The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-09-24
TIE NEW NATIONAL PARK.

No enterprise which is designed for
the promotion of the general welfare has
ever yet been carried to successful issue
without eneountering the bitter opposi-
ton of private interest. The establish
ment of a national park within the linn
it's of this state is not likely to present
an exception to this general rule.
For the past twenty years or 50 pub
lie discussion has been in progress of the
evils which are not only threatened but
have been practically realized from tho
unrestrained destruction Of our large TIM
her areas. There never has been voice
heard in disagreement throughout that
period on the general proposition. If the
history of the disappearance of our i'm
mense pine-bearing areas in the North
west is ever written, it will embody sore
reflection on the good sense of this people
as we'll as on the character Of the men
who have amassed immense wealth in
that department of business activity.
When we have practically reached the
end of our rope, at least in the upper
half of the continent and it is at last pro-
posed to make a serious effort to save
some of the timber that is left, to inaug-
urate practically a scientific system of
forestry, and to secure to the people Of
the entire country magnificent national
lumber reserve, open to all our people
who seek recreation in touch with nature
III her most primeval beauty the cry of
the opposing private interest is heard.
And, fittingly enough it is the unhappy
Indian whose rights and interests at last
appeal to those who have been in coilu-
sion for fifty years for his robbery and
destruction.
1t is not necessary to make out case
in favor of the establishment Of the pro-
posed national park and forest reserve.
1t is in the nature of a national disgrace
that something of the kind has not al
ready been accomplished within the linn
it's of every state with large timbered
areas. We have a national Institution
Known as Arbor cay. Arbor day inter-
feres with no one's private interest, and,
therefore, We all sustain it; but when 1t
is sought to establish national under
j taking which is in recognition of the
same valuable principle of national policy
and economy, the cry is raised that the
Indian is being robbed, and that the pine
of Minnesota is being withheld from the
market in order to facilitate increased
| prices for the product These objections
! are as good as any other. If they were
not found available, some others would
be. Resort to the cry Stop theft is
never confined to honest men.
will be invaluable as an object lesson in
I the art of forestry. It will enrich the en-
tire country surrounding it by the influx
t year after year of thousands who today
| lock upon that section as a bowling will
! derness. 1t will preserve the beautiful
! and extensive lakes of that region, put a
| stop to the destructive barbarism which
has been In progress there, as it has
been in every section of the country In
which money could be made for individ-
uals at the expense of all that Is beau
tiful and ennobiing in prtnleval nature.
1t will be at once game preserve and
| a health resort. 1t will lay the founda-
ton of one of the most needful and i'm
| portant movements in the direction Of
preserving our national forests. I'm
less all the knowledge we have today on
the general subject is at fault the pres
ervation of that great reserve, will add
| materially to the healthfulness and pro-
| ductiveness of eur entire northern tier.
There should be no step backward. The
| compromise already agreed on as to the
area of the proposed park is reasonable.
Time will demonstrate the wisdom OF
materially increasing that area.