The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-01-30

.
/ auction to the highest bidder, but no
lower than SO Thousand according Il
the estimate. There is supposed to be
somewhere near the enormous amount
/ OF 20, 100000, 900 feet of standing pine
upon this reservation alono. The sur
face OF this country is quite flat and
free from stone, and the soil exceed
ingly rich. 1t seems to all have pitch
in tho direction of the streams flow,
and drops about 10 feet mile, which
makes the current very swift in all
streams which generally have high
banks. The larger Of them are navi,
gable for steamboats, of light draft.
| Tho sale of this timber must attract
much capital to the locality, and have
tendency to open up the biggest pine
country now unopened in the United
States; and further, it is conveniently
located on the edge of the great un-
timbered prairies Of the western states.
1t may appear strange that lumbermen
have not invaded this country sooner,
but up to date they could not on ac-
count of its not being surveyed, and no
railroads have heen Lu;lt through it.
Itiscr and st. Louis counties, next in
order east, havo been hcmmed in 10y the
big reservation, and their streams run
north into Rainy river, the only outlet
of wll:ch az pres Mt is through Canada
and the Canadian Pacific raiiray. The
10000, ,000 feet or more Of logs annually
cut upon the Big and l. tile Fork rivers
are obliged to seek market at the
north side of tie Lake of the Woods,
through which all of the waters flow,
but in justice to the market i will say
that logs bring good price aud find
ready sale to the ten or dozen mill
firms at Rat Portage and Keewatin. 1t
has been estimated by practical men
who have cruised through this big valley
for many years, that it contains up
wards of 100000, 100000 feet of stand
ing Pine, besides other valuable timber,
and the advent OF railroads will make it
the big yest numbering district yet open.
ed up, and turn the tide of lumber from
its present Canadian outlet through the
country where it belongs, instead of
supp yipg labor to Can adams on Mime
sofa timber. Many Canadians find EN-
ployment during the winter mouths in
the Minnesota pineries, and carry back
their earnings singing Sol Save the
Queen" and praying for the royal fam
lily.
No better country exists in which the
paper manufacturer could conduct his
business, rs large amount of spruce of
q fine quality is to he had and water
powers are plentiful. In former times
Canadians came to this country and
took what pine they wanted without
even seeing anyone to ask for it, as the
country was unsurveyed and unclaimed
except by Uncle Sam. But the old
fellow is now looking up his interests
little, and many of the stolen trees may
be paid for by the Canadian government
which in turn will ask the individuals
who cut the timber to indemnify it.,
The fine cedar that grows in great
abundance along the streams and in the
swamps is sure to become valuable,
being so near the prairie country where
needed.
Game is very thick in these woods,
moose predominating. The laws of
Minnesota prohibit the killing of this
big game for period of six years from
1901. but still every fresh crui.er COM
ing into this country tries to kill all he
can, and succeeds very well in hot
weather, when they go into the water to
keep away from the flies, and as only q
small part OF the big animals can be
used up before il would spoil, the car
casses are usually left in the water to
bloat mp and float away with the current.
Mr.. Campbell, farmer at Big Falls,
On the Big Fork river. claimed to have
the carcasses OF 81 floating by
his place last sumrser.
As many MS half dozen small steam
boats ply between Rat Portage and
Fort Francis on the Rainy river in sum-
mer, and dog teams are used in winter
as means of transportation. The mail |
,omes up twice month, and is hauled !
On toboggan by four or five dogs tan
lem. The whole population follows it !
70 the postoffice, and perhaps one out OF !
each 80 will get lotter, but this does
not seem to discourage item, rs the /,
same thing is repeated as often as the !
mail arrives.
Stone coal is found along the banks |
and on che bars in the Big
Fork river, but whether il is native or
} wash has not yet been determined. !
Artesian wells are easily obtained in