The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1914-02-13
LAW ENFORCEMENT EMPHASIZED
BY STATE AUDITOR INVERSION, A
CANDIDATE FOR COVERN0RSHIP
Virginia Visitor Yesterday on
Official Business Talks of
Campaign.
Appraisers to Be Appointed to
Fix Value of Tract Condemn
ed for School Farm
State Mines Must Not Be Held
as Reserves; MinneWas to
Be Shipper.

be OnlppeT.
State Auditor Iverson, candidate
for the gubernatorial nomination as
republican on platform the chief
plank of which are economy and etti-
cheney in the administration of the
various departments of state govern
ment, the conservation of Minnesota's
natural resources and law enforcement
which comprehends in its scope the
state liquor laws as we'll as all others,
was a Virginia visitor yesterday, &C
companied by Assistant Attorney
General Clifford L. Hilton of St. Paul.
Mr.. Iverson says his visit to Virginia
at this time is purely business. He is
here in connection with the arrange
ments for the appraising of state
lands recently condemned by the school
district for school farm purposes and
not to talk politics. Mr.. Iverson also
has official business to look after at
Hibbing and other points on the range
before returning to ST.. Paul.
Appraisers to fix the value of the
state lands in the city limits just con-
demned by the school district are ex-
pected to conduct a hearing here next
Saturday to determine the reasonable
value of the tract. The basis of valua-
ton will be the same as any other
lands sold in the same manner, the
worth Of adjoining tracts being taken
into consideration. Mr.. 1verson says
it was never the intention of the
state auditors Office to oppose the
condemnation of the lands near Vir-
ginia because it was a pleasure to do
so, but because the question of the
constitutionality of the law allowing
a school district the right to condemn
state lands was openly questioned.
The courts have passed on this point
and it has been decided and it now
remains only for the officers Of the
state to see that the land is apprais-
ed at a fair value in the condemna-
ton proceedings which have been in
stituted.
Referring to local criticism of his
attitude in opposing the condemna-
ton Of the tract in question for school
purposes and allowing the Mesaba
Railway to purchase part of the tract
Mr.. Iverson said: ''The land sold to
the Mesaba railway company was for
right purposes and in bringing
it's service to your city. I am sure
Virginia business men wanted to see
the electric line come here and in al
lowing them to condemn part of a
state tract for right-of-way purposes
the officers Of the state simply felt
they were assuming the same liberal
attitude that any of your business
people would have assumed under
similar circumstances. 1t should be
born in mind that this land was used
for right-of-way purposes only and
believe better understanding of the
matter will thus be gained"
Will Make Speaking Campaign.
Regarding his gubernatorial candid,
acy Mr.. 1verson said that he conten1.
plated a speaking campaign in his own
behalf but that no definite arrange.
ments had been made for it. He made
it especially clear that enforcement Of
state laws covering the liquor traffic
would be a prominent plank in his
platform. II do not say" said Mr.
Iverson, "that this is my issue. The
people Of the state want it and I Of
any other man who aspires to be {
public servant must give the people
what they want. The liquor interests
have consistently opposed laws af
fecting them in Minnesota and els
where and will always do so. believ'
the people want these laws enforced
in Minnesota"
Regarding the extensive drilling O.
state mining lands now being conduct
ed on the range Mr.. Iverson express
ed the opinion that the mining com
panies were moved by a desire t.
comply with the intent Of a recen
regulation governing state mine lease
the grist of which is that state mine
mustnot be held as reserves. The stat
mines broke all records for shipment
last year and are expected to do eve1
better during the year Of 1914. MI
Iverson said he expected the Mime
was to be one of the big shipper
from the Virginia district during 1911
while the Grant in the Bull distric
will also be worked heavily and tn
activity in all other state propertie
will be fully up to that of last year.