St. Paul daily globe., 1895-12-17
BETTER 10 GO SLOWLY.


1t is understood that Secretary
Smith has ordered the opening of the
Chippewa reservations. Chairman
Baldwin, of the Chippewa commits
sion, is said to have secured this
order from the secretary. AS his
duties are limited now to getting
the Indians removed to their allot-
ments on the portions of the reser-
vatiOns withheld from white settle
q ment, it is difficult to see how he
can be officially interested in open
ing the ceded portions with which
the Indians have no further con-
Germ. But be that as it may, there
is one matter in this opening of the
reservation in which haste should
be made slowly; so slowly, in fact,
as to allow a large portion to re-
main unopened. 1t is a matter that
is big with concern for large inter
ests embracing the people and the
industries along the Mississippi river
for thousand miles.
As we understand the act of 1889,
the pine on the lands cannot be sold
at present, but bills are prepared
for introduction permitting this The
pine region lies east of Red lake
and around Leech lake, Lake Win
I, i.l, pn M 10
form the source and water supply of
the Mississippi river. Denuded Of
this pine, the land is almost value
less for agricultural purposes. The
interests back of the movement to
get this pine upon the market are, of
course, the lumbermen. Their only
care is to get the pine. The larger
interests, both immediate and re-
mote, that are served by the
standing of the pine and its preser-
vatfon, are of no concern to them.
The great divide lies just to the
ovation. It parts the waters that
flow into tke Arctic by the Red river
of t; North from those that flow
to the gulf by way of the Mississippi.
Public attention has been called
recently TO the disappearance of the
waite 5 OF the famous lake region of
tbs state and Of North Dakota Nat
ural history here is telling the same
story it has told men everywhere,
that with the removal of the forests
there comes a diminished rainfall
ard q decrease in the water supply.
The immense area of pine-covered
land that surrounds the lakes and
covers the watershed is the prutec-
ton of every interest served by the
great river. The federal govern
mcnt recognized this fact when it
began TIE construction Of the great
re- ccvcir system at tie head of the
river. Personal and local as were the
iMerestS served hv this action, the
benefit accTue$ D every person liv-
ing along TIE banks from Deer river
to where the Missouri makes it's
junction.
1t is these wider interests that are
being threatened by the proposed
denudation of the pine on the great
watershed. Sweep that off, and what
has taken place on the Minnesota
river will be. repeated on the AIissis-
sippi. Within ten years the river
would not float a dugout past St
Paul. Tie industries now existing
and those possible along it's banks
above US would be choked off. The
cities below, dependent on the river
for water supply and sewage service,
would be left with neither. The
possibilities now in view of the utiliz-
alton of the power of the Meeker
island dam for public uses by ST.
Paul and Minneapolis would be de-
stroyed. The three-quarters of a mil
lion dollars invested in the reservoir
system would be money wasted.
Instead of throwing open these vast
areas of timber to the AK of the lurn-
herman, instead of wasting money
and sentiment on a great state park
along Rainy lake and it's rivers,
present and future interests imper-
atively demanG that these lands be