The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1889-10-17
CANADIAN THIEVES,
Great DepredatiOns Upon Timber
Lands Along the Border in
Minnesota.
Millions of Feet of Logs Stolen
From Land Belonging to the
Government.

WASHINGTON, Special Telegram,
Commissioner Croft, of the general land
office, has determined to prevent any further
depreda tions upon the timber lands of North
ern Minnesota by the Canadian thieves along
the border. This matter was brought prom
inently before him by a report of J.
S. Wallace, made last June at Duluth, but
which has just reached the commissioner.
The report was first made to Senator Davis
and by him forwarded to Secretary Window.
Mr.. Window turned the matter over to the
interior department.. and after many days it
finally reached the commission. Mr.. Wallace
took the place of Special Agent Naff Of
Duluth, who was sick, and went along
the Northern border last winter and
spriug Naf1's district extends west only to
where the Little Fork river empties into
Rainy river. The great depreda tiOns are far
ther west, and the farther west Wallace went
the greater depredations he found. He took
possession of q large amount of property
that had been stolen by The Canadians. The
logs he sold to Hughes & Co. at an average
price of So per thousand feet The Cana
dams bring their outfits across the border
and boldly cut the timber Oh the Indian
lands wherever they can find 1t Forty miles
above the mouth of the Big Fork there is
very extensive and wasteful trespass, which
has been going on for the past five years
There are cabins and stables where the
thieves carry on the
PILLA GING WITHOUT INTERRUPTION.
About one and half miles below Manitoba
rapids on Rainy river there is a saw mill on
the Canadian side and another ready to move
across to the American side Near Pine river
on the American side is a boom two miles
long, which will hold fifty million feet of
logs. The timber for this boom was all cut
in the American forests from Indian lands
There has also been an immense amount of
cord wood cut and sold to the twenty-five
steamers on Rainy river Four more steam
ers are being butt. Along Rainy river, on
the Canadian side, there are nine saw mills
supplied from the American forests, two ele-
vators, one Touring mill and other indus
tries. lock is being constructed at
St Francis, the head of navigation,
which will allow all boats to
get into Rainy river. There are
fine agricultural lands along Rainy river. All
land on the Canadian side is taken, but
nothing can be done on the American side
until the Indian title is extinguished The
lumber taken from the American side and
appropriated by the Canadian thieves
amounts to millions of feet There are also
many rum holes run by Canadians on the
merican side, and the Indians are furnished
all the liquor they can pay for. THERE'S also
q whisky distillery hid away in the woods.
The Canadian Indians come across the bor-
der and get all the whisky they want. On
the Canadian side there are a large number
of officers, but none on the American side.
Mr.. Wallace recommends the appointment
of q special agent of the treasury depart
ment who shall be stationed iu that vicinity
and put Stop to the depredations, and also
RUN OUT THE WHISKY vENDERs.
Accompanying Mr.. Wallace's report is an
endorsement signed by many Duluth citi-
Zens, asking his appointment as special
agent of the treasury. AS the timber
depredations come under the land office
regulations the whole matter was referred to
Commissioner Croft and Chief Young, of
the timber depreciation division. The COM
missioner, speaking of the matter. said that
he was determined to put stop to the
pillagiug of the forests, and it was finally
decided to appoint Mr.. Wallace rs special
agent of the land office and instruct him to
prevent, as far as possible, any further steal
ing. When congress meets it is hoped some
action may be taken looking to the disposal
of the lands, or at least secure appropria-
tons sufficient to allow the government
10 station men on the southern
border to prevent any further depredations.
Mr.. Wallace will be instructed to at ouce pro-
ceed to the section where the thieves have
been at work and confiscate all logs that
have been cut The matter of selling whis-
XIV TO the Indians has been referred to the
Indian bureau, and it is probable thata spe-
cial agent of that bureau will be sent to the
northern Minnesota boundary to stop that
part of the Canadian traffic. The officials OF
the land Office recognize the fact that at
| present it is almost impossible to prevent
thirves from cutting the timber when such q
wide belt of Indian unsettled lands lie be-
tween American civilization and the borders,
but an agent will be stationed there pending
congressional action