Area of land examined, 21,455 acres. 



This was sold by State at $ 31,777 



This area of land was found worth: 



For timber merchantable $158,610 



For land itself 91,916 



Total ....$250,526 



On these 21,45 acres, then, the State lost 

 over $200,000. 



If this is a good sample, and there is no 

 reason to doubt it, the State in selling the 

 949,000 acres of land lost during these six 

 years over nine million dollars. In this loss 

 the small or young growth is not reckoned; 

 but this young growth could not be put on 

 these lands for $10 per acre, so that on this 

 score there is an additional loss. 



But these money losses do not tell the 

 entire story. As is pointed out, the present 

 policy has failed otherwise: 



1. It has favored speculators as against 

 actual settlers. 



2. It has led to land monopoly so that in 

 one county over half of all the land now be- 

 longs to a syndicate centered in Chicago. 



3. It has not settled the lands, for 95 per 

 cent of all lands in this part of the State are 

 unimproved, and over 85 per cent not settled. 



4. It has lost to the State the control over 

 important watersheds and water powers. 



5. It has not helped the lands nor the tree 

 growth, but has resulted in further forest 

 devastation. 



6. It has developed contempt for these 

 lands and has thus encouraged firing and other 

 vandalism and trespass, much to the harm of 

 the people and the owners of private lands. 



7 / 



