The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1915-05-15
Every Forty Of 10000 Acres ofered
is Purchased 500 Claim. Applied
for While Only 275 Available.
BONUS PRICES ARE PAID
Value of bitches Made Evident-All
Land Adjoining Drains Taken BY
Actual Settlers George Praised.

The wisdom of ditch, constructors
in. the swamp lands of Beltrauni
country has again been strikin&ly
demonstrated by the tax judgment
sale. which has been held here during
the past week, not more than half
sufficient land being available to
meet the demands Of eager purchasers.
Not only has the sale made evident
the fact that these ditch lands are
in great demand but it has again IL
Illustrated that the soil so drained is
fertile and of value.
When the sale began last Monday
nearly two hundred prospective pur-
chasers were in attendance. Fifty Of
these were men representing a large
number of clients, the others being
individual buyers. 1t is estimated
that these men needed 500 claims, Of
100 acres each, the limit fixed by law
for any one purchaser. It was
known that many agents we're de-
termined to ecure the most valuable
property, even though they might be
forced to pay heavy bonus prices, be-
ing unwilling to compromise in any
way. ..>s
Not Enough Land for Sale. ~
But the demand was too great for
the amount Of land listed for sale.
1t, was believed that nearly 10000
acres Of delinquent tax Judgment
government land would be disposed
of, but half of this had been taken
by actual settlers, bringing forth the
fact that the bitches had brought at
least 800 new farmers into Beltrami
county during the past year. It
was also discovered hat every tract
adjoining a ditch had been settled up
on, much land being taken adjoining
bitches not yet completed.
275 Claims Available.
Investigation showed that but 276
claims were available. The sale be
gan and because the descriptions read
by, James E:.zgeorge,who had ;charge,,
during the first day concerned only
entered lands but n party, who now
owns $250,000'>. worth. of delin-
quent tax certificates, bid. This man
bid because of the high rate Of in
terest on the cer~tiicates,and the r
tainty of their being redeemed. But
on the second day the bidding became
more spirited and bonus after bonus
was hurled forth.
Quarter Section Brings $500.
One quarter section brought near
ly $500, while n forty vas pur-
chased for $2O5. Several forttes
went for 5000 and others for more
than $3.50. It is believed that IN
average of more than one dollar
was paid, including ditch liens
and bonus, for each acre sold at the
sale, this being in addition to the
1925 an acre paid to the govern
ment.
Purchased Is Claims.
One agent purchased fifteen claims
Friday, expending $500 and pay
ing as high as $2O5 for a forty. He
paid large bonus prices on several
other tracts.
Every Tract is Sold.
Every tract offered at the sale has
been bid in, only a small number of
acres in the Lake of the Woods dis
trict, being left This land is low
but even with this fact existing sew
eral forties were purchased in the
belief that the level of the lake would
be lowered. The lake is high because
of the Kenora dam: -
That the land of Beltrami county
is ideal for agricultural purposes was
shown by the sale and it was freely
stated at the sale that in two years
not a single acre of government land
will remain unsold.
George is Complimented.
1--WE are grateful to Auditor
George" said one buyer. "As last
year he has proven himself to be a.
careful, capable official and by his
square dealings during the sale he
has made many friends. He has been
fair to the state, county, government
~