The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-04
ETASCA STATE PARK
COMMISSIONER BRoWER SUBMITS
AN ELABORATE REPORT TO
THE STATE GOVERNMENT
AREA FIVE BY SEVEN MILES

Weyerhacuser Syndicate, T. ID.
Walker, John 9. Pilisbury and q
Number of Smaller Owners Hold
Title to $500 Acres-Tcrritory Set
Apart as Picturesque Locality
Containing Lakes and Streams.
Prof. J. V. Brewer, commissioner for
the Itasca state park, yesterday made
his report to Gov. Lind and Attorney
General Douglas upon the pine standing,
within the limits of the park that does
not belong TO the state The report
gives an estimate of every forty in the
park. and is neatly bound IN book form
with plats OF every section as we'll as
photographs Of all the valuable tracts
of pine owned both by the state and in
dividuals.
The park contains thirty-flve sections
including a land area OF 1902 acres, of
which the state owns 10,S79 and lumber
companies S,S23 acres. most Of the latter
Of which Is valuable pine land. The ag-
gregate estimate for pine held by outside
ownership exceeds considerably 100000
900 feet. The Weyerhaeuser syndicate,
4. B. Walker, John S. Pillsbury, and a
number of smaller owners hold title to
the 8.S29 acres. The state park is five by
seven miles in area.
Last winter the legislature made an
appropriation of $4,000 for the purpose
OF estimating the standing pine and
acquiring much Of 1t as possible.
for park purposes. AS yet the state has
purchased but one piece, that known as
the McMullen homestead. The exact
figures of the estimate can not be learn
ed, but 1t is said that 1880 COO will
cover the pine owned by lumber COM
ranies
The total cost of acquiring the entire
area Of the park can only be estimated
until figures are agreed upon by state
officials ss to the value of the pine. 1t
will require several large appropriations
to acquire the entire area OF the park.
The park incloses Lake Itasca, and the
springs which were discovered as the
headquarters Of the Mississippi rver early
| in the century.
Prof. Brewer states in his report a
number Of reasons why the land Is not
and probably never will be valuable for
| agricultural purposes. With the excep-
| ton OF q small tract here and there and
never more than forty or sixty acres, the
| land Is rocky, and contains large de-
posts of sand and gravel, and Is in every
very poorly, if not entirely, unfit for Gull
tivation.
The first legislation creating the state
park was passed by the legislature of
1891. The laads were forever dedicated to
public use, which amounted to a reserva-
ton of all the land directly surrounding
the ultimate basin Of the Mississippi. A
dense forest of fine oak, maple, Eastwood,
balsam fir, spruce and cedar covers the
heights Of land which separate the head
waters Of the Mississippi from those of
the Red River Of the North. The ul-
innate destruction Of the pine forests of
the state at no distant day for CONNER
cial purposes makes the park, the gov
ernor and Gen. Douglas believe particu-
larry valuable as a public forest reserve
of the natural primeval forest, for the
benefit of the people of the state when
pine trees will be q luxury.
After the legislative enactment In 1891.
the government granted to the state all
unappropriated public lands within the
area of the park. Lumbermen had already
acquired the 1923 acres referred to. The
state through Prof. Brewers report will
be able to negotiate intelligently for the
purchase Of these lands, as 1t has cor
rect estimate of every foot OF timber
owned by lumber companies, something
that the lumber companies do not even
possess themselves, although they can
come pretty close to figuring the amount
Of their holdings.
The distance from the rtate park by
the channel Of the Mississippi to the
north end Of the park is sec miles. The
territory set apart is picturesque local
ity containing numerous lakes and
streams.