The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1921-12-29
Civic & Commerce Association
Hears Important Details
of Bessette Bill
COUNTY AUTHORIZED TO
AID THROUGH BOND SALE
Provisions Made for Farmer to
Clear Own Land IF Bid
Is the Lowest n

Senator r. w. Bessette of Orr,
Minn,t at the, noon luncheon OF the
Civic and Commerce association, in
terpreted the most important features
1871 session OF the state Legislature,
of the bill introduced by him at the
and passed by that body relative to
the clearing of land by the commits
sioners Of a county.
He explained his personal expert
ence number of years ago when
he tried to clear up homestead and
make u living for hisI family while
doing so. He found that it became
necessary to leave his homestead
much Of the time in order to obtain
work by means of which he could earn
money to support his family and as
sist in developing his farm. 1t was
with this experience in mind that The
senator determined to get legislation
through which would assist the set
tier in such circumstances.
The most important features of
the bill are those which must be COM
piled with by the person or persons
wishing to avail themselves of the
help provided by the bill to get their
land cleared.
The bill makes it possible for the
county boards Of the various coun-
ties to exercise authority in the mat
ter of the prevention of forest fires
and the Improvement and preparation
of the land for agricultural purposes
by the removal from such land of
stumps, brush, etc, and to let con-
tracts For the clearing of such land,
the cost Of such contracts to be as
sessed against the land benefited ac.
cording to the benefit received and
to sell county bonds for the purpose
Of aiming money to pay for sucl,
work. The interest rate to be charged
on the money expended in improve
ments shall not exceed per cent.
Before any improvement can be
made under the act there must be
filed with the county auditor a petit
ton signed by two or more parties
and shall include the owners Of not
less than 400 acres of land, Of which
not less than 100 acres is to be i'm.
proved under the act. Not less than
acres and not more than 20 acres,
however, may be improved in each
40-acre tract and proportionately less
in smaller subdivisions.
In each case the full details of the
divisions Of land owned shall be given
in the petition, also the nature OF the
land to be cleared and whether the
land is held under contract or owned
outright.
After the fling of the petition with
%kr& of CHI
notify the board Of county commits
sioners and that body shall within
80 days appoint civil engineer to
examine the land described in the
petition and who shall make the nee
cssary surveys to enable him to OBJ
tain and file with the county auditor
u plat Of the land proposed to be inn
proved. This report shall be made by
the engineer SO appointed within 80
days after his appointment. ~ g.,
At the time Of the appointment
Of the engineer, the county board
shall also name three appraisers, res
idents of Minnesota, but not inter-
ested in the property under consider
alton, who shall be supplied with a
copy Of the engineers report and shall
personally visit the land and make a
report on the nature of the soil, tho
amount Of land cleared on the tract,
the amount to he cleared, and other
such information as shall be required
by the board of county commissioners.
The report Of the appraisers shall be
filed with the county auditor, and
within 10 days from the fling thereof
the county auditor: shall call for a
final hearing for the petition and the,
engineers and appraisers reports and
shall call q special meeting of thu
board by giving the required notice
for such meetings. e.,
& All parties interested in the hear.
ing shall be notified to appear at tho
time set for the hearing and if tho
finding Of the board Of commissioners
Continued on Page 81