The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1912-01-04
Steps to Be Taken to Save Timber
on Land Found to Be of No Use
For Agriculture.
GOOD RESULTS IN PAST YEAR
Railroads Furnish Patrolmen, Watch
Towers Erected, and Other Safety
Precautions Made.

1t was decided at the final meetin 6
of the state forest rangers here to-
day to request all lumbermen of
northern Minnesota to hold two
joint meetings with them, probably
the second week of March, one meet
ing to be held in Bemidji represent
ing the numbering faction of the
northwestern part of the state and
another to follow this one in Vir-
ginia for northeastern Minnesota.
The purpose of these meetings
will be to persuade the various lum-
bering concerns to organize them
selves into individual fire protective
associations, to prevent possible fires
on company lands, and to deal CO.
operatiTely with the forest rangers
of the respective districts.
Fire Trails to Be County Roads.
c. M. King, of Deer River, presi-
dent of the Northern Minnesota as
ISOLATION, addressed the rangers and
urged cooperation in the campaign
to make forest trails county roads
and in this move he was assured
hearty support by Forester Cox and
his men. Sd,
At yesterdays session the discus
sion of the disposal of logging slash,
including the proper methods of
dealing with the various kinds,
whether pine, cedar, or hard wood,
occupied the greater part of the
time.
aside from fire prevention, the
slash also must be handled so as to
preserve the growth of young trees
for the future forest interests of the
state, which is an important aim of
our work." said Mr.. Cox.
State May Get Non-Farming Land.
The subject of land classification
upon which large part of the work
last summer was devoted, was an i'm
portant issue of the program. 1t
was announced that the information
then obtained concerning the exact
location and present ownership of
all lands unfit for farming has been
put on maps, and will be used at the
next meeting of the legislature, in
an effort to obtain the possession of
such lands for the state. These for
ests will be improved and preserved
by the forestry department.
Railroad Perils Reduced.
"There have been many surprisin g
results in the work of the last few
months, considering the few num-
Der of men employed" Mr.. Cox said,
"but the hardest thing we have to
accomplish this year is to get the
railroads to realize their part in the
prevention of fires, for next to the
slash wood fires, comes the great
number caused annually by flying
cinders from trains. But they have
already helped much in putting on
many patrolmen who work directly
under our supervision.
In addition to other improvements
last year there were 95 watch tow
ers erected throughout the state
IS Towers Constructed.
The remarkable thing in the con-
struction of these towers is that
they have been so located on hills
that oen can be seen from the other
These towers are used by the rang.
ers in their fire scouting and several
are provided with regular watch.
men.
A lecture was given last evening
in the Majestic theater, 1875 slides 81
forest views collected by Mr. Cox be.
ing shown.
The next meeting Of the forester.
probably will be held sometime Ii
April, as yet the place of meeting
has been undecided.