Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-10-08
SCHOOL, UNOGR0W|NG
State COMMISSIONER Report Ia,
dicates Vast Increase in
Business Done
PRICE PER ACRE SHOWS
IMPROVEMENT IN VALUE
Average During Past Two Years
Above $20-Farmers Do Most
of the Buying ~.

Above $20-Farmsrs Do Mort
Of the Buying ~,
North Dakota's state land business
during the last two years has approx.
mated $6.0o0,000,00O; nearly 1.e41..
900 acres of state lands are still I'm.
sold, and nearly all Of this land 10
bringing in revenue from $4,000 leas.
es for hay and grazing purposes.
This rental is increasing each year.
and the land already disposed Of II
bringing in an immense income
through various funds, writes tho
state land commissioner in transmit.
ting his twelfth biennial report to
Governor Hanna.
v. s. Causes Delay
The approval of certain state selec.
tions by the federal government has
been long delayed lists from i've to
nine years old are being carried,
which the state has been unable to
get cleared and approved by the GOV.
eminent. A number Of the selections
made within the last three years,
however, have already been approved.
Agricultural college and university
land grants have been completely
filed by selections during the last two
years.
$2o.2s Per Acre Average
During the last two years 94,63S.7l
acres of state lands have been sold
at SO to So the acre, an average u
$20.29 the acre, bringing q total of>l..
9l7,78S.15. Practically all Of the cult,
waited lands in the eastern counties
has been sold, and the sales durins
the last period were OF small acreage
and not the best quality. The great.
er amount Of purchases has bspn
made by farmers anxious to increase
their holdings. There has been some
competition from spectators, bu: II.
has tended principally only to In
crease the prices. ,' /a5 !:
During the present and preceding
periods 1900 patents have been 10
sued by the department, which, With
cancelled contracts, leave aoproxt
OSOVU l1VO SOAtI 0NkO a. S1DASS
time. Since the last report 956 state
patents covering $125;00O acres OF
land representing purchase price
u s1,735 900 have been issued to own.
ers who have paid in full at tho end
Of five years or whose twenty.year
contracts have expired. A large
number Of applications have been
made under the provision adopted al
the last session Of legislature for
lands desired for school houses. pub.
lie highways. parks and other special
purposes, and IS deeds have baen "
sued In such transactions. Tho cum.
missioner calls attention to the pract.
ice OF opening highways through or
establishing school houses on state
lands first obtaining permission from
the department.
Investments Made
Since the commissioner last ~.
port, $1,325,e40 has been invested IN
bonds, and $1,957,150 in farm mort
cages, total Of $3.2S2.790. The
amount of permanent funds invested
July l, 1916, was $7,sss,391 IN, bonds
within the state, and $4,391.il0 In
farm loans, = total Of $l:.2SS,101
The farm loans made during the last
two years-$1, 957 ,15O-exceeted those
Of any other period In the history OF
the state. COLLECTIONS from I'LL sollrc.
es during the two years aggregated
$3.50, 725. a half-million dollars more
than was collected during tho preced-
ing biennial period. Interest on farm
loans during the two years has total.
ed @272,S37; on bonds, $62s.4S8. and
ON school contracts, $1,57?,s50. Rent.
ais aggregated $30S,23S. There was
apportioned among the common
schools and institutions Of tho state
$2,7SO,515, an increase Of approx
mately 100000 over the preceding
two years. The amount apporuono4
among public school districts wss
$2,O69,336, as compared with $l,7e4.
us for the preceding period, IN IN
crease Of 1884, $50, and the largest ep'
portionment in the history Of The
state. The apportionment per pupQ
was increased from $5.44 to $5.97. u
spite of the fact that tho number OF
pupils had increased from 1855 70
1856, 494, a gain of 9,71S. Tho Depart
ment collected in fees $2S,5S0. which
was paid over to the state Treasures.
The commissioner recommends the
reduction Of the interest rate q
school lands from six per cent to I've
per cent, giving the purchaser the
benefit of the same rate charged %
70 nm rnorfva1os nv fhA atAfA