The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-09-26
TOWN SHUT IN
BY MORRIS LAW
TERRITORY TRIBUTARY TO CAss
. - LAKE rs ''REsERvED.n
H. II. McNamara Irtimates that the
Founders of That Thriving Town
Were Gold Bricked by the Govern
1nent, WhWich Promised to Open the
Lands and Then Withdrew Them.

The forestry provisions of the Morris
law are meeting strong opposition in
northern Minnesota, and especially from
those who live in the vicinity of the
national forest reserve, according to H.
Fl. Mcnamara Of Cass Lake, who is
visiting in the city. . ..f.
"Forest reserves are generally, I'M
popular with those who live near
them," said Mr.. Mcnamara today,
"anI in our case the forestry en-
ployees say the opposition is merely To-
cal sentiment. Even if northern Min
nesota, or the whole state, is against
it, they say, it has enough advocates in
the east to overcome all protests.
,"But there are reasons why this par
opposition of. not only those whose in
terests are affected by it, but Of those
who believe in justice. The govern
ment promised our people, under the
provisions of the Nelson law, that the
creator part Of the Chippewa reser-
Walton in the state should be opened to
homestead entry and settlement. In
anticipation of this the government
sold at public auction the TOWNSHIP Of
Cass Lake, which became the home of a
class of solid business men, who have
expended over half million dollars in
improvements, including fine water
works, electric lights, sewers, schools,
banks, etc. All this was done on the
strength Of the promises Of the Nelson
law.
"The opening of the reservation was
delayed on one pretext or another until
the Nelson law was amended by the
Morris law, carrying with it the set:
ting aside of 231 900 acres Of good land
as a perpetual forest reserve. Were
this acreage selected in such portions
of the reservation" as not to affect the
established interests, there would be
little objection on the part of our peO-
pie now. But the town of Cass Lake,
where so much has been expended, finds
itself shut in by stone wall patrolled
by the emissaries Of the forestry bu-
reau, and lands which should be the
homes Of thousands of farmers, are Civ
aries.
working out very satisfactorily, at
least in the opinion of men who have
been all their lives in the woods. Men
of lifelong experience in timber are
amused at the idea that all the pine. on
tract Of land can be cut, excepting
few scattering trees amounting to
per cent, and that these lone senti-
nels will guard, the tract against forest
fires, wind storms and the forces OF ma
turc for hundred years, or until they
shall have reproduced another gener-
alton Of trees.
s:lf, in tue Aoirondacks, the home Of
forestry in this country, the elaborate
forestry machinery and the expenditure
CT manly thousands of dollars, were I'M
able to prevent the destruction Of prop:
erty by forest fires in the year 1902
amounting to $3,50O,O00 in value, what
| is to be expected in a region like that
where the Minnesota reserve is located
traversod by great trunk lines of rail
way and dotted with Indian homes9
"Let the forestry people evolve q
rational plan of procedure. select and
own without any reservation whatso
ever o. tract of land so situated that
fires con be easily guarded against, and
the general government keep it's prom
Uses made under the Nelson law, ano
the people Of northern Minnesota vii;
no longer oppose the forestry idea, but
do what they can to further it.