The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1899-08-04
WANT TO STEAL US.
The Seven Million Acre Park Scheme
Would Catch Us All.

|
and Minneapolis by a party of pro-
noting capitalists to take seven mil
lions of acres of northern Minnesota
for park purposes is attracting much
attention. This would include St.
Louis and several other counties and
is one of the most magnificent steals
attempted in late years. A gentleman
who is in position to know expresses
his ideas in the following language
which all should carefully peruse. He
says:
"Look at the facts minute and
tell us why the people should keep
silent while the 'steal under the
cloak of public benefit" goes on. l
claim: First, that government land
still remaining in Minnesota is need
ed for the settlers far more than for
national park.
Second, no donations of land from
private parties can reasonably be ex-
pected but on the contrary those pri-
vate parties will naturally increase
the price Of their land from 81 and So
an acre to s. and $40 and possibly S25
an acre, exactly as owners did in Min
neapolis and every other city when
park boards were authorized to acquire
them.
Third, removing so much land from
the taxable property of the state will
greatly increase the taxes on the bal
ance, and especially will this be no.
ticed in the counties where the nat
ional park may be located,
Fourth, if the scheme is once auth
orized by congress and commissioners
appointed, the land will be secured by
purchase and condemnation proceed
ings regardless Of cost. Taxpayers
may ..be damned" and when it is too
late we will hear them "holler' just
as they have in Minneapolis for the
last ten years.
Fifth, that the scenery is magnifi-
oop+ tbo n IN y,,ro opJ hraoip,r op5 tho
water the best on earth, no one denies
but we say let the sick take rest in
the delightful region by visiting
friends or some of the santoriums
which are springing up around the
lakes. and for the homeless and weary
laden of the cities who are sick at
heart. weary of brain and tagged out
generally, we advise locating them
permanently and building up home
for their families. Settlers ought to
buy land now while il can be had from
80 to SIS an acre, on easy terms.
rather than to wait until it is too
high for them to buy and they are
compelled to go farther west or else to
remain in the city Shaving for some
one else all their days.
Sixth, forests ought to be protected,
and growing of trees encouraged, but
it cannot be done by selling pine and
stumpage to lumbermen on state lands
and government lands at Is cents to
So a Thousand and allowing every pine
| tree large enough to make AKA joist
to be cut and this is just what has
been done for years. 1 insist that no
tree stumpage on public lands should
| be sold. Timber ought to be left on
the land for the use of settlers.
Seventh, the pretense of protecting
game is too thin an argument to be
considered by up-to-date men, The
idea of protecting game" when hun
dreds of Indians are allowed to hunt
at pleasure in the territory is ridicu
lOus, but to those familiar with the
wholesale slaughter committedDy city
hunters during a few days allowed for
the massacre, it is sickening. The
game law is a farce played on the pub
lie for two purposes: One, fat salar-
les for the political heelers; second,
sport for the well-to-do fellows in the
cities who want game protected until
they get ready for shooting. Home
owners ought to wake up and look
this matter square in the face before
it is too late"
! Raised Mine Valuations.
The changes in the statement of
valuation, ordered by the board of
equalization at its meeting, have been