The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1913-12-10
THE N. M. D. A. OFFERS THE
.. STATE A GREAT BUSINESS
:- OPPORTUNITY.

The state of Minnesota owns two
and half million acres of land, most
of it tillable and highly fertile. In
short time, when the lands yet IN
patented to it by the Federal gov
eminent are conveyed, it will own
three million acres.
Though fertile, and though eager
market awaits it's products, much of
this land is unavailable for one or
more of three reasons:
Because it is submerged, and needs
to be drained.
Because it is covered with stumps
or brush, and needs to be cleared.
Because it is inaccessible and
needs to have roads built so settlers
can reach their lands and get their
products to market
Every step of the reclamation work
needed to bring this state land into
use will add twice the cost to it's
value. &-
= The Northern Minnesota Develop
nent association, by suggesting to
the state a broad businesslike policy
of reclamation and development, Of
fers it chance to engage in a highly
profitable business enterprise, with
profits threefold, as follows:
First, the direct profit from the in
creased value of the land; "
Second, the indirect profits from
getting idle land on the tax rolls to
share the expenses of government,
and ...l: .x r.. ~ Z.
Third, the enormous profit of bring
ing these three million acres of fer
tile lands into such condition that
they will add to the volume of new
wealth produced from the soil every
year. -
To this end the state should adopt
a 'broad-gauged policy of reclamation
by creating state revolving fund to
be used in draining, clearing and
rcad-building. The half-million acres
yet unpatented can be made the basis
of this revolving fund; though it
would pay the state enormously to
set aside out Of the permanent state
funds an ample sum to constitute
such revolving fund, the cost of
reclamation to be recovered into this
fund and the profits of reclamation
together with the original value of
the land, to go back into the perma-
nent funds. :.-. +.l%... ~
The state must 10 this. Northern
Minnesota cannot do it, It needs
the help of the state, and to get that
help it must convince the state at
large that the adoption of a new pub
lie land policy is good and profitable
business from every angle.
Northern Minnesota, finding itself
handicapped and stifled by these idle
state acres, sees the issue from the
angle of settlement. 1t wants these
lands put into use so that the embar-
go of state neglect may be lifted from
its growth and development With
Northern Minnesota it is a case of
dire need.
Southern, Western and Central
Minnesota must be convinced from
another angle.
They must be shown that the
adoption of a policy that will develop
and settle Northern Minnesota will
work out profitably to the state as an
organized corporation, to the state
as harmonious collection Of enter
prising people, and to every man, W.
man and child in the state.
That it will work out this Way
there can be no doubt. It is not al
!. Northern Minnesota project, but a
Minnesota project, from which every
section of the state will benefit.
The work before the Northern
Minnesota Development association
is to convince the state that these
things are true, and to interest all
sections Of the state in pushing and
carrying on a board and progressive
policy of development that will break
the shackles of Northern Minnesota
and give the whole state a new
growth and new sources OF productive
wealth. .# 35
The association is wise, therefore,