The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1909-11-08


the state. Technically. as based on the
character of the soil the state is right.
The examiners made careful examin a.
ton in each case and returned as swamp
only that which is swamp. The position
of the state is unassailable, but where
settlement was made in good faith on
swamp land there should be some way to
help out the settler. Some of these
people, and / may say most of them,
have been made in good faith in looking
for lands, for themselves. AS to whether
they are right or wrong is not important
at this point in the discussion. They
have spent money and time in an attempt
to settle the north and make homes for
themselves-manyo of them feel that they
have lost something in this conflict with
the state. 1t will not be possible to re-
imburse them directly for the loss, but
the state, by generous policy, may be
able to tighten the burdens of a pioneer
life and to hasten the, progress of this
AOW SOuAIAy l1dl living LII IL 1Ildy UcCOlLG
easier. ~ H.
No sympathy, however, should be
wasted on that class of settlers who have
come into the north for the purpose of
acquiring valuable timber lands, and who,
shortly after getting title, sell the timber
and leave the country-many going to
Canada to repeat their homestead opera
tons. Northern Minnesota and Koochi-
ching county in particular is suffering
severely through the ownership of land by
these erstwhile homesteaders- is a
lack of permanent farm occupants and
there is surplus of wild lands, both wet
and dry. In large percentage of these
swamp land cases the earmarks of good
faith were uncertainty developed, and in
several instances entirely wanting so that
the claimant may be expected to turn
out to be -of-passage. Northern
Minnesota is in need of new settlers.
Whole townships that were we'll settled
six or seven years ago have since become
almost depopulated through the passing
of these homesteaders to other fields.
This is not due entirely to the character
of lands, swamp or non-swamp, by the
state, nor to the presence of poor soil or
unfavorable climatic conditions for the
holdings of the state are light in the
towns have in mind, the soil has been
pronounced by experts as the best and
the climate has not interferred~ with the
success of few enterprising ones who
have remained; but it is due to the unrest
of the settler himself; the ease with which
he obtains title under the Communication
feature of the homestead law, and the
timber and stone act. Criticism of the
action of the state in these swamp land
contests has brought out the fact that it,
too, is holding large areas of unoccupied
lands in the north, land on which NO
taxes are paid to help along local improv-
ments and while this has nothing to do
with the swamp land contests, and is
something over which the state auditor
has no control it goes to show that there
is growing sentiment against the states
present plan of holding and disposing Of
lands
For the relief of the swamp land
settlers the men and women who have
gone on in good faith with the intention
of making homes, would suggest that
influence be brought to bear upon con-
gress for the passage of an act in about
the following words:
THAT in all cases where contests are
now pending between settlers and states
involving lands included within any state
swamp land grant, and in which a bona
fide settlement was made on the land by
the contestant prior to the opening OF
said land to entry, the state may relin-
quish such land and select in lieu thereof
other land equal in area, and such lieu
selections may be made either within or
without any national forest which may be
in said state; and
THAT where any such settler has re-
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