The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1913-06-04
Such is Amount Estimated to Have
Been Added to Resources of Bel
trami County by Recent Sale.
ABOUT 10000 ACRES DISPOSED OF
Consisted Of All Unentered Claims Be-
longing to Government-Delin-
quent Entered Lands Purchased.
LOCATED ON bitches 5. II & IL
Probable That Land on bitches 6, Z,
and Is Will Be Sold in the Same
Manner Next Year in May.

Few people have given much
thought to, or realized what change
has been given the status of the
ditch problems of this county, by the
recent Delinquent Tax Sale held on
May ~, at the county auditors Of
flee. -~.s
At times when the judges of the
district have been petitioned to estab-
lish judicial bitches, prominent citi-
zens, and Commercial clubs of this
city and county have protested, US
ing the argument that the lands were
worthless in a great degree, and that
the expense entailed would have to be
borne to great extent by the county.
For time it did appear as though
it might be years before sufficient in
come could be derived from the lands
themselves to even pay the interest,
as tn 1911 interest levied against the
lands bcame to great extent, delin-
quent.
However, these delinquent interest
charges, were placed in judgment, in
the same manner as other taxes, and
the lands were sold at the May sale
according to the provisions of the
Volsted Act of May 20, 1908, which
allows persons having a homestead
right, to purchase a certificate for
$50 acres for the taxes and costs. This
certificate is presented at the land Of
flee of the district in which the land
is located, within ninety days, and
the purchaser can file on the land and
obtain a patent without residence or
improvement, by paying the govern
ment price and fees, and assuming the
ditch lien.
At the recent sale, nearly $4,000
acres were disposed of in this way,
taking in fact, every unentered claim
ocered.
These lands will be filed on at
once, and next year will be placed on
the tax lists, guaranteeing the pay
ment of the interest, as we'll as add
ing probably $4,000 to the valua-
tion Of the county.
The entered lands which are delin-
Quent, are also being sold or assigned
by the State, but in this caes the
procedure is somewhat different, as
the original entryman is entitled to
redeem his lands, and has three years
in which to do so, by paying the pur-
chaser the amount paid by him, with
interest and costs to date of redemp-
ton. There are many claims however,
in this swamp country, which have
been filed on by homesteaders, who
have quit the country, because of
their inability to get to, or cultivate
their lands The drainage bitches
will eliminate their difficulty, and
render the lands fit for residence and
cultivation. And should the original
settlers fail to make good on their
filings, the land is open for contest
to any purchaser of the delinquent
taxes Cor interest). And immediate
possession can then be obtained
Should the original entryman make
good, however, the purchaser will
lose nothing, but will get his money
returned with interest.
The lands sold this year are located
on Ditch 5, which is north and east
of Red Lake, and bitches II and II
which are in the western part of the
county.
Government lands on bitches 6,
and 10 in the northern part of the
county, will be sold in the same way
if delinquent, next year.
If it were possible to advertise
these tax sales to the extent that
reservation land sales are advertised
by the government, much more could
be realized by the government, than
the price which the land is held fol
at the present time. This was dem
onstrated by the fact that bonus
was paid for several tracts at this
sale, this bonus being paid to the gov
eminent.
3 g