Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-05-01
NORTHERN WISCON-
SIN CLAIMING LEGIS-
LATIVE ATTENTION

MADISON, Wis, April 25.-North-
ern Wisconsin is claiming a goodly
portion of legislative attention this
session. The growing Importance of
the northern part of the state, indus
trially and politically, is coming home
to the legislature. This is evidenced
in the attention given measures par
ucuIarly affecting the northern part
Of the state by members from the
southern counties
Foremost of these questions, per-
haps, is the forestry problem The
state is committed to a forestry pro-
gram, and there is no indication that
the great conservation policy will be
abandoned, but there is every evil
dence that members from all sections
of the state give serious attention
to the grievance voiced from coul-
ties in the reserve section and pro-
pose to preserve the rights of the
people of that section as we'll as of
the whole state. They propose to
investi gate the conflicting claims and
do justice to all.
Of more general importance to the
development of the northern part of
the state is the water power problem
Enactment of a development law at
as early date as possible, that the
ornat Oofrral roCouroacy of Dor+borr,
Wisconsin may do their share in open
ing up the wealth of this region is
assured. A conflict will undoubtedly
ensue over the new bill, which has
been introduced, but it is hoped
that the Water-power representatives
will evidence the interest in the de-
velOpment of the state that they pro
fess by taking the same interest ard
giving the same assistance in the
writing Of a workable constructive
Law that will preserve at once the
vested rights of riparian owners and
of the people, as is taken by those
who are endeavOring to write a slIc-
cessful WatepoWer control law, in.
stead of continuing to pursue the
purely obstructive tactics that have
marked their previous campaigns.
Another question of particular in
terest to the northern half of the
state is the question of loans on
wild lands either directly by the
state or with the assistance of the
state.
The Nye amendment to the consti-
tuition to enable the state to sell
bonds to make loans to settlers is,
receiving serious consideration.
A bill o permit few small hold
ers of wild lands to incorporate to
issue mortgage certifi Gates, and max
ing these certificates good security
in state banks is proposed to give
immediate aid.
Various other plans are being ad-
vanced to bring into the northern
counties money, the lack of which
is the greatest impeachment to rap
id development and growth in wealth
industry and population, and mem
bers. from all parts of the state are
giving attention.
The success in government aid
in securing development and improve
ment capital for unimproved agricul.
tural lands in New Zealand, Austria
liza and some other countries is shown
in recent report on this subject by
the State Board of Public Affairs.
These examples and it's recent trial
in the province of Nova Scotia and
New Brunswick, Canada, give the
egislature various plans to consid
er and it is probable that some de-
finite and material step will be TAX
en- by the legislature unless some
grave difficulty arises which makes
it advisable to give the subject fur
Their investi CATION and deeper study
before entering upon what will be in
this country an almost new and UNI
tried proposition.