The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-05-27
FUNDS PROVIDED
FOR SCHOOLS
Wisdom of Early Pioneers In
sures Lasting Trust
Fund.
BY RAY p. CHASE


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 a future generation, of sub.
stantial growth and sound develop
ment. We are committed irreyocably
to the policy of good schools and are
glad that this is so. We are com.
mitted 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 and
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
hood, state with all resources devel-
oped, all agricultural land under cul.
tivation, potential wealth carefully
husbanded and preserved, and popu-
lated with 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
and sincerity of purpose. They
thought and planned constructively
for 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 its first gift in 1841, 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
The Congress of the United States
has always regarded the public do
main as public property, to be ad.
ministered for the benefit of ALL On
this basis it's land grants to various
states were made. Minnesota re-
ceived approximately 100000 acres for
internal improvements, $500 acres for
rnfIh hrrtl inn ax1I IL
acres under the salt springs grant.
In railroad grants we received from
the federal government S1s million
acres, an area larger than the State
OF Maryland. The state, as 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 ad-
mission to the Union, each new state
received as school lands, Section Is
in each township. Minnesota and sue.
ceeding states received Sections 16
and 36. From our state school land
grant we have received an area one
half the size of New Hampshire. The
swamp land grant of 1860 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
state for the use Of schools shall re-
main perpetual school fund to the
state; that the principal 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 Minnesota's 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 well 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 s3,345, 599.62. the
internal improvement land fund was
1916, 901.40 and the swamp land fund
was $10,331, 1855, giving total Of
nearly $59,000,000 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 its investment are util-
lied for educational purposes. We
are proud of the states policy and
gratified at its results. Our problem
today is to protect these trust funds
and build wisely on the plan prepared
by the founders of the state. There
can be no greater privilege for any
man or any state than to serve for
such purpose, where the beneficial
results are so certain and SO ever.
lasting.