The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1908-12-31
THE STATE AUDITOR'S REPORT.
State Auditor Iverson has kindly

The state auditors Office is the most
Important of any in the state capitol,
not even excepting that of governor.
The legislator who has in mind the
best interests of the state will careful
~ consult the state auditors report
and give especial attention to his
recommend atoms. Some of the most
beneficial measures that grace our
statute books today are the result of
recommendations made by the present
and former state auditors. There is
no state officer brought into closer con-
tact with county officers and the people
generally than the state auditor, nor
is there any other officer more con-
versant with the affairs of the state
and it's necessities from an official
standpoint, hence considerable weight
attaches to what Mr.. Iverson has to
say.
The report before us contains much
interesting information relative to the
permanent funds, taxation, etc., which
we will refer to in another issue. It is
Mr.. VERSIONS recommendations that
interests US most.
His recommendation with reference
to lands reclaimed by drainage does
not 60 far enough. The old law fixed
the minimum price of all state lands
at SIS per acre. In 1907 law was en-
acted which provided that to the mini
mum price of SIS per acre should be
added the cost of drainage with three
per cent interest on such cost up to the
time of sale. Thus the minimum price
might be increased to ten or twelve
dollars an acre, and the cost of drain
age is required to be paid at time of
sale. Mr.. Iverson suggests that only
Is per cent of the selling price be: re-
quired at time, of SALE. Reclaimed
lands should be- appraised and sold
the same as other lands without re-
gard to cost of drainage. Chapter 366
laws of 1907 should be entitled "a law
to retard or prevent the settlement of
reclaimed lands" It should be re-
pealed without delay. This is
matter that vitality concerns northern
Minnesota.
Any one who has ever visited Star
Island in Cass Lake will agree with
Mr.. Iverson when he says, the state
should buy the island outright. It is
one of the beauty spots of the state
and is heavy timbered with thick
growth of white and Norway pine.
With reference to mineral lands Mr..
Iverson urges that, when new lease
law is enacted the royalty should be
based on the units of iron in the ore.
But why lease any more ore lands at
present? Ten or twenty years hence
ore may be worth so or 100 per cent
more than it is worth today. There
is plenty of ore in sight for all CON-
mercial purposes. The ore contained
in state land cannot be stolen or de-
stroyed by the elements and the state
can we'll afford to hold it's ore for the
present.
Mr.. Iverson makes a strong plea for
the reforestation of cut-over lands
unsuited for agricultural purposes,
and favors stringent measures for the
prevention of forest fires. He also
recommends that the law which pro-
vides for the sale of state timber be
so amended that, whenever practical,
only the mature and dry timber shall
be sold, and that the cutting thereof
shall be done under state supervision.
The recommendation might have been
stronger. There have been mistakes
made both by Mr.. Iverson and his
predecessors in Office in selling timber
that was only remotely endangered,
but on the whole the timber of the
past fifteen years, carping critics and
ranting demagogues to the contrary
notwithstanding. The time has ar
rived, however, when every consider
IL @& ~