The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1909-12-23
90 PER YEAR IN ADVANCE
A MINNESOTA MONEY FOR MINNESOTA
CONVENT ON.

northern portion of the state which
will result in concerted action in the
near future looking toward genera
movement throughout the state tt
urge the officials of the state of Min
nesota, or more properly the state in
vestment board, to dispose of some o
the bonds OF other states held BY
Minnesota belonging to the perna
nent school fund, bring the money
back to the state and purchase drain
age bonds. In this manner it is helC
that nearly s6, 100000 could be avail
able for the reclamation of the valu
able lands which are valueless at the
present time without drainage, anC
would thereby be made taxable.
However, 1t would not be neces.
sary to sell all the bonds. Virginia
3 per cent bonds in the sum Of
$1,451,43O and Mississippi bonds
bearing 3 per cent in the sum oil
$2,595,0O0. This would make d
total of $4,O46, 45O, which would be
all that is necessary for the present.
All the other outside bonds carried
by Minnesota carry a better rate
of interest, 5 per cent Alabama
bonds being the highest, though
there is one small batch of $4,000
Delaware bonds only earring three
per cent.
Drainage work has always been
hampered by lack of funds and there
is strong sentiment that the
money which Minnesota has loaned
out to other states for their devel-
opment, could be invested to better
advantage in the development of
this state, where as good interest
could be secured and where land
would be reclaimed and made tax
able and which would tend greatly
to further develop the state.
Minnesota now has approximately
100000 acres of state swamp lands
and state school lands granted to the
state by acts of congress. The sur
ways are about completed and by the
close of 1910 the last of the lands
will have been granted to the state
and the additional acreage to be
gained will not be very large.
The Stephens law provides that
state school money may be invested
in state drainage bonds at rate
not to exceed 4 per cent. By drain
ing the swamp lands from So to SIS
would be added to their value at
once
In addition to the drainage pro.
position, under the methods now
pursued, every drainage canal now
means good road beside it, this
being the practice of the state
drainage commission and the engi.
neers wherever practicable, and
the move rent for better roads is
growing very rapidly.
1t is therefore the intention to call
a convention with this purpose in
view in the very near future, some
time shortly after the HOLIDAYS
either at Thief River Falls or Be-
midi, to concentrate effort to &C.
Complish the results outlined above
The slogan will be Minnesota
Money for Minnesota. "-Crookstor
Times.
1t would appear to the Pioneer
that Bemidji would be the prcpe,
place for holding such a convent ton
by reason of its Location. This
city is in the center of the north
half of the state, and has most ex
cellent railroad facilities, making
this place easy access to those
who live in the country where
drainage is desired. Bemidji is the
natural "hub' of this so-callec
swamp-land" district; and ou1
hospitable people would be glad tt
entertain delegates to such con.
vention.
Bemidji extends the glad hand,'
and will welcome a crowd of mer
who want to deliberate on Mime
sofa Money for Minnesota"