The Dickinson press., 1917-09-08
|RETIRES FROM STATE
LAND DEPARTMENT

Major Frank S. Henry, who for the
past four years has served as North
Dakota land commissioner, retired
from office this week and his success
sor, VIM. J. Prater, former treasurer
by Governor Frazier.
Major Henry retires from the land
commissionship to devote his full at
tention to the military duties which
devolve upon him as commander of
the First battalion and ranking major
Of the First regiment. The major en-
listed in the old North Dakota guard
when he was 16 years old, and he has
been in the service constantly for the
last 20syears. He served with the
NorthRF Dakota volunteers in the
Spanish-American and PHILIPPINE wars
in 1898 and 1899, during which time
he was on duty continually and did
not miss a single day, participating
in every engagement in which his
regiment fought.
He commanded the first battalion on
the Mexican border in 1916-1917, and
in the record of battalion tests in
which every battalion in the Browns
vile district participated, the first
battalion of the First North Dakota
received a higher mark than any
other. Recently Major Henry attend
ed a two-months' school of musketry
at Fort Sill, Okla, in which a four
months course was given, including
machine gun work, and he graduated
August 1, making him the best in
formed officer in the North Dakota
service in all points Of modern war
fare.
In June, 1917, Governor Frazier
rendered the adjutant g%eneralship to
Major Henry, who declined, prefer
ring to remain in the more active
branch of the service. Should Col.
John H. Fraine win the brigadier gen.
eralship, which friends at Washing
ton are now seeking for him, Major
Henry would be in line for the lieu
tenant-colonelcy.
During Major Henry's administra-
ton 112,255.60 acres of land were
sold by public auction at prices rang
ing from $40 to sos an acre. Most Of
this land was purchased by farmers.
Over 1000 patents have been issued,
representing over 275,000 acres, and
there are approximately $500 live"
contracts at the present time.
Receipts during the last four years
show that collections amounted to
more than $11, 0OO ,OO0. January /,
1917, there was in the permanent
funds whose earnings r dedicated
forever to the use of educational in
situations and public schools in North
Dakota the sum of $24,593, 902.9
This includes amounts invested in
state, county, municipal and school
bonds, farm loans, cash on hand in
state treasurer's office and outstand-
ing land contracts, which under the
present constitution may never be de-
creased, whose principal may never be
touched.
There still remain unsold and be-
longing to the state Of North Da-
kota 1,642,674.54 acres classed as
school and institutional land, nearly
all of which is leased for hay and
grazing purposes, and this rental in
~creases materially each year. During
the last four years the collections OF
interest and income have amounted tt
over $5,300,000, which is apportioneo
among the common school and insti-
tutions of the state. 1t is of interest
to note that the last report of the
state superintendent of public instruc:
ton advises that at the last biennia
period there was made the largest ap'
portionment in the history of thu
state, which materially assists in cur
failing the school taxation, in spite o.
the fact that the number of pupils II
the public school districts had greatly
increased.