Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-06-24
FOR FOREST RESERVE
Congress Ready to Pass Bill
for a Park at Mississippi
Headwaters.
Believed That 1t Will Save the
Great Riyer-.-Trees and0
Water Supply.
Legislators Beginning to Realize
Necessity OF Woods to Main.
tain Streams.

Washington, June PA step in the
direction of the creation of national
park forest reservation at the headwa-
tiers of the Mississippi will be taken up
by congress this week, when bill for
the sale of the pine upon the coded
Chippewa reservations between Leech
and Winnibigoshish lakes will pass.
1t is not as long as that which Col.
John S. Cooper of Chicago and other
public-s spirited men have been working
for, but it is satisfactory as far as it
goes in removing the danger that now
exists that the lands of the Chippewa
reservation may be denuded of timber.
The creation of a large forest reserve
at the headwaters of the Mississippi
river has been strenuously urged upon
congress for years. As timber has be-
come scarce the woodlands ak has
sought it at the source of the great
river.
The value of forests in preserving
the water supply of rivers is so sener-
ally recognized that the promoters of
the project have not been required to
direct much effort to convince the ma
tional legislators that there should be
forest reserve. The comprehensive
project with which Col. Cooper's name
has been identified may eventually be
realized, altho congress at this time is
in an economic temper, and insists up
on disposing of the question piecemeal.
The Chippewa Indians have received
advances from the government until
they now owe Uncle Sam between 3d.
100000 and $4,0O0,000. Under the law
of 1889 the secretary of the interior is
required to estimate the pine upon the
Chippewa reservation and to sell the
pine land to the highest bidder for
cash. Realizing that this law invited
the destruction of valuable forests, be-
cause in buying the timber the pur-
chaser becomes owner of the land, the
friends of national forest reserve Sc
cured the introduction of the Morris
bill
The senate quickly passed measure !
for the sale of the timber upon the res
ervation. The bill. when it reached the
house, was referred to the proper COM
mittee, where it was considered and
the Morris proposition offered as a
substitute. The house, after some in
terestng debate, adopted the Morris
bill last Thursday and thus threw the
matter into conference.
The conference report which urges
the adoption of the Morris bill, will
probably be approved by the senate to-
Cay without important amendments,
and before the present week ends the
president may attach his signature to
an act which, in comparatively few
years will be referred to as the begin I
ring of legislation that was largely in
strumental in preserving the water
supply of the Mississippi valley.
Under the Morris bill there will be a
forest reserve of nearly 100000 acres
right at the headwaters of the Mis- t
sissippi. There are in the Chippewa
in round numbers about +
650.000 acres. About two thirds of it is
pine land. and of this pine land 100000
acres will be reserved after all but 5
yer cent of the timber has been cut.
Under the bill the lumberman gets
only the pine, and when he cuts the
pine off, under such rules and regula
tons as the agricultural department
may prescribe, he will be required to
ture forest fires. Five per cent of the
Pine will be left standing for re-
None of the spruce birch,
hemlock or other kinds of
timber except pine will be cut.
The friends of a forest reserve at the
source of the Mississippi river sought
10 have the entire Chippewa reserva-
ton of 100000 acres retained but were
forced to be content with reserving on
" 100000 acres.
The Indians will be paid for the pine
timber cut under bids, which the bill
shall be submitted to the sec
-etary of the interior. 1t is estimated
hat the pine timber to be removed is
worth from $15,000,000 to $20,000,000.
and it is certain that the Indians will
.eceive somewhere from SI0O0,O00 to
,1O,000,000.
The bids under which the timber will
De sold will fix the price according to
he Scribner rule, and the Indians will
DO employed to do the cutting.