The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1919-01-17
STATE SENATE
LEADERS Plan
OPMENT
OF IDLE ACRES /
Senator Nord Of Beltrami and
Koochiching Prime Mover
In Program
SENATOR M'GARRY ALSO
LENDING HIS SUPPORT
Committee Appointments Are
IN Hands Of Friends Of 1
Huge Task
SENATOR M'GARRY ALSO
LENDING HIS SUPPORT


Using methods the same as II II II
were an individual or corporation
engaged in that occupation, the state
of Minnesota, it is predicted, is going
into the real estate business on q DIG
scale. -gsgt. .a-g III, 4 q y
This announcement was made ny.
members OF the, senate h1ghWays'
drainage and state development com
mitteas. committees appointed with
interlocking memberships and all
formed with the one Object--to de-
yeloping and selling not only state
land Init the millions of acres OF iand
in the northern part Of the state
which are still unsettled.
While more or less nebulous plans
have been advanced ever since the
1917 session for legislation looking
to the development Of Northern M1ns
= esf,ta it was not until after member
ahips in the various senate. commit
tees were announced that leaders IN
the movement to put Minnesota IN
the real estate business were aDle 20
announce definitely their plans.
These leaders are Senators Leonar1
Nord Of international Falls, senator
from Koochiching and Beltraml mi
corn ties. chairman Of the state de-
yelopment committee, and Senator
patrick McGarry Of Walker, chair
man Of the highways committee.
10000. 600 Acres to Improve.
The object Of these plans will be
the settlement Of the 10,OO0,0OO
acres Of land in Northern Minnesota,
now unoccupied, but exceptionally
fertile and we'll adapted to agricul-
ture once it is improved:
Senators Nord and McGarry plan
the Introduction OF three major plls'
The first will provide for an adequate
system of drainage, details for Whlch
viii be worked out at conference
of drainage experts throughout the
state called; for, January 23 IN the
old capitol building The second VIII
provide for the adoption, with per
.haps q few minor alterations OF the
state trunk highways system outlined
by C, M Babcock. state commission
er of highways. The third will seek
tn empower the state itself to loan
money to settlers for the improve
ment of their land, taking as secu-
rity a second mortgage on the lana
to allow a first mortgage to be given
to the Federal reserve bank for
first cash advance. .:.-.. ..,a ,,,~ ,er
Good Business Move. Nord SAYS.
For the passage of these bills in
the legislature, Senators Nord and
McGarry are relying first upon the
sound business judgement OF the
members; secondly, on the desire Oh
all members of the legislature to pro-
vide farms for returned soldiers VINO
wish them. ss,a II.
.'This land development program is
one Of the biggest business deals ever
undertaken by any state, declared
Senator Nord, in explanation OF the
program, "but to my mind 1t Is a
hood business move; in fact, the only
wise business step for the state 10
take under the circumstances.
There. are 100000 acres OF
land in Northern Minnesota unoc-
cupied. .-aOf this the state owns ap-
proximately 100000 acres. 1t is as
An individual, owned this land, much
of it lying waste without even pro-
ducing the income Of taxes, l would,
as a sane business proposition, I'M
prove 1t at my own expense so that
it would attract buyers. 1T would
be the only thing to do. .. s
r The First Stems.
"The first thing to do is to drain
that part of the vacant land which
is swampy. Details of a comprehen-
sive drainage bill, l think, will be
worked out at the conference of
drainage experts next week.
"The next thing is to provide an
adequate system of highways so that
markets will be accessible to settlers
in that part of the state. The Bab-
cock plan, l think, with perhaps
few minor notifications, which can
be ironed out in committee, will ful-
fill that need.
In Hands of Friends.
Study of the three senate commit
tees on highways. development and
drainage committees shows the inter-
locking memberships that assure,
friends of the development. program
say, Of its approval by the commit
tees.
Senator .Nord is on all three COM
mi1tees,. Senator McGarry is on the
highways and development commit
tees, Senator John II. Baldwin of