Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-11-19
Northern Minnesota Pine.

- :. - is71A z 81 =!
Northern Minnesota Pine.
From the Minneapolis journal. .s:5SssS
Col. Plat R. Walker was asked today
"What did you mean by asserting tina
the only interest which the lumbet trade
Of MINNESOTA had in the late election
was involved in the sale of 1000 0do, ,0O0
feet of pine to the Canadians ?"
He said: :ts -.
The southern slope Of Minnesot.
that is, that portion of it that drains Il
the south-including less than one, e,fourft
ofihe 1imbered area Of the pine regions
Of the state. One.inurtn Of the s,bslsancts
runs into Lake Superior and the test il
on the northern slope; in other words
the waters Of the Rainy Lake river and
the Red river of the North. The timber
stand ng on this northern slope is moi
now and never can he made available
for use this side Of the line till after rail
ways are built that will penetrate this
country. This great nortl,er slope ex-
tends from tn e headwatcrs of the Otter
Tail around the Lake l,asca and Red
Lake and southeast nearly to the north
shore Of Winnebagoshi.h and thence
southeast, by circle on the head of the
st. Louis riyer, and east clear to the
headquarters Of the Pigeon river, within
some 25 miles OF the cxtrem northwestern
corner of Minnesota.
"The area indicated by this line in
cludes more than one half Of the entire
state of Minnesota. That portion of it
lying westOf the Red Lake reservation
and south TO Fergus Falls, on this north
ern slope is all fiat prairie country
except corner next to the Rim lake
region, the timber on which has been
cut and stolen by the Manitoba lumber.
men. The great Red lake resc, vation
takes up abu, 100000 acres all of which
lies on this northern slope. Nearly
two.titths of this drained into the Red
River of the NOrlh and the other three:
fifths run to the north and are tributary
to the Manatoba industries. 1t cannot
be made available till railways are con.
structed.
"This norther slope has growing upon
it approximately 1000. 100000 feet of
timber, the finest pine in Minnesota.
Eight or nine years ago the United States
surveys in their extensions reach ed a
portion of this northern slope. this terra
incognita., As soon az these surveys
were to be extended over the northern
part Of Minnesota, the surveyor general
"f Minnesota left his office in St. Pau|
and travelled over large portion Of this
great northern slope and published a
series of letters setting the wonderful
character of the territory yet to be sur.
veyed, and recommending [perforce] the
survey of that country. The surveys
were extended in direct line through !
the finest timber belt, including the Biz |
and Little Fork rivers, nearly 100 miles
long, so miles wide, and reaching within
five miles Of Winnebagoshish lake on
the Mississippi. Since these surveys
commenced and as fast as they progress.
ed pre- emptions, scrips homestead entries
and all other means known to our laws,
have been used by syndicate of
Canadian lumbermen, with severa!
well-kpown parlaeS in Minnesota, who
have by all these means already acquired
title to approximately 500 .000, 900 feet of
pine timber, covering many thousand
acre, and by these same tokens are
to gobble up the rest Of this
vast timber belt on the northern slope.
Give or six years ago the frs, grand I
lneak was made 10 oust the Indians !
from the northern slope and hand owes to !
the Canadians. the introduction of bills
for the removal of the Indians from and |
the cession Of the Red Lake Indian |
re>ervation to the government and the |
alleged opening of it to settlement and |
cultivation. These bills have been !
introduced and defeated during the last !
four or five sessions of Congress, Mr.. |
Nelson in each case being the father of
tic bills. The policy of tie administra.
,i"n ur,o !hc present fine, has apparently |
been to hasten the disposition Of that
northern slope. Last winter provision
was inserted, in the sindry civil service |
bill, providing for a commission to Red !
Lake and all the other reservations and
the removal of those Indians to the
southern slope at White Earth. The
was appointed. composed Of
men who loved Indians and who without !
knowledge of,'ee purpose Of the syndicate
haye been spending all summer coaxing
the Indians up there to agree TO remove
from those lands aud cede them 10 the
government. What their success will
he remains TO be seen. But If the treaties
should be made and confirmed, $4,000,
600 worth of Indian pine will certainly
90 into the hands Of a foreign syndicate
and. $4,000, 600 worth of lumber that
Minnesota and Dakota. will shortly
need will be owned BY tie same pool.
This is what meant BY asserting that
the only interest that the lumbermen Of
this state had in the present election Was
the sale Of Z 900, ,Oo0, 900 feet Of timber to.
foreign capitalists" z=.s
It'd Bits: II #as on Hhdsoh River
railroad train, and the cars were about
to stop At q station. g
& The brakeman yelled "Sing Sing
change clothes fof ten years"
Four inei arose and went out with
four other mPn., ss ssfSs