The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-06-03
FRIEND OF FORESTRY
COL. J. o. COOPER, OF CHICAGO,
WOULD LIKE TO SEE A
NATIONAL PARK
IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA

Eleven Million Acres, He Says, AFRO
Available in the Northern Por-
ton of the state, Seven Million OF
Which In Now Owned by the
State or National Government
More Could Be Acquired.
Col. John s. Cooper. of Chicago, is In
the city and is working in the interests
OF his pet scheme. to have the Leech
Lake country converted into a forestry
reserve. The idea Is not new one with
him, as he has been making a strong eff
fort for q number of years to secure his
end His ambition Is to see the state Of
Minnesota have within her boundaries a
national park, larger than the yellow
stone, more easily accessible and almost
as beautiful, not In his opinion vision
airy idea. Col. Cooper said yesterday re-
garding his project:
This trip into your state Is for outing
and a little fishing. 1 want to look over
the country from Winnebigoshish lake
west ana had the opportunity to do so
now The people whom 1 represent in
securing action on the part Of the nation
al government, establishing forest res
eryation In the northern part Of Mime
sofa to protect the sources Of the Miss
isstppi and st. Louis rivers and afford g.
valuable game and fish reserve.
In that section of the state northwest
OF Duluth, running north to the Canadian
boundary, west to the western boundary
or Hubbard county, south to the northern
part Of Crow Wing county, east to the
middle of st. Louis county and then north
again to the boundary line. 1t can be
located there and 1000, 900 acres Of land
which is available for park purposes 1t
is not contemplated that the government
acquire possession of all the land at once,
but it now owns 100000 acres of land In
this section and the state owns an equal
amount. AS much more may be acquired
from time to time from the present owners
of the land after the understandable pine
has been removed. The country might
then be turned over for reserve purposes
There are many reasons for the selec-
ton of this location for a park There
are equally good reason why it is time to
make an effort to induce the government
to do something. The Mississippi during
the dry seasons is annually becoming
lower and lower, and navigation is i'm
Peded. Every one who has investigated
knows that this Is due to the fact that
the timber from the headwaters has been
cut OFF. For this reason 1t is imperative
that a forest reserve be established. The
annual visitations of the forest fires Is
also the source of substantial loss to the
state These might be guarded against If
the northern part of the state were
forest reserve.
1T is foolish to allow the destruction Of
one of the most beautiful localities In the
world, and If the people Of Minnesota
realized, as we in Chicago do, what the
northern country is worth as a place Of
resort, they would long ago have taken
action looking towards the preservation
of its beauties. The government annually
spends large sums of money in the sup
port of its wounded and disabled soldiers.
1t is feasible idea to secure the sestab-
hshTnent of the northern Minnesota park
and then build sanitariums for this class
OF people there, owned and operated by
the government, and turn the reserve
over to the care of the inmates. Men who
were unable to do hard Hork could do
valuable service as forestry guards, and
make 1t possible for the government to
maintain comparatively small force to
keep up the park.
There are a few other things which 7
wish to cali to your attention. This sec
ton has an altitude above the sea level,
greater thansthe Adirondacks. 1t Is with
in thfrty-six hours Of travel of Chicago,
Milwaukee.
Il have agitated the: matter for some
time and have interviewed a great NUM-
Der of prominent men concerning the
matter. Senator Davis, [ understand, Is
In favor of the project, and feel no hist
fancy in saying that I think the time Is
not far off when our plans will DO car
ried out in full
Col. Cooper yesterday spent several
hours with President Hill. of the Great
Northern, discussing the plan and will
see other prominent men before leaving
the city.