The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1911-03-17
Experiment Farm Head Says North,
eastern Minnesota Needs Roads,
Drainage Schools and More
Settlers.
ENTIRE STATE OWNS THAT MUCH
Ten Million Acres Of Land in Timber
and Cut Over Section Abund-
ant in Agricultural Pro-
ducts.

disappointment is not the only
need of northern Minnesota and II
is hoped that in the strife of this
issue, other and more vital issues
will not be lost sight of in giving ali
sections of the state equal represen.
tation, based upon population, said
Superintendent A. j. Mcclure, oil
the Northeast experiment farm, in
Farm, Stock and Home. ut per.
tains to the southern part of the
state as much as the northern. II
will result in giving northern Min.
nesota greater representation than II
now has, but this in it's self is nc
remedy or relief for the burdens that
are crushing the hopes and lives
of thousands of settlers in the tim.
Der section of northern Minnesota
ut should not be necessary to in.
crease the number of legislators In
northern Minnesota to get justice
from the rest of the state,' con.
tinued Mr.. Mcclure. ':The state
has derived it's great shool FUND
(and perhaps the greatest in thu
world) from northern Minnesota
The tsate timber Of northern Mime.
sofa added millions of dollars to the
school fund of the state and yet to.
day from sections in northeastern
Minnesota, where this very timber
was cut, there are struggling settlers
that cannot afford school for their
children. Why? Because the state
holds large areas of land there, and
this land pays no local tax, or tax
of any kind. Because road build
ing is ten times as expensive in the
sections and few roads make few set
tiers.
':The burden of taxation for schools
and roads falls upon few. When
the state removes the timber for the
benefit of the whole state is it any
more than justice that the state
should give the cut over land some
return for the timber in the way OF
assisting the settler who must take
the land and build roads through it
at great expense and remove the
stumps before a crop can be secured
"Roads, drainage, schools and
neighbors for the settlers are the real
needs of northern Minnesota. Reap
por+ionment may be necessary to
secure these but it should not be-
Not only should the state give
greater assistance in the road build
ing, drainage and schools but ii
should clear and fit for cultivation
part of the land it sells. It is nc
gain to the state to sell a man q
piece of land that has neither road OF
market, nor an acre of land ready
for crop production. A man who
tries to live on this land is loss
to the state and to himself and his
family. Northern Minnesota needs
more wagon roads, more school funds
and more farmers.
"These are needed now, and car
be greatly aided by the present leg
islature. 1t need be considered ne
act of charity. 1t is business prop
osition. For every dollar invested by
Il -, .
the state in development, the farm
ers following this development vii
return hundreds to the channels O
trade.
"There are over ten millions O
acres Of land in the timber and GU
l - +, 4 = Z l4 ss
over sections Of northern Minnesot.
as abundant in agricultural product
as any like area in southern Min
nesota It is largely unoccupiet
through lack Of roads, and lack o
Iconfidence and support from the res
of the state Here and there farm
er will hang on until he gets thu
road and the school advantage Q
civilization, and build up farm farm