The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1926-12-29
AUDITOR STATES
OLD LAND GRANT
FINALLY SETTLED

Continued from first page)
nesota's title to 56,394 acres remain
ing unpatented on the Swamp Land
Grant. There were 57,10O acres in
volved in the States claim, but the
Supreme Court held for the Govern
ment as to FOG acres in the Leech
Lake, Winnibigoshish and Cass Lake
Reservations, and settlement there
fore was promptly made by the State.
Most of the land in the grant of
1860 had been patented to the State
many years ago, but in 1913 the De-
partment of the Interior notified Gov
ernor A. o. Eberhart that decision
had been made Ito suspend the issu-
ance of further patents under the
Swamp Land Grant to the State OF
Minnesota"
The States real right to get posses
sion of the suspended" lands to
which it claimed began when j. A. o.
Preus, then State Auditor, Mr.. Chase
as deputy auditor, Attorney General
Hilton and Arthur Christopherson, his
assistant, presented the matter for
mally to the Department of the In
terror at a hearing in Washington
Later the department brought action
against the State of. Minnesota, with
the result above noted, an almost
complete victory for the State.
Although patent has been received
to only 800 of the $4,000 acres involv-
ed, Secretary Work wrote Mr.. Chase
on December II, that second clear
list" is in course of preparation for
submission for approval and that 9TH
er "clear lists" would follow "as ex-
peditiously as the necessary work can
be performed"
No action by the Federal Govern
ment followed the Supreme Courts
decision of last March, Mr.. Chase
wrote Secretary Work personally on
August 10th, calling his attention to
the Courts decision and continuing
as follows: "The issues involved hav-
ing been adjudicated, the terms OF the
grant having been complied with and
the Governor of Minnesota having
made formal request for the issuance
of patent, as Land Commissioner OF
Minnesota l respectfully urge that
you direct that patent forthwith be
executed to the State of Minnesota
confirmed it's title to the balance OF
the swamp lands conveyed by the
grant of March IL, 1860"
This insistent request brought re-
suits and Minnesota will soon have
title to lands that should have been
patented to it 60 years ago, and which
are now conservatively estimated as
worth $3.50 per acre or total OF
1856, 10000, exclusive Of standing tim
Der and minerals.
Much of this land is now suitable
for agriculture, Mr.. Chase says, al
though it was properly designated as
Swamp" land when selected.
/ When these lands or timber OIL
them are sold, or iron ore leases made
the proceeds will be added to the per
manent swamp land fund, which total
led s1O,331 $685. on June 30, last
the income from which is annually
used for the benefit of the schools
and the wards of the State. Half Of
this annual income goes to school ap'
portionment, the other half to th'
state educational, charitable and pen,
al institutions in proportion to theil
cost of maintenance.
In the last fiscal year this income
amounted to the snug sum of S4O2,
1926. In other words, the public
schools last year received more thai
5000 900 from this fund, while a sim
liar amount was pro-rated among the
various institutions. The State Uni
versity received the largest amount
S94,936, while other institutions re
ceived varying amounts up to more