Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1913-04-16
their policy upon Wisconsin.
BARNES RIDDLES ARGUMENT.

Ahts 10 great Dig business pro-
position continued Justice Barnes
and the states interest is not that of
few dollars. Execution OF plans of
this magnitude, means involving
Wisconsin in the expenditure of tens
OF millions of dollars. You as legisIa-
tors stand between the tax payers and
those who seek to expend this money.
There are lot of representations on
on this question and men differ in
their opinions but your duty is to
ascertain who IS right and who is
wrong"
ANY proposition which plans to
take one-twenty-fourth of Wlscon-
sin and to convert it into a non agri>
cultural section, it would seem IS
important enough, aside from the
cost, to command the considerate and
deliberate attention of any legislature.
To investigate this subject before
such policy is adopted, seems to
me, only just and right. If these
lands are worthless fol agricultural
purpores, they are not going to run
away, they will still be there after an
investigation, to be subject to the
attempt at demonstration. There is
no haste about this.
The state has already some 400, 900
acres upon which trees can be grown
This in my opinion, is sufficient terri
tory to keep the force busy for 200
years or more. If these lands are not
agricultural lands, those who are here
asking You to authorize an investiga-
ton would not be here. 1t will cost
the state from SIS to 1925 per acre to
plant and care for trees. If the land
is wanted solely for the purpose of
summer resorts, as is partially given
as one of the reasons, then | want to
say to you. we have land enough to
accommodate all the people of the state.
RIDICULES FLOOD IDEA.
. he lands in the headwaters region
of the Wisconsin valley, Judge Barnes
said, were largely level lands, and in
addition the valley was adequately
protected by a system of dams and
reservoirs.
1--WE have had floods in our rivers
ever since rivers were created and we
will continue to nave them. The
most damaging flood was during 1881,
and this was long before the timber
had been removed from the section
now sought to be included in the re-
serve. want to deny that the floods
at the present time are due to con&-
tions obtaining a. the headwaters.
The Rhinelander Paper company has
kept record for many years of the
howage of the Wisconsin river and |
am able to furnish the committee just
what this flowage is. Our dams and
reservoirs are controlling the flood
situation and this is equally true of
the Tomahawk river.
Z L. Luther of Rhinelander, the
university representative in Oneida
county in agriculture, demonstrated
what could be produced in grains and
grasses and root crops, by exhibiting
specimens grown on lands in part in
the reserve and adjacent thereto.
The showing was so conclusive that
1T should have brought conviction
upon the subject of the agricultural
possibliti of that section. In addi-
ton there was the testimony of many
farmers, for some Seventy>live
settlers covering every section of the
various counties, were before the
committee to testify as to what was
being done in the way of farming.
PRICE COUNTY DEFENDED.
w. K. Parkinson of Price county
said that his section not only was
willing to compete with the rest Of
the state as 10 the productivity but
that Price county had taken first prize
at the state fair and the second prize
at the worlds fair in ST. Louis, where
it bad competed with the entire
world. This is the land that they say
is non-agricultural.
Frequently the question was asked
of those opposing an investigation,
..what objection have you to an in
vestigation?"
President Van Hise interposed the
answer, when the speakers hesitated,
"that question can be answered
later" The question was not an
swered later or at any time during
the hearing. Chairman Axel Johnson
said that the speaker need not answer
unless he so desired.
CAMPBELL BACKS GRIFFITH,
H. S. Campbell appeared in behalf
of those who want to make the
reservation and in reply TO lot OF
rapid fire questions admitted that he
was not before the committee as 8
soil expert.
George O'Connor, of Eagle River,
who had charge Of the hearing on the
part of those who ask for an investi
CATION, together with a number o.
/ q ocllnnILN GO.