St. Paul daily globe., 1892-01-27
THE MINNESOTA PARK.
Q. +. Maginnis Takes Shot at the
Forestry Association,

Forestry Association.
To the Editor of the Globe.
Now that the people calling them
selves forestry association have come
to the conclusion that about one-seventh
OF the entire area Of the state of Mime
sofa ought to be placed under their
jurisdiction that they may astonish the
waiting, and, as they call them, the ig-
norant portion of the citizens, by their
clearneSS Of view as to the benefits of
the future forests of the state, it is
well, before accepting the assertion
that all opposed to this attempt are
either bonanza lumbermen or persons
who ought TO have guardian appoint
ed over them, to look at this matter in
practical, everyday sort of way.
One of the first things to look at is
whether such scheme is either practi-
cal or sensible; secondly, will it have
the effect claimed by its advocates; aud
thirdly, have they honestly stated their
position?
l shall endeavor, in as short way as
possible, to show that some of their as
SertiOns are mere statements, with no
foundation in fact. They say that if
the forests on that portion of the state
are cut down and removed the cold win
ter winds will have full swing at the
defenSelesS settlers Oh the prairies.
This proposed park is the extreme
northeasterly portion of the state. All
the praireS lie north and west of the
park. My recollection of the fierce
winds is still quite vivid, having
frOnted them at all times and under all
circumstances for upwards of twenty
five years. Such recollections are that
the said winds came directly over the
prairie from a nOrthWesterly direction,
bringing no aroma of the fragrant pine
lying to the east of them; in other
words, if the forest mentioned protects
anything from the winter winds it is
the rockbound coasts of Lake Superior.
Mr.. Barrett cites the fact that the
streams and lakes of Western Minnesota
are drying up. This is true, but the forests
have nothing to do with it, as any one
who will consider one moment and
knows the country must acknowledge.
There is not now, and never has been,
either a running stream or lake in
Western Minnesota that connects with
any water having its foundation in the
bounds of the proposed park, except
Rainy Lake river, running north, or
any stream connecting with them in any
way. which any one familiar with the
geography of this state knows.
ponds of Western Minnesota the con-
sderation he has given to the timber of
the eastern part he would know that
they are not, with extreme exceptions,
either springs or natural lakes, but
merely catchDaSins, where the surplus
water from the surrounding heights ac-
cumulated before high grOundwaS placed
under cultivation. since which time the
tilling of the soil has changed the condi-
tionS, absorbing, as it does, a great
amount of rainfall; also the building of
roads. both wagon and railroad, from
which bitches and drains have carried
the water away, not only in other direc-
tiOnS, but in larger quantities, carrying
away the spring rains and winter SHOWS
in few days, when by natural drainage
it would have taken perhaps the entire
summer.
l am of the opinion that any practical
farmer will agree that the above state
ment is more honest. and certainly more
likely, than that it is caused by the eff
fects of wooded country lying two or
three hundred miles east, and cut off by
a natural watershed, dividing the waters
of the Mississippi Oh one side and Min
nesota and Red river on the other. |
feel that there can be but one conclu-
sion as to both the statements here
the positive injury. to this state
which 1 believe this scheme will
accomplish. as well as to state
that the land set aside in the pro-
posed park is not all timber land, and
not one-tenth part is pine, such as the
friends of forestry would have you be-
lieve. On the contrary, thsre is at the
very least one-half of it as good farming
land as Minnesota has. 1t is now being
settled very fast and in few years will
be paying its just share of taxation, one
fourth, perhaps, covered with timber of
mixed kinds, which is badly needed by
and lumber; the other fourth is stony
hills aud mineral land, which, it taken
out of the market. would deprive Mime
sofa of S2.OOO,C coo or S3,0O0,OOO per year of
her products.
Also, there is now. perhaps. .One-fOurth
of the whole that is owned or settled
upon by private parties, some of whom
live there, others who do not; in either
case they own the land.
But our friends say we do not want
the land. We only want supervision
over the cutting of the timber, the MAX
ing of roads. the leasing of the mining
land. etc: in other words. general SUI
pervision over the people who may be
within the borders of the place. What
does this mean when properly analyZed?
First, that no man can live there year
who has the honest independence
necessary to build up home in the
wilderness. to be hampered by some
ninny who, perhaps, comes direct from
some school and knows no more about
the practical needs of the farmer than
any other person who has not learned
that business by experience. Or who is
going to lease land for mining
at a five years lease. Why, it takes
about that time to develop mine al
ready found. That clause would Ie-
move the lands from the reach Of all
persons except those who lease them to
keep others out, or, in other words, to
monopoliZe all productive mining prop
perties.
And last, but not least, by any means,
the army of inspectors and other Off
cials, titled and otherwise, that would
be made the pretext of political parties
for appointments, to be paid out of the
public purse raised by the taxation of
persons who have no benefit and who
are already defrauded to the amount
that proper and just taxation of this
vast territory would bring.
70 my mind, the whole scheme of
supervision over large territory and
its people smackS of monarchy. and
not of a government by the people, of
the people and for the people, such as
we profess to believe in.
C. P. MAGINNIs.
Duluth, Jan. %.