Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-06
RED LAKE PINE,

The Red Lake Pine Land Question Agai,s
Comes to the Front and Claims 4fte,,.
ton,
Io the Editor of the Grand Forks Plandealer:
AS congress will convene in short time
IL becomes pressing question what
course will be taken by our citizens and
the chamber CT commerce in relation to
the Washburn pine land bill now pending
IN the national legislature. This bill is
ostensibly measure for consolidating the
various bands of Chippewa Indians upon a
single reservation at White Earth. but it
is, in essence, a measure designed to
enable the pine land rings of Minnesota
to get possession of all the remaining
available pine in the Northwest, under the
mock-auction system, at the rate of SI.5O
per acre.
AS you are aware, the protest adopted
last winter by the chamber of commerce of
this city prevented the passage of this in
lqultous measure; the exposure of the
methods of fraud embraced in the bill un-
der the old usage of auction at public sale.
Il. e. public steaD was sufficient to awaken
the attention of the nation and cause the
conspirators to come to short stop. The
danger is not removed, however. With
certain prospect of $4O,OOO,OOO or $40
100000 profit in view, the men behind
Washburn will not be likely to relax
their efforts at the coming session.
The bill last winter was reported
favorably BY the house committee on
Indian affairs, and is now in the order of
unfinished business to come up this ses-
sion. The fact is not generally realized
by our citizens that lumber can be made
here from Red lake pine for S14.5O per
thousand feet-and this after allowing S1
per thousand stumpage, or three times the
amount ever received by the government
tor pine at public sale, and after adding
70 per thousand feet for profit in carving
on the business. If this Red lake pine can
De Kept out of the hands of rings. and
thrown open to the public upon fair. and
reasonable terms, lumber which now costs
$24 per thousand will be delivered here in
Grand Forks at $14 or SIS per thousand
feet-or One-third less than it ia now laid
down here in car lots.
The reports of all experts who have OK.
aminsd the Red lake pine agree that the
value OF this timber is enormous, There
are over 2,OOO,OOO,OOO feet on Red lake
| alone. Whether this is gobbled by the
ring or sold to the general pablo at fair
valuation, will make difference to the
settler in the Red river valley of 81 or IS
per thousand feet on common lumber. or a
total of at least $15,OOO,OOO; this on Red
lake reservation alone.
Inc other reservations covered by the
Washburn bill are all heavily timbered
with pine of an excellent quality and lum-
Der is an article that is constantly advance
ing IN price, as the sources of supply are
constantly diminishing and the demand
constantly increasing; and the clear profit
OF the gang, in case they get this bill
through on close corporation principles, is
at least $5O,CoO,OOO.
Much is said just now of the DEVILS
lake country, and as an agricultural
section it is undoubtedly first-class, but its
value bears no comparison to the pine
land on Red lake. There are forty acre
pieces there that will cut 100000 feet of
lumber, worth to-day as it stands, from So
to $40 per thousand. Even our Red river
| valley lands do not come up to that figure.
| The question before us is whether We
shall sit idly by and see this timber
which to the settlers in this valley is one
OF the prime necessities of life-pass into
the hands of syndicate of gorged CAPT.
| tallsts, or into the hands of the people
| who will thus be enabled to protect them
selves.
The writer would suggest that the cham
Der of commerce be called, and that this
| most important matter be discussed. The
time has come for action, and if we do our
duty this apparent evil may be made a
blessing. VERITAs
Dec. 1, 1882.