Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1911-01-06
STATE ASKS ISLANDS
FOR FOREST RESERVES
Congressman Morse Lays the Matter Be-
fore Committee on Public Lands.

A special to the Oshkosh Northwes-
tern, from Washington, d. c., has the
following to say concerning Congress
man Morse:
Repr esentative E. A. Morse has pre-
sented to the house committee on pub
lie lands strong letters from Wisconsin
state officials and other prominent citi-
zens urging that the government turn
over to the state for forestry purposes
the score of small islands in the north
ern lakes. Mr.. Morse laid the matter
before the committee clearly and con-
vincingly and is quite hopeful of favor
able action.
The islands are not being used for
anything" he said. Il do not know
how many there are, but the number
is surprisingly large. The area of the
islands is too small for homestead pur-
poses, and for this reason settlers have
not gone on them. The larger islands
have been taken and are under cultiva-
ton, but where there are only a few
acres in an island settlers are not at
tracted.
THE state is developing a splendid
forestry system around these islands
tage Apparently there is no prospect
of the United States utilizing them for
any purpose. AS part of the state
forestry system they could be beautified
and otherwise improved. At present
practically all of them are uninhabited,
unless it be one here and there during
the heated term, when campers are
occasionally seen upon them.
The many lakes in which these is
lands are situated abound with fish and
game is plentiful in Northern Wiscon-
sin. The islands can be made very at
tractive as we'll as useful in a forest
sense. If the state had them, many of
the islands could be rented to parties
of vacationists, little iudiciOuS adver-
tising being all that is needed to at
tract people to the general region.
Last year the principal of Kansas City
school for boys gave the entire student
body an outing in this region. While
this is only an incidental matter, it is
important. We have an ideal natural
summer resort for which nothing is
being done because the government is
not in position to do anything and
the state can do nothing with property
that does not belong to it. If these is
lands were included IN our forestry sys-
tenn they would be directlo under state
control and funds would be available
for cleaning them up primarily TO" the
promotion of forestry The islands would
be big asset to the state, while they
are practically valueless to the general
government.
Mr. Morse feels that the house COM
mittee will take favorgble action pro
vided its chairman and mem bers are
convinced that there is strong public
sentiment in Wisconsin in favor of the
transfer of this property to the state.
Citizens who are interested in seeing
this transfer made would do well to
write letters 20 their immediate repre-
sentatives and request that they be
tur1ed over to the committee ON public
lands, or to communicate with Hon.
Frank b. Mondell, chairman of the
committee.
State Forester Griffith already has
written a strong letter, which has been
filed with Mr.. Mondell along with
those of all the state officials. Mem
bers of the Wisconsin branch of the
National Conservation association aud
!: representative persons interested in
forestry can do much to promote this
good canse by making their wishes
knawn, while the plain everyday citi-
zen of Badgerdom can do a lot of good
in the same way.
Many members of the state senate
and house have written letters indors-
ing this project.