund ha q