The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-10-25
CANADIAN THIEVES,
Great Depredatisns Upon Timber
Lands Along the Border in
Minnesota.
Millions Of Feet Of Logs Stolen
From Land Belonging to the
Government

WAssMoToN, Special Telegram
Commissioner Grof, OF The general land
ONCE, has determined 70 prevent any furthsl
depredations upon the timber lands Of North.
ern Minnesota BY the Canadian thieves along
tho border. This matter was brought prom.
tnently before him by . report Of J.
q Wallace, made last June at Duluth, but
which has just reached the commissioned
The report was nrst made to Senator Dlvir
and BY him forwarded to Secretary Window.
Mr.. Window turned tho matter over 70 the
interior department. and after many days II
finally reached the commission. Mr Wallace
took the place Of Special Agent Nan OF
Duluth. who was sick, and went along
tho Northern border last winter and
spriug. Naff's district extends west only to
where the Little Fork river emptiss into
Rainy river: The great depredations arc far.
ther west, and tho farther west Wallace went
tho greater depredations he found. He took
possession Of large amount Of property
that had been stolen by the Canadians The
logs he sold to Hughes 4 Co. ct nn average
price OF SO per thousand feet The Cana
dams bring their outfits across the border
and boldly cut the timber oa the Indian
lands wherever they can find it. Forty miles
above the mouth of the Big Fork there IL
very extensive and wasteful trespass, which
hos been going on for the past Eve years
There are cabins and stables where the
thieves carry on the
PILLAoIN0 WITHOUT INTERRUPTION
About one and half miles below Manitoba
rapids on Rainy river there is saw mill on
the Canadian side and another ready to move
across to the American side. Near Pine river
on the American side Ia boom two miles
long. which will hold fifty million feet of
logs. Tho timber for this boom was ali Gu.
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 IRE beiug built Along Ruiny river, on
the Canadian side, there are nine saw mills
supplied from the American forest., two ele-
vatorR, one Touring mill and other indus.
tries. A 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 Ruiny river. All
land Oh the Canadian side is taken, but
nothing can be done on the American side
until the Indian title 10 extinguished Tho
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
American side, and the ludians are furnished
oil the liquor they can puy for. There is ulso
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 th',rc are O large number
Of officers, but none on the American aide.
Mr. Wallace recomyhends tho appointment
OF special agent OF the treasury depart
ment who shall b. Etationed tn that vicinity
and put stop toNhe depredationa, and also
RUN OUT The WHISKY vENDERs.
Accompanying Mr.. Wallace's report 10 an
endorsement sygped hy many Duluth citi-
zens. asking (his appointment as special
agent OF the treasury. As the timber
depredationY come under the land Office
regulations i,hc whole matter WAS referred 10
Commissoper Croft and Chief Young, Of
the timber depreciation division. The COM
missi2nerk sneskias Of the matter. said that
he was determined to put stop to the
pillaging Of the forests, and it was tinally
decided to appoint Mr.. Wallace Ms special
agent of the laEd office and instruct him to
prevent. as far as possible, any further steal
Ing. When congress meets it Ia hoped some
action may DO taken looking to the disposal
of tho lands, or at least secure appropria-
tons sufficient to allow the government
to station men on tho southern
border to prevent any further depredations
Mr.. Wallace will be instructed to ut once pro-
cccd to tho section where the thieves huve
been Mt work and contiscate all logs that
| have been cut The matter of selling whis-
XIV to tho Indians has been referred to the
Indian bureau. and 1t 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 1t is almost impossible to prevent
thieves from cutting the timber when such
wide belt Of Indian unsettled lands lie be-.
tween American civilization md the borders
but an agent will be stationed there pending
congressional action.