The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1909-02-05
OPSAHL ASKS 100000
AID FOR CHEAP DYNAMITE
Bill Would Be Great Aid to Settlers on Timber Lands
Enable Them to Purchase Dynamite at Cost for
Getting Rid Of Stumps

OpSahl has introduced free dyna
mite" bill asking for an annual
appropriation of 100000 to aid the
settlers on timber lands in Mime
sofa to secure dynamite at cost in
order to remove the stumps and
clear their lands. The bill was
referred to the committee on public
lands.
The bill will be great aid to the
development of northern Minnesota,
enabling the farmers throughout this
section of the country to clear their
lands at the minimum cost of money,
time and labor, since the use of
explosives is recognized as the
cheapest method of getting rid of
stumps.
Charles S. Carter of Hines is the
author of the dynamite bill, which is
in accordance with Mr.. Carter's sug-
gestions to the Pioneer some time
ago and which reads as follows:
"A bill for an act to appropriate
money for the purpose of purchas-
ing dynamite or similar explosive
to be distributed to assist and en-
courage the owners of cut-over
lands in the development thereof.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE STATE OF
MINNESOTA.
Sec. 1. That the sum of one
hundred thousand (S1OO,OOO) dol
lars, or as much thereof as may be
necessary, may be and hereby is
annually appropriated OUT of any
money in the treasury, not otherwise
appropriated, for the purchase of
dynamite or similar explosive to be
distributed to encourage and assist
those persons owning in fee or hold
ing lands under land contracts or
state certificates of sale, in clearing
and developing their lands.
Sec. 2. Any person owning in
fee, or holding or possessed of any
land under land contract or state
certificate of sale, which is cut-over
and upon which there are a quantity
of stumps that should be removed in
order to cultivate the same, may
make application to the State Audi
tor for the necessary amount of
dynamite to remove the stumps upon
not more than ten acres per year;
such persons shall make application
upon blanks to be furnished by the
state to the State Auditor for such
dynamite. This application shall
give the name and address of the
applicant, the description of the
land, by government subdivision,
sought to be improved, the character
of the soil, the number of stumps over
one foot and under two feet in
diameter and the number of stumps
over two feet in diameter upon the
particular piece sought to be
improved, the number of acres he
desires to remove the stumps from
and the amount of dynamite, in his
estimation, necessary therefor.
This application shall have the
approval of the majority of the
supervisors of the town within which
he lives, if organized, and if un-
organized, the approval of the ma
jority Of the supervisors of the
nearest town, and shall be presented
to the county auditor on or before
the LIST day of February of each year,
and by said auditor, laid before the
board Of county commissioners at
their next meeting, and if said
board Of county commissioners ap.
prove thereof, they shall cause such
approval to be endorsed on the back
by their chairman, and thereupon,
such application shall be forwarded
to the state auditor.
Sec. 3. The Governor, State
Auditor and Dean of the Agricul
tural Department of the State Uni
versity shall constitute board with
the power to purchase the necessary
dynamite or similar explosive to
carry out the purpose of this act,
and to have charge of the distribu
ton thereof.
The State shall, in the first
instance, bear the expense of the
delivery of such dynamite or similar