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or largely be charged to the future. Since the lands to be so acquired 
are at present for the most part unsalable property, in fact often a 
burden to the owners, and actually unproductive, an arrangement 
should be made which, while insuring fair pecuniary consideration, 
obviates present payments. 
While various plans may be proposed, the plan which appears to the 
writer the most just, both to State and owners, and also a prac- 
ticable one, would be for the State to take the lands at their present 
market value and pay for them in scrip bearing 3 per cent interest, on 
which, however, neither interest or capital shall accrue until thirty 
years have elapsed, then yearly payments of 10 per cent of the accu- 
mulated capital and compounded interest may become obligatory on 
the part of the State until capital and interest is paid up, with the 
option on the part of the State to cancel the debt at any time before or 
after the thirty years. By this method the State avoids present expen- 
ditures and begins payments when presumably the lands under careful 
management may be in condition to furnish returns sufficient to meet 
the payments, while the owners receive a negotiable paper and avoid 
taxation, turning their unproductive property into immediately avail- 
able cash or a safe investment for their heirs. 
Such lands as we have in view might now be had at 25 to 50 cents 
per acre. We are informed that the county of Eau Claire lately sold 
such at $12 per 40 acres. In thirty years the cost of an acre now 
worth 50 cents would have accumulated to $2, on which then 20 cents 
would have to be paid for the first year and a decreasing amount every 
following year, while the property would be constantly appreciating. 
It would probably be fair to terminate the running of this scrip in fifty 
years, when the final payment would require 42 cents per acre, and the 
State would have paid altogether in original cost and interest about 
$2.50 per acre. Or, if instead of a percentic payment equal yearly 
instalments of 20 cents per acre are paid after thirty years accumula- 
tion, the whole debt with interest would be cancelled in eight years. 
And should the management have been in any way successful the prop- 
erty would then pay a handsome income to the State, relieving its 
citizens to some extent of the necessity of raising taxes, and assuring 
favorable forest conditions in addition. 
It appears that the constitution of the State prohibits the State from 
ever incurring an indebtedness for sums larger than $100,000 and run- 
ning for a longer period than five years. It would be wisdom to change 
such a constitution as soon as practicable, so that the State might own 
lands for internal improvement by means of forestry. 
Meanwhile, the acquisition of the land by cession from individuals, 
and their reimbursements from eventual profits, whenever these may 
accrue, has been suggested. In such a plan, however, the private 
owner would be without any present quid pro quo, and would have to. 
