The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1911-01-05
value. In. pF0poEIlnnssI TO Ine ia,g,aa4aslon.
served. It is the function of the de-

spartment of Immigration to bring to
our lands the population; !; and our Inn
migration commissioner has made a
record in performing this function.
The $4,000 expended by the COM
| mission during four years In advertis-
! ing Minnesota have produced several
hundred thousand inquiries from in
tending settlers, increased the sales
/ OF state, federal and private lands,
brought investors and farm tenants,
| raised farm values, increased business
| and materially aided state develop
1 ment The special Minnesota immi-
grafton car, recently hauled through
the states south of us by the generous
! cooperation of one Of our railway
companies and visited by 1000 farm
ers daily, is an example of the enter
| prise with which the state is now be-
| ing advertised.
At the same time with more ade-
quate, appropriations and cooperation
there is little doubt that much greater
results could be accomplished. For
lack Of such provision intending set
tiers arrive and thereares no. guides
| and cruisers to show them the lands,
no agencies at hand to make the sale,
no schedule of land prices on file,
oftentimes no available roads to the
| lands and, in general no opportunity
to get state lands at all, except to
wait and take chances on compare
lively unknown lands, with a. crowd at
some distant public auction SALE
Department OF .....G
PUBLIC HIGHWAYS.
What veins and arteries are to the
| human body, such are streets and ave-
| nues to the city, and public highways
| to the public domain Without high
ways the public domain Is inaccessible,
| and as far as the public is concerned,
| a wilderness. We have made mod
est beginning in the development of a
state highway system and are moving
slowly in the right direction. Under
the one-quarter of a mill tax, which is
available under the constitutional
amendment, on the condition of the
state. paying one-half the cost OF the
state road, it is possible for this leg.
| islature, on the present state valua-
tion, to provide the state highway sys.
TEN with an annual appropriation OF
100000. This provision will place
| Minnesota in the rank of the eight
leading states in good roads legisla.
| ton.
| Notwithstanding the usual hard.
ships and handicaps under which a
new experiment like the state high.
way system labors, our state highway
commission and it's capable engineer
already make a substantial showing
of practical results. Doubtless there
will be laid before you during this
session bill for a greatly improved
and strengthened state highway act
STATE DEPARTMENT
OF PUBLIC HEALTH.
No question coming before the leg
| islature at this session deserves more
earnest consideration than = that of
public health. We have saved several
millions of dollars annually by guard
ing against plant and animal diseases
and are now beginning to realize how
untold millions, are wasted annually
| through our neglect of preyentable
dnd curab1e human diseases, lack OF
sanitation in cities, homes and
schools, lack of safeguards against
railway, mine and factory accidents,
food adulteration, impure milk and
water supply, all Of which come prop
erly within the scope and jurisdiction
of the department of public health.
The great problem to be solved Is
one of prevention rather than cure and
consists largely in the enforcement of
sanitation laws in our cities, schools
and homes. But this department can
accomplish little when handicapped
by such lack of support as in the past.
The Importance of the department
warrants largersappropriations and l
therefore recommend for your most
department.
One of the most effective depart
ments in the state service today is the
dairy and food department.
FAvoRS A WoRkMEN'S
COMPENSATION ACT.
Minnesota is advancing to the front
as one of the greatest industrial, man
ufacturing and commercial states in
the Union. AS such, it can never at.
tain the greatest degree Of prosperity
unless its labor is efficient and intelli.
gent and receives at the hands of the
state such consideration as will secure
the most adequate protection. rec.
ommend the enactment OF a work.
mems compensation law, believing it
to be for the best interests of both en-
ployes. and employers as we'll az the
state at large,