The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-07-15
GENERAL ANDREWS SAYS FOR
EST RESERVE WILL HELP
NORTHERN MINNESOTA
DOES NOT MEAN LOSS TO
PROSPECTIVE SETTLERS
Fire Warden Makes Public Letter on
Which Land Commissioner Based
His Action-Land in Reserve Is Nom
Agricultural and Only Valuable for
Forestry Purposes.

c. G. Andrews, chief state fire war
den for forest protection, upon his re-
| turn from Washington, made public
yesterday the letter sent by him to
Commissioner General Binger Her.
mann, of the United States land office,
which led to the reservation of $780,
600 acres of land in Cook and Lake
counties, this state, for forestry pur-
poses. The communication is as fol-
| lows:
st. Paul, Mimi, May 10, 19O2-Hon.
Binger Hermann, Commissioner General
sir: l have the honor hereby to rec
ommend that the following townships, all
public land, situated in Cook and Lake
| counties, in Minnesota, and comprising,
after deducting water surface, an area in
round numbers of 5000 acres, be set
apart by the president as a forest re-
serve, namely:
Township So, ranges 5, and west. a.
township go, ranges to 8 west
Township 81, ranges to IL west, both
Township 60, ranges to 10 west, both
inclusive.
Township So, ranges to west, both
inclusive, and south half of township 63,
range s.
Ten of these townships are unsurvey-
ed and al OF the lands are practically va
6af of |iH s. s&cepons that only
township so, range s west, are vacant,
and that two thirds of township SO, range
west and township 81, range 5 west,
are vacant.
I inclose a map of these lands, with
notes showing their character, compiled
from the field notes in the United States
surveyor generals office of this state.
Only Good for Forestry.
| make this recommendation for the
following reasons:
L. The land has general elevation of
about 1000 feet above Lake Superior is
generally hilly and rocky and more val
liable for the production of timber than
for agriculture. 1t is natural timber
land, but much of the original timber
soil is only third or fourth-rate and
the TACT that although fairly accessible
none OF 1t has been taken by settlers is
of itself evidence that it is l1ndesir9h HE
Tor agricultural purposes.
Inc benefit that will accrue to Mime
sofa by having this waste and vacant land
ptlllzed Tor forestry purposes. Everyone
Knows that the supply of pine timber in
Minnesota is fast diminishing. Already
several kinds of lumber from the Pacific
coast are competing here with our home
productS and as our home supply decreases
rates of transportation on lumber from
the coast will be advanced. DEAFNESS of
lumber will tend to retard the develop
ment OF agricultural lands, farmers being
among the principal consumers of lumber
On this land proposed to be created a
forest reserve. it will require about
merchantable size. The population Of
the United States in eighty years from
now, according to the estimate of the
most competent. judges based on our past
history, will be $40 0O0, 900. Everyone can can
see that the demand for lumber will then
be VERY much greater than at present.
Game and Fish Preserves.
8. Inc land In question contains many
1lne lakes and streams and will, if adj
mlnlstered as forest reserve, prove val
uable also as a fish and game preserve.
4. Inc educational effect of such re-
serve serve would be useful in promoting forest
tot
D. nave been rejecting upon this mat
ter for over year. 1 have also seen oc-
casional expressions in the public press
faVoring a forest reserve, to include some
of the highlands north of Lake SUPERIOR
L nave examined the government plates
OF all the surveyed lands in Minnesota
nofth OF Lake Superior and those herein
contained are about the only lands that
are available from being vacant This is
r the only opportunity (outside of Indian
reserVat1ons) of securing a number of
townships in a body in this state for a
forest reserve. Of course, it is under
STOOD that the state of Minnesota is en-
t4lied TO sections 16 and Sc in each town
snip as school lands also that the state
VIII have right to any swamp lands
Shfp ma. may be in either town
s sn1Pa IA Als fo,,n should any of the re-
land |, for one, would expect that the
law would be made to permit. if it does
not now permit, the use of such lands for
agIIculfuraI purposes. do not expect the
reserve to be a wilderness, nor to shut
out any necessary means of communica,
ton. Very truly yours,
C. G. Andrews.
Chief (Forest) Fire Warden.
Discussing this action of the land de-
paftment as to its effect upon the in
terests OF the state in the lands under con-
SHERATON, Gen. Andrews said
viii Hasten Development
The amendment to the forestry resar1,a
act OF 1897 provides that any land suita
pie Tor agriculture or for mining within
the limits OF a reserve shall be restored
10 the public domain. The creation of a
reserve VIII therefore not prejudice anv
agricultural or mineral interests ShoTig
tnere be any lands which the state needS
as indemnity lands there is no 0uestion
that the state will acquire them.
we must remember that Minnesota hos
an area of 0,000, 900 acres TThere aro
100000 acres of uncultivated land IN
northern Minnesota. 1t would seem rea
Sonable That a state of this size could af-
1ord TO nave a moderate-SiZed forest re-
serve. Inc fact that it could do SO indi
cafes the greatness of the state.
Inc province of Ontario has a forest re-
serve called the Algonquin National nark
1,Q0O O0O acres in extent, and only 150
miles from Toronto -'0
The effect of this preliminary ordo,. 80
1ne COMMISSIONER of the general land Of
nee VIII be to hasten the develOnmen+ of
the territory in the proposed reserve TIC
geological survey will ascertain now what
OF the lands are good for agriculture and
Wha[ Tor mining. Any such lands will
NOT De included in the reserve 1t is NOT
INTENDED that a forest reserve shou1d he
d SOLD block of wilderness "