Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1910-05-27
FORESTER GIVES VIEWS
E. M. GRIFFITH MISQUOTED AS TO
CUT-OvER LANDS SPEECH.
Denies Statements Attributed to Him
Which Might Be Derogatory to
Northern Wisconsin.

MADISON, Wis, May 21.-[Special1
State Forester E. NJ. Griffith issued
this statement today anent the cut-over
lands controversy:
My attention has been called to an article
IN the front page of the Milwaukee Sen
incl of the 18TH, in which | am quoted as
having stated in a talk before the Outdoor
Art Association of Milwaukee that all cut
over lands in northern Wisconsin were I'M
1t for agriculture and that the owners OF
:heSe lands were duping settlers by selling
% them at $15 per acre, whereas the state
could purchase the same character Of lands
1t $3.50 per acre.
l have been msquoted and the article
gives an entirely wrong impression. AS
was showing some views of very sandy ana
ocky lands which had been burned over re-
)eatedly, l stated that the best utilization
II these lands was u serious economic prob
EN- for the state. and that the attempts OF
certain companies to induce settlers to pur-
chase such lands at $50 per acre was devil
Sh' as the lands were not suitable for
agriculture, but were strictly forest lands.
stated that duping poor settlers in this
way had Oftentimes resulted in giving
cultural section. 1 did not of course state
hat all the cut-over pine lands were unit
or cultivation, as such statement would be
absurd.
sandy soils from different sections in Wis
:Onsin and the analysis showed that they
Varied remarkably in soil fertility. Also
having travelled through nearly every cOun-
" in northern Wisconsin | know that III
some sections there are good farms on
sandy soils, while in other sections the set
Inference in the world whether it is a pure
sand whether there is loan mixed in
with the sand. What l did say was that
he hardwood lands of northern wisconsin
we're really just beginning to be settled and
hat these woull be fine farming sections,
md l do not believe any one Will dispute
his.
| was also misquoted in what I said re-
yarding water powers. The article states:
Speaking of the water powers of the state
Mr. Griffith said the owners We're making
bitter fight against the state handling them
'0r the whole people. In this he said, they
were standing in their own light as the
state now had the power to annul any
franchises which had been granted"
What l did say was that | thought the
water power owners were standing IN their
own light as Il fOrty-year franchise, which
t was suggested should be given, seemed
PETER than a so-called perpetual franchise
which contained the amendment and repeal
clause.
AS stated, I was misquoted just enough to
convey an entirely wrong impression to the
:eader | trust you will give this correction
If mine as prominent a place as possible, as
do not want to in any way retard the set
Element of lands which are really suitable
Tor agriculture. 1 have repeatedly stated
n my published reports and in articles and
addresses that it is one of the principal ten
ITS of forestry that land suitable for
farming should be kept under forests as
here is plenty of land in Wisconsin,, ana
nearly every other state which Is suitable
,)nly for forest growth.
Therefore there should be no quarrel be-
:ween the forester and those who are sell
ng land really suitable for farms: A great
wrong is done to the settler and harm TO
he state when he is induced by false state
nents to locate on non-agricultural lands,
The state has commenced soil survey
If northern Wisconsin and this is a de-
aged step in the right direction.