St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-01-19
FACTS FOR KICKERS.
The State Forestry Associa-
ton and the National
Park Scheme.
It Was Never Intended to
Stop the Cutting Of
Timber,
Hereby to Prevent the Entire
Denudation Of Our
Forests.
Foresters Highly Ineensed at
the Opposition Raised
Against Them.

The state forestry association met
Mt the historical society's rooms, in the
capitol, yesterday afternoon, John \.
Stevens presiding. Those present in
cluded the secretary, J. o. Barrett. of
Browns Valley: {. l.. Smith, Mime
apoliS; Prot. Winchell, of the state uni
versity; II. g. Wilcox, of Hastings;
Prof. Green, of the state agricultural
college; Prof. Dobson. of Minneapolis,
and s. a. Thompson, secretary of Du-
luth chamber of commerce. Secretary
Barrel read the report of the transac-
tons of the association for the past
year and outlined in brief the plan
upon which it is proposed to establish
the national park in the northern por-
ton of the state.
Mr.. Smith, of Minneapolis. reviewed
the situation at considerable length,
claiming that the matter of
park reservation had been malicious
~ misrepreseuted and designingly
held up to ridicule by the men who, for
selfish reasons, opposed it. The plan
which the association has in view does
not contemplate a complete prohibition
of cutting mature timber in the district
10 be reserved, but is intended to put
stop to the wholesale and wanton de-
structiOn of young and growing timber
by the employees of the great lumber
syndcates. Mr.. Smith explained the
system by which the timber lands are,
taken up on presumption claims by men
in the employ of the lumber concerns,
who, as soon as they have their claims
perfected, convey the same to the COM
panieS, and the work of denuding them
of all standing timber is at once
begun. The opposition to the park re-
reserve, he said, came principally from
these wealthy lumber corporations, and
the object of the association was to pro-
lect the growing timber. 1t was all
right, he thought, = to cut the mature
timber, but the young and growing pine
should be allowed to get its entire
growth before being cut. The entering
wedge had been inserted, and the
speaker suggested the appointment of
committee TO issue a memorial to the
people and another to congress on the
SUBJECT. ,. A. thompson. secretary of
the Duluth chamber of commerce, had
no doubt as TO the good intention of the
association and the honesty of their
purpose, but the people of Duluth were
heartily opposed to the park scheme,
and would fight 1t to the bitter end if its
object Was to close up one-Seventh of
the state, shut out railroads, prevent
the development of the mineral and ag-
ricultural resources of that section of
the state. That part of the state in
which it was proposed to establish the
reserve contained more than half of the
lumber of the state, and if it were closed
UP it would result in a great advance in
the price of lumber, and would relard
building operations in Minnesota and
ma Act,i
the farmers of the country. Duluth, he
said, was the supply station of the Red
river valley. and anything which tended
to cripple the industry of the latter was
blow at Duluth, which would be
promptly resented.
Mr.. Smith explained that there was
no intention to interfere with the build
Ing of railroads or the legitimate and
proper development of the mineral and
agricultural resources of the section,
the only object of the association being
to protect the growing timber and pre-
serve the water supply.
Mr.. Barrel. thought there was a deep
laid scheme of the lumber barOns to de-
feat the reserve. and 1t looked as though
Duluth was in the deal. He could ac-
count for the opposition of that city in
no other way, as he had clearly ex-
planned the situation over and over
again, SO that every one willing to be
convinced must see it in the proper
light. Duluth, he said, was the natural
market for the Red river valley, and
trade would go there. Duluth need not
be alarmed at the prospect of losing her
share of business. The reserve was to
be not Oh the plan of the Yellowstone
Park, bat more OH the German system
OF forest preservation.
Thompson thought Duluth would be
with the association provided it could