Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1927-05-26
FUNDS PROVIDED
FOR SCHOOLS
Wisdom of Early Pioneers In
sures Lasting Trust
Fund.
BY RAY p. CHASE

St SnASE
State Auditor and Land Commissioners
Minnesota is forward looking
state.
Only sixty-nine years old, compare.
lively thinly populated, with a vast
unoccupied area, we are thinking in
terms OF future generation, of SUBJ
stantial growth and sound develop
ment. We are committed irrevocably
to the policy of good schools and are
glad that this is so. We are com.
mltted definitely to the policy of good
roads, that transportation may be
easier, markets brought nearer the
farms and farms nearer the markets,
that all points of the great inland en-
pire known as Minnesota, may be
within easy reach of all other Sec
tions.
State Is Blessed
Minnesota was blessed by the Crea.
tor with wonderful natural adyan-
tages: delightful climate, ADEQUATE
rainfall, fertile and productive soil.
rare scenic beauties, wonderful natural
resources in land, timber, minerals.
water power and navigable rivers end
lakes. On this enduring foundation
the economic structure of the state is
being built. The fathers who early
shaped its destiny visioned a COM
monWealth that would lead the sister
mood, state with all resources devel-
oped, all agricultural land under cul-
tlVat1on, potential wealth carefully
husbanded and preserved, and popu-
lated with a virile, progressive people,
SUCH people as the character of our
early Immigrants suggested.
With definite ideal in mind, they
planned for coming generations. They
were men OF unusual mental ability
anu sincerity of purpose. They
thought and planned constructively
Tor unborn generations who would fol-
low them. Their policies proved sound
and on them is growing now the eco.
nomic and political life of the state.
One-third of Minnesota's area was
given us by Congress at various times
IN some form of federal land grant.
Since it's first gift in 1S41, Congress has
donated to Minnesota, first as terri.
tory, and then as state, at different
times and for various purposes, an
area more than twice the total acre.
age OF Massachusetts, Rhode Island
and Connecticut combined
Land Grants Are LARGE
Inc Congress of the United States
mas always regarded the public do
main as public property, to be adj
ministered for the benefit of all. On
This basis its land grants to various
states were made. Minnesota re-
ceived approximately 100000 acres for
Internal improvements, 6,4OO acres for
public buildings and nearly $4,000
acres under the salt springs grant.
In railroad grants we received from
the federal government Sb million
acres, an area larger than the State
OF Maryland. The state, as a unit of
government, received nothing through
these lands. They were granted to
the state for the railroads and con.
Veyed by the state to the railroads.
OF other specific grants made to
Minnesota, by far the most important
were the school and swamp land
grants.
Minnesota was the first of the double
land grant states. Prior to our adj
mission to the Union, each new state
received as school lands, Section Is
IN each township. Minnesota and sue
ceeding states received Sections Is
and sc. From our state school land
grant we have received an area one
half the size of New Hampshire. The
swamp land grant OF 1850 conveyed to
us territory nearly as large as New
Jersey. These two land grants were
the foundation of the trust funds of
Minnesota, funds which do now, and
probably always will, exceed those of
any other state, with the possible ex-
ception of Texas.
1t was determined during the first
year of Minnesota's statehood that
the proceeds of the sale of public
pie was recognized and conference
committees were appointed, with the
result that the same constitution, in
the main that framed by the Demo-
Gratis, was adopted by each.
The Constitution of Minnesota pro-
vides that the proceeds of lands
granted by the United States to the
main a perpetual school fund to the
state; that the prin cipal of all funds
derived from the sales of swamp lands
shall forever be preserved inviolate
and undiminished These Constitu-
tional provisions, guaranteeing the
perpetuity of Minnesotas trust funds,
largely for the purpose of education,
are part of the basic Constitutional
law of this commonwealth.
Fathers Plan Wisely
How wisely our fathers planned and
how we'll they thought out their prob
lem is evidenced by the fact that at
the close of the last fiscal year the
permanent school fund of Minnesota
was $44,743,793.32, the permanent
University fund was $3,345. 1882, the
internal improvement land fund was
S376,901.40 and the swamp land fund
was S10,331, 1855, giving a total of
nearly $59,00O,O00 in permanent trust
funds. And Minnesota is only sixty
nine years old!
This money is for the benefit of
coming generations. Accretions re-
sulting from it's investment are util-
lied for educational purposes. We
are proud Of the states policy and
gratified at it's results. Our problem
today is to protect these trust funds
and build wisely on the plan prepared