Immigration Commissioner Says Government Land Will Soon 



Be Gone. 



In a recent article relative to Northern Minnesota, H. J. 

 Maxfield, state commissioner of immigration said: 



"Five years from now we will behold a great transforma- 

 tion in the cities and villages and in the country. Although 

 on January 1, 1912, there were approximately two million acres 

 of government land in Northern Minnesota, I believe almost 

 half of that has been taken in the past six months. In five 

 years there will not be a foot of government land left. 



"At present the state has approximately 2,500,000 acres of 

 land in the Northern counties. If the present wise policy of 

 selling the lands to actual settlers is continued, these other 

 lands will be very largely disposed of in the next five years. 



"Great state, judicial and country drainage systems will re- 

 claim the vast areas of swamp and low lands found in some 

 parts of Northern Minnesota. I do not expect to see at such 

 an early date as five years hence such complete and perfect 

 development of these lands as is now found in Southern and 

 Central Minnesota. Northern Minnesota will probably not 

 then have that high state of development to which it already 

 aspires, but I do expect to witness within that period of time 

 great agricultural, commercial and social development. 



Sees Wonderful Future For Land That As Yet Lies 

 Undeveloped. 



"In the next few years thousands of miles of roads are sure 

 to be builded because the people of Northern Minnesota de- 

 mand and are going to have better roads. Hundreds of schools 

 will be established where no schools exist at present and many 

 of these newly established schools will take advantage of the 

 agricultural educational features and consolidation privileges 

 now offered by the law. 



"Ever during my residence in Minnesota I ha,ve been firm 

 in my belief of a bright future in store for Northern Minne- 

 sota but some recent visits there have convinced me of greater 

 possibilities than those for which I had early hoped. While 

 my enthusiasm for Minnesota and this Northern section of the 



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