Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-28

nent factor in the development of the
mining industry in Minnesota. In the
SOS there were rumorS of discoveries On
what is now known as the Mesaba range
Cp to that time there had been no
thought of withholding state lands from
sale on account of minerals. After tne
| timber had been taken off they were SOLO
for farms at a minimum price per acre.
but Auditor Braden, who was IN charge
at that time, refu ed to sell anything on
the range and recommended the passage
Of laws allowing leases for long terms
Of years on a stated price per ton OF the
ore mined.
..Had Mr. Braden yielded to the pres
sure of those who wanted him 10 sell the
lands outright, which he could have done
lawfully. we wTn d not p school fund
today. Through his refusal to sell the
state retained the fee title to va.uaoie
tracts Of cut-over lands which nave
since shown up countess miiiiohs u
tons of iron ore Mr.. Braden, arbitrarily
and without express authority OF. law, re-
served the minerals on certain state landS
which he sold in the vicinity OF Grand
Rapids in 1880. That was in country
far removed from any known iron de-
posits Since that time iron has been
discovered even to the westward of Grand
| Rapids In the legislature of 1888 oil
drawn by Mr.. Braden was enacted INTO
law permitting the leasing OF state Janus
for iron mining purposes.
THUS it happened that when iron was
discovered the state found Itself the OWL
| er in fee. of about 10000 acres or iands
situated squarely on the narrow nelt oi
| land extending from Mesaba station on
| the Du,uth and Iron Range railroad
southwest of Grand Rapids II the state
| had offered its lands with standing timper
| for sale the chances are that nearly a.
| would have been sold. perhaps for hish
price per acre. in which event the iron
deposits would have. of course. fallen 70
the several buyers. The most va uaDie idho
| mines on the range were obtained from
the government without any regard 70
| the fabulous wealth that lay beneath the
surface. ,. .. 10
finding of these mines on state lanoS.
The states good fortune has come as
| blessing to us and 20 millions of Mime
| sofas future citizens, because at critical
| times in the affairs Of the state her serv-
| ants acted with wisdom and devotion 10
| .he public welfare. The range OF iron
ore bearing lands has been extended into
other counties. far removed from the
| original discoveries. and large deposits
have been found. There appears no limit
| to the future possibilities.
| Revenues From the Lands
| "Thus far 1861, 21S acres have been sold
of all classes of land. and 1856. 4O5 acres
remain unsold. The permanent school
fund thus far accumulated from the sa 'es
l
| atty on iron ore amounts to $21.OO2 81.
and the permanent university fund
amounts to s1.44s79s from the same
| sources. These funds are invested in
bonds of cities. counties, townships and
| school districts of the state of Mime
sofa, and in bonds of Alabama. Delaware
| louisiana Massachusetts,. Tennessee and
| other states. The total amount of all
| the different funds SO invested is $685.
OFT 223.
1 Under Their contracts lessees of the
| school lands agree to pay all general
| taxes and q royalty of 25 cents per ton
on q the ore taken out The asses Ell
| valuation of lands already leased. whit. h.
az l have told you, are admitted to con-
/ tain l45. 199, S11 tons of iron ore Is ST.
i Oa5 3D. and that represents little more
4 than one-tenth of the acreage now under
| contract. These lands have hus far yield
i ed an AVERAGE Of about 1.7j0 OCO tons for
4 every forty acres. This is probably some
i what higher than the entire acreage will
/ produce, but 1t is not unreasonable to
| ant cipate an average of 1,00O.OW tons
per forty acres for ali the lands under
lease. This would produce 5O.OOO 900 tons
Of ore. which, at 25 cents per ton. would
make the splendid sum of 1857 100000.
i ..These are almost startling figures. but
NO one can estimate what remains con-
i cAaled under the school lands scattered