Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-08
Startling Charges Against North
western Lumbermen.
SAID TO HAVE CAUSED FOREST FIRES
What a Minnesota Legislative
Committee VIII Show.
I E IMONY OF A SPY
CHICAGO September s-A special from

CHICAGO. September s.-A special from
St Cloud. Mimi, says:
Are timber pirates responsible for the
fiery calamity which has burned the Min
nesota zine lands? These are the intima-
tons which the state senatorial commit
tee which has for months been investigat-
Ing the frauds against the state in the cut
ting of pine from school lands viii make
They will be able to show astonishing evil
dences not only that the timber pirates
have appropriated millions of dollars worth
Of lumber belonging to the state, but that
In trying to cover up their steaiings they
started fires which have resulted IN the
terrible loss of life and property in Pine,
Kanabec, Carlton and other counties in
the pine belt.
Members Of the CON mittee have already
declared that they have discovered large
fraUds against the state, and now it is ex-
pectec that they will probe into the causes
Of the fires which have swept the whole
pine country. The charge is that the l1rn-
bermen have fired the lands which they had
imp, Ope rly cleared &c render measurement
Of stumpage impossible, and thereby shut
on any suits which the commission might
attempt TO bring against them.
In enc of the chief hotels in ST. Cloud ii
scout employed by the commission TO ferret
ne had secured sworn evidence that mil
ions OF feet Of lumber had been stolen, and
hat as soon as II had been cut the lumber
men had instructed their employees to burn
me ground over, and to make a good,
clean job of it,
This is a possible explanation OF forest
fires that have swept this region. The
iEbermen in cutting timber leave great
piles OF 'tOppings" all through the woods
and besides that all the smaller CrGes and
underhrush are left untouched. \ torch
thrust here and there into the piles of top
pings IN such q dry season a. this starts
a tremendous fire that burns over the whole
half-cleared area and eats the stumps
from which lumber has been cut down to
Jumps OF charcoal, ard when the gaugers
OF the commission come to measure the
stumpase on the ravdged school lands they
are left with absolutely no basis for calcu-
ating the amount of lumber stolen.
This is exactly what the crooked lumber
men want. but IN starting these fires they
have made altogether too clean a job OF
it,
The fires have spread over 1000 square
miles of country. They have destroyed no
body knows how many hundreds OF human
lives; they have devOUred S2U.OSO,CUO worth
of property. Whether or not it can be
proved that these fires grew out of the lj.tic
ones kindle1 by timber pirates there il
loud demand through all the pine country
that the manner of cutting timber be
severely regulated
ST PAUL. Mimi. September S-A
Duluth carrier from the Rainy river brings
news that the fires on the Canadian border
last week caused the death of several fami-
lies. nearly twenty-five persons altogether.
The mail carriers between Tower and
Rainy river had several narrow escapes.
MADISON. Wis, September S.-GOvernOr
Peck learned today that the mayor of Su-
perior had made an appeal to Acting Mayor
Mcclellan OF New York for aid to the fire
sufferers. Governor Peck thereupon sent
the following message,
MADISON. Wis. September S, 1894.
ITO Mayor Mcclellan, New York:
Il learn that an appeal has been made
70 you from Wisconsin for aid to fire suffer
ers. The people OF Wisconsin do not ask
for aid outside Of this state at present. /
Will care for all the sufferers in this state
Please do not issue any appeal at this time.
(SigneD GEORGE PECK, Governor"