The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1915-06-11
Our Slogan:
"Bemidji $4,000
Population
in 1925"
Preus for North Country.

ditor, and at the opening of the ode
velopment conference" of the North
ern Minnesota Development associa-
ton held at Coleraine he pledged his
undivided support to the cause of
this section and predicted closer COM
petition regarding immigration from
Europe after the war.
The auditor recalled that Northern
Minnesota asks but two things from
the acknowledgement and immigra-
ton. With emphasis he reminded
those in attendance at the booster
conference that proper methods of
development must be adopted by the
counties of this section and also by
the state before immigration can be
of such value as to yield lasting
benefits.
"Of the 51,749,120 acres in the
state of Minnesota, only 27,675,82
are under the plow, according to the
report of the state immigration COM
missioner" said Mr.. Preus. 1T
must be clear to any one that lands
sold, that have been thus improved,
would go into the hands Of active
settlers and not into the hands of
SPECTATORS Again, the returns
from the productions of thousands
upon thousands of acres Of land will
mean millions of dollars in the out
put of the people of the state of Min
nesota.
with the end of the war we may
look for the end of great immigration
from Europe. The countries there
will need their own men and prob
ably will prevent them, as nearly as
possible, from emigrating. Mime
sofa will be more in competition with
the balance of North America than
heretofore. The state lands of Min
nesota should be sold and the pro-
ceeds therefrom turned into our
school fund, which, in turn, will re-
duce the taxes of the people Of the
entire state.
'It should be the object of the state
to sell it's lands to actual settlers.
You people in Northern Minnesota
are entitled to this consideration
from the state. But in order to get
people to purchase these lands who
are actual settlers-good roads,
drainage and assistance in prepar-
ing some of the land for cultivation
must also be provided for. Indeed,
these have been so slow in coming
and the taxes have been so high that
a great many of the people of this
section of the state have themselves
been clamoring for the sale of our
school and swamp lands at the earli-
est possible time, regardless Of wheth-
re they go to settlers or not in order
that the taxes on these lands may
be paid to the county and thus help
defray the public expenses Of the
community. For this reason it is
imperative that roads, schools, drain
age and assistance in clearing cut
over lands be afforded at the earliest
possible time. The state lands should
not pass into the hands of specula-
tors lest added burdens if the way
of purchaes price be heaped upon
those who actually desire to settle
in this state.'' =
Mr.. Preus discussed the work done
by the reclamation board and gave
figures showing how very expensive,
under present methods, it is to clear
Northern Minnesota lands. He also
dwelt on the construction of county
and judicial bitches, and discussed
the revolving fund amendment which
provides substantially for state aid
for prospective settlers. Mime
sota," he said, "does not want mere
ly drainage and good roads, which
must. bring taxes, but she wants 1t
made possible for settlers to make a
living on the lands which they come
to occupy. 4. 4. 49,
GAS commissioner Of lands under
the Constitution Of this state, !
z y ~