The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1911-06-01
DULUTH CONVENTION ]
IS ENTHUSIASTIC
What is Thought to Be Most Success
full Northern Minnesota Develop
ment Meeting in Progress.
GOVERNOR EBERHART SPEAKS.
Chief Executive Avoids Talking on
Reapportionment- Chief Forest
er Cox Talks.
BEM1DJ1 MAN ON PROGRAM
Ferman Wilson, Editor Daily Pioneer
Tells of Commission Plan of
State Government

Duluth, June 1.-(Daily Pioneer
Special Wire Service. between
five and six hundred residents of
northern Minnesota gathered at the
Duluth Armory this morning for the
first session of the fourth convention
of the Northern Minnesota Develop
ment Association.
They heard Mayor Cullum welcome
them to Duluth, Governor Eberhart
SPOKE on good roads and state devel-
opment, Right Rev. James McGol-
rick told of the opportunities offered
to the settlers in northern Minnesota,
F. A. Wilson advocated the commits
sion form of government and C. L..
Hanson advocated a boosting pro-
gram for the commercial clubs of
northern Minnesota.
Fight Shy Of Reapportionment.
Governor Eberhart fought shy of
the reapportionment issue. In fact
he did not touch upon the subject
at all. His talk which lasted for
twenty-five minutes, was simply
along the line of state development.
President Maxf1eld this afternoon
announced the following credential
committee: l.. B. Arnold, St. Louis
county; D. H. Lawrence, Lake coun-
ty; Albert Clevin, Beltrami county;
J. w. Wheeler, Polk county.
Richie on Resolution Committee.
G. A. Albright of Brainerd will be
chairman of the resolution committee
and some of the other members of
that committee will be, A. P. Richie,
Bemidji; E. H. Ref, Bagley; M. N.
Kohl, Cass Lake and L. H. Rice, Park
Rapids. -.. .-.... .--.,-
In his address on "The Settler and
the Forest" Mr.. Cox said:
Minnesota is still in need of set
tiers. The prairie districts of the
state have been turned to farms and
the hardwood region formerly known
as the big woods has experienced a
like fate. Thousands of homes have
replaced the forest of oak and maple
and elm that not so long ago stretch
ed with few openings, from st. Cloud
to the Pomme de Terre. But the
great coniferous forest of pine and
spruce has been slower to appeal to
the homeseeker, who too often has
gone on to the dry lands further west
or to the alluring wheat fields of
Canada.
"People have at last commenced
to realize, however, what Northern
Minnesota has to offer IN the way of
agricultural possibilities. Not only
is the climate and the varieties Of
soil adapted to the raising of a long
list of grains and vegetables and
stock but, very often, the homestead
er or the new conner finds a valuable
crop already upon the land. Some
time this crop is mature and all
ready for the harvest; more often it
is young and growing but holding
out the promise of a big yield in a
few years.
"The protection of the forest is not
a sentimental proposition. 1t is just
common sense business. The lum-
herman is interested and willing to
help, for his timber is in danger and
the young growth on his cut-over
land is increasing in value. The
railroads are interested for they lose
much property through fires and
have to pay damages as a result of
them; then too they lose the freight
which would have been furnished by
the timber consumed But the set
tier above all others is interested for
he has not only the mature timber
and young growth on his homestead
at stake but his home and his family
may be sacrificed by his carelessness
or that of his neighbor inthe case Of
fire.
"The state has made good start
in the matter of forest fire proven
ton. The new law is a good one.
The 200 rangers which hope to have
in the woods this season should do
much toward reducing the fire risk,
especially on the state lands which
it will be their first duty to protect,
but we are going to need the active