The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-11-25
FOR OUR NATIONAL PARK
MINNESOTA FOREST RESERVE DIS
CUsSED AT THE IRRIGATION
CONGRESS
TWO SESSIONS NEXT YEAR
One TO Be Held at Buffalo During
the Exposition and the 9th
er at Colorado
Springs.

CHICAGO, Nov 24-The Ninth Ma
uonal Irrigation congress today decided
TO hold two congresses next year. the
rrst at Colorado Springs, either Just be-
lore or just after the transit Mississippi
congress and the second at Buffalo in
October during the pan-American expo
Sition.
This decision was reached after a
heated discussion, during which Delegate
Treat, of Buffalo, was charged by a
delegate from Colorado with taking un-
fair advantage of the absence of the
Colorado Springs representative
Thomas F. Walsh, of Colorado. made.
an address in which he urged that the
= size of farms be reduced and that the
warking men be given opportunity to
obtain homes.
Col. John S. Cooper, of Chicago,
president of the National Park associa-
ton, spoke during the morning on The
Proposed National Minnesota Park
Col. Cooper said in part:
MINNESOTA NATIONAL PARK
1t is a delight to talk about the pro-
posed park before the members of this
association, each of whom so we'll APP
preciates its Importance and is so well
qualified to judge of its merits. In dis
cussing the matter it was not necessary
to cite authorities to prove that the pres
erva ton of our remaining forests is
y
prosperity, in its inland marine COM
merce, its agricultural, its manufac-
lures, and for the health and happiness
of it's people
The region Is compact body of lard
OF irregular formation abOnt thirty-siX
miles square and contains 1,2Jl square
miles Within it's boundaries are over
ninety lakes. the largest of which, Leech
Lake. has snOre line as surveyed by
the government surveyors of 5l6 miles.
There are seven rivers within the ter
ritory the Mississippi, the Turtle, the
Bowstring, Leech Lake river, Little Boy
KabekCna and Steamboat rivers, besides
numerous smaller streams. The lakes
rivers and streams contain total area
Of 325 square miles, about one fourth Of
the entire tract.
"On the land surface over $4,000 acres
have been set off in individual allotments
TO the 1883 Indians whose holdings and
villages are scattered over the region
The remaining lands belong to all the
Chippewa Indians of Minnesota, and are
held in trust for them by the govern
ment under what is known as the Mel
oson law and the Rice treaty" Prior
to 1889 when the law was passed and the
teraty made the four tribes of Leach
lake Mississippi, Chippewas, Winnbi-
goshish and Cass lake Indnans owned
these lands respectively as their reser-
Vations
The region is easily accessible from
the great railroad centers of the West
From Chicago by way of Duluth to the
eastern bOundry of the proposed park.
and via st. Paul and minneapolis to the
western boundary is about 500 miles. To
the latter point from st. Louis is III,
from Kansas City $50, and from Omaha
$40 miles.
There are in its favor the following:
First the protection of the forests at
and to that extent insuring its steady
flow and volume.
- Second, protection of the Indians in
the homes where they and their fore
fathers have hunted, fished and gathered
their wild rice for generations.
Third, benefits to all our own, while
people who live in or are interested in
that region.
Fourth, blessing and benediction to
all the rest of us who shall be permitted
to enjoy it's grand climate, behold its
primeVal beauties, fish in it's waters and
hunt in its forests on our annual outings,
when taking our yearly respite from
daily toll.
Fifth. because the creation of this
park will inculcate love of country and
love of God, as anarchy like malaria,
does noe exist in that region, and heaven
seems much nearer there then in the
cities, towns and treeIess regions down
here.
THE friends Of the park feel that they
are nearing their goal-so near indeed,
that with their measure already passed
the senate by a unanimous vote and on
the calendar of the house ready for ac-
ton a the reassemblng of congress they
take this occasion to thank some of
those whose good offices have been most
helpful, amongst whom are the senate
of the United States, the governor of
New York, and the president of the
Great Northern railway, who out of his
good heart and great Americanism gra-
tuitously gave us the congressional eX-
petition of last year, without which our
undertaking would have probably failed"
The ninth annual meeting of the ma
tional irrigation congress came to a
close tonight only small number of
delegates being present.