The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1911-06-02
Puts Disapproval on Seven Senator
Measure and Commended Elwell
Good Roads Bill.
WH1TsON ADDRESS BOOSTERS
Wisconsin University Professor Talks
on Conserving Soil Fertility
and Editor Knutson Speaks.

Duluth, June 2.-Daily Pioneer
Special Wire Service. )-After a
notable two days session, the con-
vention of the Northern Minnesota
Development Association adjourned
at l o'clock this afternoon.
St. Cloud was named as the next
meeting place, winning out over
Thief River Falls and Warroad.
The convention adopted resolu.
lions censuring the legislature for
failure to enact the e-apportionment
bill.
81 1t also censured the legislature
for falling to pass a bill creating a
department of public domain, bill
providing for sale of foreign securi
ties In state treasury, bill providing
for deep water way from the Lake
of the Woods to Lake Superior, and for
the report of the permanent improve.
ment clause relating to the state
land sale.
The convention put it's disapprova
on the seven senators state constitrl.
ton amendment. -
Commended Elwell bill for good
roads. @ / -
Instructed executive committee to
appoint good roads committee.
Commended extension of agricul-
tural education in the high schools
and common schools of the state. -
Pledges to report to the reclama-
tion board.
Provided a full survey be made to
make available more definite inform
alton for the guidance of prospective
settlers.
Provided for extension of drainage
work.
Owing to the sudden summons of
President Maxfield to return home,
M. N. Kohl of Cass Lake was then
called upon to preside.
The Bemidji delegates will return
home this evening.
A. J. Mcclure had development"
for his subject before the develop
ment convention. He spoke as fol-
lows:
"The reclamation of state land as
l understand the term, means the
fitting of the state swamp land for
agricultural purposes. The land
owned by the state in Northern Min
nesota, and which comes under this
provision of reclamation, is known
as the state swamp land and was
acquired by the state from the
national government in 1857.
"In ceding this land to the state
the government had specific pur-
pose in view, and that purpose was
that the state should improve the
land. The law pertaining to this in
the grant reads as follows: The
shall be applied exclusively as fa1
as necessary to the retaining OF
said lands by levees and drains.
"The government withheld this
land from the homestead grant fol-
the reason that in it's natural condi-
ton it was unfit for agriculture. II
was such that the individual farmer
could not use it profitably and the
government wisely said, let this
land first be reclaimed, and for such
reclamation, the receipts from it:
sale shall be used, and for no Other
purpose .-',s~s
"The state accepted the land un
der this distinctly specified condi
tion-the condition that the lane
should be improved, reclaimed.
In 1881 the state constitution wa
so amended that this provision o
the government was completely re
versed. Instead of the proceeds o
the sale of swamp land being use'
for it's reclamation, this amendment
provided that all proceeds should b.
forever retained by the state, an
the interest accruing from the invest
ment of such funds was to be use'
for the public schools and the edu
cational institutions of the state
Evils of System.
"The swamp land grant gave t.
Minnesota over 100000 acres. TIL
sale of this land, and the sale of tn
timber and mineral is contained ha
enriched the treasury of the stat
and has made the public schools an
the educational institutions of Min