The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1917-01-05
BURNQUIST'S
ADDRESS TO
LEGISLATURE

the Legislature OF 1911, urged the
members to devote this session to the
analysis of the present civil admin
istration and to the simplification Of
existing laws. He directed their at
tention to those propositions which
are considered to be of the greatest
importance at the present time rather
than to the enactment of multitude
nous new laws.
Governor Burnquist's message fol-
lows:
Gentlemen of the Senate and House of
Representatives:
Knowing most of you as we'll as do,
by reason of our past association, IT is
with especial pleasure that L greet the
members OF the Fortieth Legislature.
When serving in this body, L learned
to appreciate the freedom with which
we. as legislators. consulted one anoth-
er upon matters of legislation and L
trust that, during the session which
is new opening, we may at all times
feel at liberty to confer with each other
HgCn the business that we are here to
Transact. Believing that such business
can he transacted most profitably by
deYoting this session to the analysis
az oar present civil administration, to
the simplification of cur existing laws
and to the centraliZing of the efforts
OF the Legislature upon those measures
which you think most important. L de-
sire. through this inaugural message,
not to advocate the enactment of null
titudinouS new statutes, but to submit
for your consideration only such prop
ositions as are deemed to be of the
greatest Importance at the present
time.
Typographical Survey.
1909 the Legislature enacted a law
through which it was intended to make
possible "a Typographical survey of the
several watersheds of the state for the
purpose of securing data from which
competent plans for uniform system
of drainage might be prepared" but
succeeding Legislatures have not ap-
propriated sufficient money to carry
out the provisions Of this act Only
about per cent of the state has been
covered Our neighboring states are,
In this matter. far ahead of US. North
Dakota has covered II per cent of her
territory: Iowa, 81 per cent; Wiscon-
sin. Il per cent and South Dakota "a
per cent. If this work is to be done
appropriations of a sufficient amount to
do il will be necessary. If the state
does its share it will be possible to Sc
cure the cooperation of the federal
government through appropriations
that have been provided by it for this
particular purpose.
State Drainage.
Such n survey is necessary because
OF our unsatisfactory drainage situa-
tiou. We have appropriated enormous
amounts of money for the construction
of drainage bitches, many of which
have failed absolutely in the purpose
for which they were intended. Through
the methods we have heretofore pur-
sued, some lands have been benefited.
bit the lands below those drained have,
4 ,,L, n lnI
We have, today, on our hands an ac-
tion instituted by the state of North
Dakota. and one by the state of South
Dakota, in which each of said states
claims alleged damages to it's physical
properties. by reason of the acts of
Minnesota in the handling of drainage
projects in n sum exceeding $1,000, 900
and asks for the issuance of a perma-
pent injunction against our state to
prevent further damages and to re-
store the water course involved to its
natural condition in addition to the
other relief that is prayed for in their
bills of complaint.
County and Judicial bitches.
Much harm has also been done in
the construction of county and judicial
bitches in that the outlets have often
proved Inadequate to take care of the
water drained into them 1t is esti-
mated that to date there has been ex-
Denueu lOE county anu Juu1Cldl drains
in this state the sum of $30,000,000. In
thirteen southern counties there are
now under constr ton sixty bitches
at cost OF more than $2,500,000. With
I'm the next ten years 1T is believed that
at least S10,000,000 more will be spent
In these same counties. Such expendi-
ture in the locality referred to is but
illustrative of what is being expended
for a like purpose in other portions of
the state. In connection with the eX-
listing system under which said drain |
age work is being done there is con-
siderable cause for criticism and as a
result thereof we hear many COM
plants against our present methods of
petitioning for the establishment of
bitches, of appraising the benefits and |
costs, and of releasing the bondsmen
before the expiration of sufficient time |
Tor the proper testing of the drains.
Need of Central Authority.
Our state DRAMA sc commission, rs |
now constituted, does not have suffi- |
cient authority and is composed of state |
officials, who are so busy with matters !
pertaining to their own offices, that it |
is impossible for them to give to these |
matters, which require expert knowl- |
edge, the time that they demand. When !
the vast expenditure of money needed |
for drainage purposes and the made |
quacy of our present system are taken |
into consideration, it would appear adj !
visable to abolish the said commits ion |
and substitute therefor some qualified |
state authority to pass upon the con- |
struction of all drainage bitches and |
whose duty it would be to make a sys-
tematic and statewide study of the |
situation and thereby lay the founda- !
ton for the proper cooperation of the !
different portions of the state. This |
central authority should devote all of |
its time to the duties of the Office gath
81. 81 Il
to enable it to pass intelligently upon |
the advisability of instituting drainage |
proceedings and to have submitted to !
IT for its approval, the plans for either |
local or state projects before the con- |
struction thereof is commenced.
Soil Survey.
Only six counties and part of another |
have been given a soil survey in this !
state. The federal government has |
been doing all of the work of this ma |
ture that has been done in Minnesota !
up to this date. If the two govern
ments co-operated in making the sur |
vey much more coud be accomplished. /
We need to determine for what crops |
Mnnesota's soil can best be used. Be- |
fore we go to the expense of draining i
hundreds of thousands of acres of state |
property we should know whether the |
peet lands constituting a large portion |
thereof are adapted to agriculture. or |
to other useful purpose and thereby |
see to il that no money shall be eX- |
pended for the drainage of said lands |
unless such drainage should be found |
profitable.
Forestry.
We also need to know what lands |
should be set aside for forestry pur-
poses under the constitutional amend
ment, adopted in 1914.
At the present time the scarcity of
paper and the great demand for pulp |
wood are an example of the unlimited
possibilities in connection with the for
estry activities of the state. 1t is
claimed by the state forestry board
that if the land in Minnesota, that is
nronerlY adapted to forestry. was con-