St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-12-18
RED l. IKE APPRAI sERs.
Some of the Men Sent to Mime
sofa Have Been MaIigned.
Special 10 the Globe.

Special 10 the Globe.
WASHINGTON, Dec. II. = Frank J.
Park, the special agent of the general
land Office, who, under direct orders
from the commissioner, recently inves-
tlgated Red Lake pine matters III Min
nesota. returned a day or two since He
was seen today by the GLOBE repre-
sentative, and talked very freely as to
the recent unpleasantness in relation TO
timber estimates out in that region.
1t seems that the main trouble was
provoked by an unfortunate young man
named Hail, who was a little too gar
rulous when in his cups, and thus gave
an opportunity for the men who served
as estimatorS under the former admin
lStration TO criticise the new appointees.
Hall was aided and abetted in his con-
VITALITY by a Minnesota appointee
named Stacy, and as soon as the actual
facts were made known, these two
Joined IN receiving the &. b. by Mr..
Yelling, Of Wisconsin-the latter tor
general and particular disability.
MIR. Park reports that the men now
in the service of the department as
timber estlmatorS are exceptionally
capable, honest and reliable. They are
doing their difficult task faithfully,
although under difficulties. and the
special agent seems prepared to vouch
for them-both as TO capacity and hon.
esfy.
He further reports that it is shameful
to deprive the settlers Of the advantages
that would accrue to them upon the
opening OF the timber to sale under the
law as it exists. The settlers around
st. Hilaire and Thief River Falls are
today using shingles manufactured in
and ShinnRd TTOO1 WoS ShinutOn
and lumber from Minneapolis and Du.
lutn, while the pine almost at their
very doors is being destroyed by
cyclones and forest fires. 1t is even
asserted that confagratIons are started
on purpose, SO that the Indians may get
the advantage of selling dead and down
timber, which the law permits them
to do.
He further says that the reports of
former estimatOrS-thOSe under Mobiles
administratiOn-are largely unreliable.
and that he believes that the present
corps is rectifying in great degree
that unreliability.
He thinks the keynote to the settle
ment OF the entire matter is for Secre-
tary Smith to open up sales on the re-
ports OF the present misunderstanding
(as he may do under the law IN large or
small tracts and either gradually or
rapidly. If this is not done the people
would almost be justified in revolution,
for the development of the country Is
being retarded, not to speak of the
timber being wasted most teXtravagantly.
because of the unsatisfactory status of
affairs. He thinks it very improbable
that the government will be able to get
fairer or more reliable estimate of the
timber than the present corps are max
ing; and they must be sold on some
body's estimate at some time and that
very soon. If the twelve apostles, with
Paul at their head, should be constituted
estlmatOrs up there-Mr Park thinks
somebody would accuse those good men
OF working in some other bOdy's inter-
est. There are doubtless men waiting
TO buy the lands; but would it not be
better to permit some man to make
money out OF the venture, than 10 per
petuate the present unsatisfactory
state of affairs?
This is the substance of Mr.. Parks
general talk with the GLOBE represen-
tative. with no effort to give it literally
IN the shape OF an interview.