The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1911-01-05

eminent In Minnesota, including lands
In reservations, is estimated at FL
$4,000 acres, which with 1,26D.0O0
acres surveyed and open to settle
ment, bring the total Minnesota hold
ings of the general government up to
3,550,O0O acres. e8E ~
LANDS BELONGING TO
STATE OF MINNESOTA
Under the various acts of congress
granting lands to the several states
Minnesota is entitled to 9,6OO,11947l
acres. Up to July 81, 1910, patents
had been received from the general
government for the several classes OF
state lands aggregating 1871 ,102.72
acres. This leaves balance of 1,419.
015.75 acres, according to the record
of the state, yet to be approved and
patented.
Approximately 100000 acres OF
school, university, agricultural, col
lege, internal improvement, swamp
and salt spring lands have been sold
and the proceeds invested for the va.
rious educational and other permanent
trust funds, which on July 81, 1910,
are reported by the auditor as aggre
eating $27,O77,223.41
The auditor, as ex-officio state land
commissioner, reports on hand unsOld
in the possession of the state and its
institutions at this time 2,486, 405
acres.
In n ho oil in oS
the auditor estimates that there is
still due from the general government
100000 acres of selected swamp and
indemnity school lands, bringing the
total up to approximately 100000
acres, as the total public domain to
be administered in the interest of ouI
public schools and other state insti
buttons, as well as the general public
DEPARTMENT OF
STATE LANDS NECESSARY.
The necessity of amending our pres.
ent laws and methods of handling
state lands, with the organization to
that end of separate state land de.
partment, is now generally admitted.
Our present ex-oficio land commission.
err, State Auditor Iverson, advocated
such change in mis- report of two years
ago, reiterating his position at this
time, and a bill to that end was intro
duced in tie last legislature, but
failed of passage because of certain
constitutional difficulties. The attOr
/ ney general, in his report TO your bod
condemns tie present land laws aZl
methods o. and sales as archaic and
obsolete.
Among the vital and practical rea
sons for the proposed reform in oul
| land laws and administration, there
fore, are th'l following:
First-To' make the state agricul
tural lands accessible and available tt
| actual intending settlers.
| Second-To realize for our schools
and other public institutions full AM
just values for their lands.
Third-TO place unsold lands, will
| their timber and other products, un
der businesslike administration, i'm
proving and developing their resource
1
dation and waste.
Fourth-To provide for thorough
survey of the lands and their resources
Fifth-To cooperate with other re
spective public domain department
of the state with reference to the va
rious lines of development and i'm
provement, such as, drainage, high
ways, for stry, agriculture, water
powers, waterways, geology and mire:
Sixth-In separating the land depar
ment from the auditors Office to max
the latter an Independent check upo
the accounts and business transaction
of the land department as contempla
: ed by our constitution III creating tn
office of auditor.
Before the above reform in our Ian
laws can be carried into Legislative
effect however, it appears wise AM
apparently legally necessary to sub
NIT the proposition to the people il
the form of a constitutional amend
ment.
. THE STATE DEPARTMENT
OF FORESTRY
, The original forest area of Mime
sofa is estimated at over one-half
the total land surface of the state, o
approximately 2S,0OO,OOO acres, G
which perhaps 100000 representa-
pine and evergreens. About one-hal
: of the original forest area yet remain:
:, though materially depleted by fire
and cuttings. Part. of this is har
: wood, though the greater portion
' pine and pulpwood, chiefly located o
;, the northern wooded plateau Of tn
u state, where it is of inestimable SER
; ice in protecting the sources of OF
streams
!, 1t would seem as though the nece
= sity of placing the public forest unde
. scientific and businesslike administer
, ton were so plain to the general pu
: lie and to the members of this leg1
: latures that argument should be u
necessary. The state has just expel
= enced another chapter OF horrors
connection with the Rainy River va
% lev forest fires, which should be SUI