The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1915-05-05
ACTIVE CAMPAIGN
TO Be INSTITUTED
Friends Of Revolving Fund Amend.
ment Plan Work in It's Behalf-To
Start Ball Rolling at. Coleraine.
VOTED ON AT NEXT ELECTION
Would Call for $3.50, 900 to Be Used in
Improving Unsold State Land-De-
velopment Association to Help.

1t seems likely that the opening
gun in the campaign which will be
conducted in behalf Of the passage
of the proposed constitutional amend
ment authorizing, the legislature to
set apart from the state school land
funds the sum o. $250,00O to be used
as revolving fund for the improve
ment of unsold state lands, will be
fired at Bemidji when the winter con-
vention of the Northern Minnesota
Development association will be held
next December.
Although The the amendment will not
be submitted to the. tote Of the peo-
pie until the general election in No.
vember of next year, its friends are
anxious that an active campaign in
it's behalf be instituted.
Coleraine is Mentioned.
There is also the probability that
the campaign may be started next
month at the summer meeting of the
association which is to be held in
Coleraine Boosters for the project,
however, feel that it is advisable to
postpone the launching of the cam
paign until the winter convention.
Some of the hackers of the project
believe that better results would be
obtained if the campaign for the
proposed amendment is not started
too early.
Fund for improvements.
The 1915 legislature passed law,
which submits to a popular vote a
proposed amendment to the cOnsti-
tuition by which the legislature is au-
thorized to set apart from the funds
derived from the sale of school and
swamp lands revolving fund of not
more than $250,000 to be used in
constructing bitches, roads and fire
breaks through and around unsold
lands and for partially clearing the
same. The amendment provides that
such fund shall be replenished from
the enhanced value from the sale
of lands so benefited. 49, - 49, IL.
The idea of the promoters of the
reclamation project is to have the
state improve and partially clear
state lands for the prospective set
tier, the cost of the improvement to
be added to the price of the land
when sold. The cost of the improve
ment would then be deducted and
turned back into the revolving fund
to be used again in the same work.
Those who are behind the project be-
lieve that such a law on the statute
books would be of immense benefit to
the incoming settlers and effectually
serve to develop the country.
Amendment at Next Election.
Senators P. H. McGarry of Walker
and L. H. Nord Of International Falls
and Representatives Paul Marschalk
of Warroad and L.. H. Miner of In
ternational Falls performed valiant
service in the legislature in securing
the passage of the bill authorizing
that the constitutional amendment be
proposed at the next general election.
It is probable that when the North
ern Minnesota Development associa-
ton does take the matter up, a sys-
tematic campaign in the interests OF
the proposed amendment will he
started. A fund for this purpose will
probably be raised. The association
fund, which is derived from public
funds, is not available for use in a.
campaign to further such project,
and it will be necessary for a sep
arate campaign fund.