Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-02-14
hands of the legislature. Several bills

hands of the legislature. Several bills
are In, encouraging forest reserves,
and one providing for the establish
ment of state park at Devils Lake.
Wisconsin was once one OF the proud
states in numbering, but has been the
victim Of the saddest and most shame
ful vandalism Good progress IL De.
Ing made to remedy in part tns in
jury and the state forester outlines
the following suggestions to the legis-
lature: II
ALREADY "a $50 acres OF land In Bur-
rette, Douglas and Marinette counties,
which after examination were found
to be either suitable for agriculture
or too scattered, have been offered for
sale, and 1t Is expected that within a
short time there will be considerable
fund with which to purchase desirable
lands to add to the forest reserve.
I'm Oneida, Villas, Iron and Price
counties, including 10000 acres of
state lands within the Lac du Flam-
beau Indian reservation, the state
owns over 10000 acres, most Of 1t
being In fairly compact body. With
In this area is one Of the most Won
derful lake regions In the world, and,
as they constitute great reservoir
system on the headwaters of the Wis
consin river, they and the surround
ing forests should be carefully pro-
tected.
Destruction IL Tremendous.
1.-THE destruction Of the forests OF
northern Wisconsin has been on ire
mendous scale, particularly on the
headwaters OF the Wisconsin, and
therefore, n small forest reserve would
fall far short Of remedying existing
evils The state should gradually ac-
quire In this region a forest reserve
large enough to adequately protect the
watershed Of this, our greatest river,
as such considerable part Of the
prosperity Of the state Is dependent
upon Its constant, even flow. The tire.
mendous influence which the forest
has In preserving and regulating
stream flow issthe most important fac
tor III the forestry work of Wiscon-
SIN. A large enough forest reserve
VIII be able in time to supply many of
the important Industries which are de-
pendent upon the forests for their raw
material. New York state already has
forest reserve OF 100000 acres In
the Adirondack lake region, which pro-
tects the headwaters Of the Hudson
river, and is steadily buying more
timber land"
To Buy Old Capitol
In connection with building Of the
new capitol it is interesting to note
that bill Is expected to come in pro-
viding for the purchase Of the old ter
ritorial capitol at Belmont, the first
meeting-place of a Wisconsin legisla-
ture. BY a strange caprice Of fate
this first capitol, although built of
wood, has survived two Of its prouder
successors OF stone and bids fair to
live well into the lifetime Of It's third.
This building, In which the first ter
rltorial legislature met in 1897, Is n
two-story affair, much resembling
store IN country town. 1t was built
Of strong oak timbers, rs were most
buildings In that early day, and was
a proud affair then, but long since fell
from It's high estate and for many
years has been doing ignoble duty as
a barn. Some time ago an attempt
was made to obtain possession of It,
but the owner said he wished to re-
tain 1t until his death. He died re-
Gently and the property now bids fair
to soon pass into the hands OF the
state.
Material for Capitol.
The usual contest over what material
Shnll be used In the construction OF