Willmar tribune., 1910-01-05
State Capital Letter
Doin8s at St. Paul as Reported by Our Special
Correspondent. @*
correspondent.

81. faul.-UnLOlQ mllllOnS were Auu-
ed to Minnesota's state property a few
days ago, when the state received
notice of admission by the federal
government of state ownership of 19O,-
900 acres Of federal lands. These are
given the state under the provisions
Of the swamp land act of March IL,
1860, when the state was awarded all
federal swamp lands within its limits.
But it has taken six years of hard
work by different occupants of state
offices auditor, attorney general, gov
ernOr and United States senators.
When the state first made it's claim
to these lands, the federal officials
at Washington laughed. They thought
the claim too ridiculous to consider.
And in every way they attempted to-
hold the lands for the federal govern
ment-but have now been definitely
sofa will at last come into her rights.
There is an interesting history in
connection with this property in ques-
ton.
Feb. 28, 1855, the Chippewa Indians
ceded to the federal government vast
tracts in Northern Minnesota. Then
in 1850 came the federal act granting
the state such lands as were swamp.
And in 1864-5 there was an Indian
treaty, whereby the federal govern
ment granted the Indians back SO
townships, which included what be-
came known as the White Earth and
Leech Lake reservations. : This ced-
ing of certain federal lands back to
the Indians, it will be noted, was after
the act giving the swamp lands to
Minnesota. It was on this ground
that the state proceeded to protest
sale of the timber on so-called Indian
lands in Minnesota, which were
swamp. The state officers claimed
these had become property of Mime
sofa under the 1860 act, and that the
government had no right to attempt
to cede the lands in question back to
the Red Man. after they had previ-
ously been given to Minnesota.
But now all the states troubles
have been overcome, and a United
States patent to 11,400 acres has al
ready been received by the governor,
while more will follow as the work of
survey proceeds.
This land is valuable in that much
of it is covered with spruce and other
timber, varying in worth from $40 to
SIS an acre for the timber alone; but
it's unknown wealth lies in it's pos
sible, even probable, deposits of iron
ore. Even now, in the vicinity of
Leech Lake.. drills are busy at work
boring into the bowels of the earth
in search of iron. This district is all
looked upon as an extension of the
Mesaba territory, and men posted in
iron mining, assert that ore is bound
to be found there. II iron is found
on this newly acquired state land, it
will, under the state law, belong in
common with the timber and land it.
self, one-half to the state school fund
and the other half to the states edu.
cational and charitable institutions.
School Fund Is Growing.
The school fund Of the state of Min.
had the proud distinction of being the
largest school fund of any state in
| the Union Tin spite of the claim of
Texas to this honor), and with new
acquisitions that are in sight, the fund
will, in few years, be something
| tremendous.
The school fund now includes act.
ual investments of $21,500,00. There
| is state iron ore in sight and under
contract, to swell this first figure to
| $170,000,000. And to this, must be
added the value of the swamp lands
! just acquired.
No Official "Race Suicide"
The time was, few years ago,
when the question came up, what
| shall be done with the old state capi-
toy, now that the new capitol is oc-
cupied?
But the question of today is, what
would the state do for housing all
| it's departments without it?
And the question of the near future
| is, what will the state do to take care
| of it's ever increasing demands for
office room?
AS far as the Official family" of the
state is concerned, it certainly has not
| suffered from race suicide" Not on.
| 1y are a number of the legislative
rooms at the new capitol in use for
housing various state departments, but
there are actual cases of doubling
| up" at the old capitol.
| For instance, the room once used
as the governors private office in the
state house, was given the State His.
| torical society for part of it's art and
curio gallery. And this same room is
now occupied as the office of the
State Board of Visitors to State Insti
tut1ons. The law regulating this
board says it shall have an Office at
tho state house. It therefore claims
the apartment. And the Historical
society says + has it's pictures cover
ing the wall in this apartment, and
that it should accordingly be left open
for public visitation.
More room for state offices, will be
a subject which must be considered
| by some legislature in the near future
Insurance Activity.
| The report of the state insurance
commissioner for the year which will
Soon conclude, will show much energy
| within the state in the way of promot
ing new companies. A new life and
acci1t0t company has started in Min
neapolts, during the year, with paid
up capital Of 100000. A fire insur
ance cOmnaEv is now hojnu 47oorod