The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1913-11-04
IYERSON DENOUNCES
SWAMPLANDLETTER
Says That Complaint Made To
Secretary Lane Means That De-
velopment Will Be Retarded
$4,000 ACRES ARE INVOLVED
Charges Made By Northern Mime
sofa Development Association Of
ficials Failed In Courts In Similar

sofa Development Association Of:
ficials Failed In Courts In Similar
Samuel G.. Iverson, state auditor,
declares that the complaint made to
Franklin K. Lane, secretary of the in
terror, by G.. M. King, president, and
w. r. Mackenzie, secretary = of the
Northern Minnesota Development as
ISOLATION, asking Secretary Lane to
refrain from patenting an addition
al 100000 acres of swamp land to
the state until an investigation be
made, will retard the development Of
the Northern section of the state and
hold up acreage for which people
have clamored fifteen years.
Make Liberal Contributions ,
"For tweleve years the people of
Minnesota have contributed about
100000 year to reclaim the
swamp lands Of the state" said Mr..
Iverson. "They have carried out the
spirit of the grant of 1860, when
Congress gave all swamp lands
within Minnesota to the state on con-
dition that the proceeds be used to
drain and improve these lands
"The action of Mr.. King and Mr..
Mackenzie is strange procedure"
continued Mr.. lverson. sit seems
queer that men of Northern Minneso-
ia should write such letter. They
have disregarded facts and figures
and the purpose of their compliant
is puzzle.
Points Previously Raised.
'"The point raised by Mr.. King and
Mr.. Mackenzie was raised during the
Indian swamp land contests, which
covered a period of ten years, for the
purpose Of defeating our grant. We
won in every court where the ques-.
ton was considered. They did not
take the case to the United States
Supreme Court as it already had de-
cided that very question against
their contention. ...-.-
II don't believe Secretary Lane
will pay any attention to the COM
plant. Minnesota is looked on. as the
pioneer in retaining swamp lands.
Our methods are praised the country
over. 49,:
Association Won't Back Officers
Il do not think that the Northern
Minnesota Development association,
composed of Intelligent men, satisfi-
ed with the conduct Of our swamp
lands, will stand for any action of
this kind.
''Mr. King and Mr.. Mackenzie adj
nit that they are not following ac-
ton Of the association in making the
complaint
"They charge that the state,
through legislative enactment has d.
verified millions of acres and turned
the proceeds into a general school
fund. The people of Minnesota are
proud of the fact.
Trust Funds Are Large
"Trust funds from three forties-
the Scranton iron ore mine near Hib-
bing-will give the state 100000
600, which is more than the States
of Wisconsin and Michigan ever re-
ceived from all the lands Congress
granted them
In their letter sent to Secretary
Lane President King and Secretary
Mackenzie say:
"The entire 100000 acres so far
given in the same undeveloped con-
dltion they were when first patented.
We believe that these lands serve
both as menace to health and the
development of the entire northern
section of our state,
eve hope that your department
will forthwith order an investiga-
tion of this matter, and withhold
from this state any more land until
such Investigation has been made"
'In sending this letter we are not
following action by our association -
said Secretary Mackenzie yesterday,
"but the matter is one that will be
taken up at our annual meeting at
Bemidji in December. We do not
want. the State to lose these lands,
but we do want the state to keep
faith with the Federal government
and reclaim th asa e,1a mn lords -