The Tomahawk., 1917-01-11

verified into normal state forest, said
| land would be a capital worth at least
| $200.000,000 yielding an annual net
revenue Of 100000. Before the COM
| mencement of such work it is apparent
that the first step should he a soil sur
vey and a classification of the states
| public land.
! Public Domain COmmission.
! We have, today, no adequate inVen-
| tory of our resources and no depart
ment authorized to do what ought to
| be done to conserve and develop them
| With 100000 acres of land of this
| state remaining undeveloped, with its
enormous iron deposits. with the un-
| limited water powers within it's bor-
ders, with little or no information as
| to its topography, as to what particu-
| lar sections of the state ought to be
developed, as to what kinds of soil are
to be found in the different communi-
ties. as to what drainage canals ought
| to be constructed to be of the greatest
service for the present in connection
with flood relief, in the furnishing of
water power and in the reclamation OF
state lands, and of greatest service for
| the future in connection with water
transportation and all the possibilities
| Of development therein involved, not
only for this state but for the whole
Northwest, it is clear that we need a
public domain commission.
Unnecessary Boards Should Be AbOl-
! ished.
Without going too much into detail
| in connection with a discussion OF the
reorganization of our civil adm inistra-
ton, I wish to say that l am absolutely
in accord with any change that will
tend to eliminate unnecessary positions
and needless boards. By reason of this
fact every appointment that has here
tofore been made by me has been made
| with the understanding that acceptance
Of the position is subject to any change
that you, as Legislators, may make and
/ some appointments have been delayed
in order that legislation, tending to a
reduction in the number of offices,
might be facilitated and opposition to
| changes reduced to the minimum.
Public Health.
The development of the resources of
the state is important, but the preser-
walton Of the health of our citizens is
still more important. Last year we
appropriated only $4,000 to the State
Public Health Department. While we
appear to be willing to expend mil
lions to take care Of the mental and
physical derelcts Of the state, we spend
very little to help eliminate the causes
| of their unfortunate condition. The
modern revelations of scientific medi-
| cine arc indicative of the opportuni-
| ties Of the state for the Improvement
Of the health and the prolongation Of
the lives of the citizens. We. Of this
state. have not yet come to full reali-
alton Of what can be accomplished for
the prevention of disease and the pres
ervation of life for we have neglected
| in a large measure the opportunities
| that have come to us through the med
! ical discoveries of the present time.
The sum contributed by our state to
it's department of health last session
meant an annual expenditure of only
; 3la cents per capita. In spite OF its
= low appropriation, Minnesota holds
7 fourth place in efficiency, but it is i'm
! possible for our health department
with such small amount as is now CIV
en- it to make as rapid progress as it
could do If more funds were made
lie health. If necessary less money
! should be appropriated to other de-
partments in order that more might be
used for the purpose of preventing the
spread Of disease through the enforce
ment of proper health regulations and
|
| education.
Tuberculosis.
The tuberculosis death rate in Mime
sofa in 1915 was 1900. There are, at
the present time, several counties anx-
! ious to build hospitals if half of the
cost were paid by the state as provid-
ed for in the bill passed in 1913, but
the funds for such a purpose have been
exhausted. During the two-year period
! prior to the date when the funds were
| exhausted 80 counties applied for and
! qualified to receive state aid On Sept.
! 1. 1915, the state had facilities for talk
! ing care of Asa patients. During last
year the number was increased to SIS.
! The number that can now be taken
! care of in both public and private insti-
buttons is about Sc per cent of the num-
Der who annually die from this pre-
ventable disease. 1t is said that before
the anti-tuberculosis work of Mime
sofa will have decided effect upon
! the death rate the state must be in a
position to accommodate as many con-
| sumptives as there are annual deaths
! from consumption.
| Commission on Public Health.
Because of the apparent lack of in
terest in the matter of public health
and on account of the failure on the
| part Of the state boards to properly
| cooperate in their work, some weeks
| ago commission was appointed by
/ the Governor TO devise ways ana means
| of procuring harmonious efforts on the
! part of the different boards so that the
! public health work in general and the
| tuberculosis work in particular would
not be hampered and retarded. The
! commission appointed has reported
! certain excellent recommendations of
which the following the the most i'm
, portant:
1. The State Board of Health should
! be recognized and made to consist OF
| five instead of nine members.
g The State Board of Health should
! be granted broad, general powers in
stead of specifying in detail in the law
| the limits of it's duties.
! 8. The Board of Health should be
empowered to appoint a commissioners
! of public health.
4. The present advisory commission
| should be discontinued and it's powers
and duties transferred to a new divi-
| sion of the State Board of Health to be
headed by man especially trained in
! tuberculosis work ..
| 5. All existing state financed activi-
Ia. - l,a - Oh a