Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1927-01-06
STATE GAINS TITLE
TO SWAMP LAND

After a contest extending over 13
years, Minnesota has won title to
more than $35O,000 worth of land,
comprising part of the federal gov
ernment's Swamp Land Grant of
March IL, 1860.
Announcement of this fact has
just been made by Ray P. Chase,
State Auditor and Land Commissioner
on receipt from the U. S. General
Land Office of the first of series
Of so-called swamp land clear lists,
conveying title to S01.3O acres. which
was approved December by Hubert
Work, Secretary of the Interior.
The States case was actually won
on March /. last, when the U. S. SUI
preme Court upheld the States con-
tentions, as argued by Clifford l..
Hilton, Attorney General, after an ex-
tended legal battle.
Following this decision Mr.. Chase
has been endeavoring to perfect Min
nesota's title to 56,394 acres remain
ing unpatented on the Swamp Land
Grant. There were 57,100 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 included in the
grant of 1860 had been patented to
the State many years ago, but in 1913
the Department of the Interior noti-
fed Governor A. O. Eberhart that de-
cision had been made ito suspend the
issuance of further patents under the
Swamp Land Grant to the State of
Minnesota"
The States real fight to get possess
sion of the suspended" lands to
which it claimed title began when
J. A. o. Preus, then State Auditor,
Mr.. Chase as deputy auditor, Attor
ney General Hilton and Arthur
Christopherson, his assistant, present
ed the matter formally to the Depart
ment of the Interior at 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 500 of the $4,000 acres in
volved, Secretary Work wrote Mr..
Chase on December II, that second
"clear list" is in course of preparation
for submission for approval and that
other "clear lists" would follow "as
expeditiously as the necessary work
can be performed"
No action by the Federal Govern
ment having followed the Supreme
Courts decision of last March, MIR.
Chase wrote Secretary Work person
ally on August 16, calling his atten-
ton to the Courts decision and con-
tinuing as follows: '"The issues in
volved having been adjudicated, the
terms of the grant having been COM
piled with and the Governor of Min
nesota having made formal request
for the issuance of patent, as Land
Commissioner of Minnesota 1 respect
fully urge that you direct that patents
forthwith be executed to the State of
Minnesota, confirming it's title to the
balance of the swamp lands conveyed
by the grant of March IL, 1862"
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 a total of
$356,000, exclusive of standing timber
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 off
them are sold, or iron ore leases made
the proceeds will be added to the
permanent swamp land fund, which
totalIed $10,331,35585 on June 80,
last, the income from which is annu-
ally used for the benefit of the schools
and the wards of the State. Half
of this annual income goes to school
apportionment, the other half to the