The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1915-04-14
LEHNERTS TELLS0F
S1A7E'SRFs0URSES
University Extension Div. >ca/ ke
Gives Interesting Story of w. 70,
sota-Praises This Section.
REFERS TO NEW NORMAL SCHOOL
Shows Why State is in Ideal Location
for Development-Its Wealth
Provided by Nature.

AAOVAUVO NY NdCuIc.
Among the natural resources
which play an important part in the
development of any state or nation
Is position, climate, soil, mineral
treasure, forests, waterways and wa
terpoWer. The great state of Min
nesota has all of these and this fact
In itself explains why our state is be-
coming known as one of the leaders
in the country" said Edward NJ
Lehnerts, of the University Extension
division in his lecture at the City hall
last evening.
Mr.. Lehnerts, who is also a for
mer university professor, and orig
inator of the "See Minnesota First"
tours, and the founder and director
Of university tours offered every
summer to points of interest in Amer
lea, illustrated his lecture by charts
and pictures and he held his audi
Gives Praise to Bemidii
He praised Bemidji as one of the
most attractive spots in the state and
stated that the site selected for the
Sixth Normal school is the most beau
iful ever provided for like institu-
ton anywhere. He commented on
the progress which has been made
here during the past few years and
predicted great things for the FUTURE
Minnesota lies in the very heart
OF the continent. This gives it the
advantage of central position" said
Mr.. Lehnerts. 1T lies near the mid
die of the great lowland plain which
extends from the Arctic ocean to the
Gulf of Mexico. This gives it the
advantage of freedom from barriers,
facilitating the construction of roads
and railroads in all directions. It oc-
cupies the crest Of the non-mountain-
GUS part of North America, at the
headwaters of three great river sys-
TENS, the Mississippi, the St. Law
renee and the Hudson Bay. This
gives it the advantage of two of the
worlds most important waterways,
the Mississippi and~the GreatLakes.
All of these advantages combine to
decrease the time and cost of trans
pOrtatiOn and to favor MinnesOta's
commercial and industrial develop
ment.
In Fertile Region.
minnesota lies in a region of fer
tile soils, favorable climate, bOunti-
flll crops, extensive forests and I'M
rivaled iron mines. Inexhaustible
quarries and clay beds furnish unex-
celled building materials. Ten thou
sand lakes and almost countless
streams add to the scenic beauty or
contribute valuable waterfalls and
waterpowers. All of these great
gifts of nature encourage industry
and commerce and form very favor
able foundation for the future growth
and development of the state.
Most Northern State.
Measured by latitude and longi-
tude, Minnesota lies between the par
allels 43 degrees, 80 minutes and 40
degrees, % minutes, 50.2S seconds,
north latitude, and the meridians 80
degrees, "a minutes and 81 degrees,
II minutes west longitude. It should
be noted, however, that the extreme
eastern boundary Of the state, where
it borders Michigan in Lake Superior,
is 80 degrees, minutes west longi-
tude. The extreme northern projec-
ton into the Lake of the Woods was
occasioned by lack of geographical
knowledge on the part of the Amer
lean and British commissioners nego-
tiating the treaties of 1888 and 1918.
This irregularity in the northern
boundary, extending about twenty
seven and half miles beyond the
forty-ninth parallel, gives Minnesota
the distinction Of being the most
northern state in the union.
"The total area of Minnesota is
87,196 square miles. This includes
8O,S5S square miles of land, 1924
square miles of lakes and streams,
and 2,514 square miles of Lake ST.
perior lying within the boundary of
the state.
Tenth in Size.
minnesota ranks tenth in area
thirteenth in land area) among the
states Idaho and Utah are nearly as
large. The combined area of the six
New England states together with
New Jersey and Maryland is some
what less, and the combined area OF
England, Scotland and Wales is some,
what more than that of Minnesota.
''The greatest length of the state
measured from it's most northern
point in Beltrami county in the Lake
of the Woods, southwark to the Iowa
boundary, is 4OS miles. It's greatest
width, measured from St. Vincent tx
Pigeon Point, is 375 miles, while
across it's narrowest portions, as from
Hastings or Saltwater westward tc
the Dakota bOundarv the distance is