The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1919-02-08


perts estimate that a substantial,
permanent rehabilitation can be
accomplished for about one-third
of the total loss, something over
100000, say $10,00O,00O, to be
liberal and safe.
To date, not a citizen, capital
list, statesman or politician has
come forward with any such SEN
sible, reasonable proposition as
that. No one has presented even
a tentative plan from which to
work in a practical, effective way.
Rehabilitation seems to be an
irridescent dream, unless some
master mind and hand steps forth
and controls the unsatisfactory
situation.
Even Col. Eva asks the legisla-
ture to appropriate only $780,
900. With his plea, he submits a
comprehensive termination.
Minnesota stands in a position
where the whole world will see
that she is not equal to a great
need and emergency.
The house committee on appro-
priations appointed subcommit-
tee last week to visit the burned
districts and see just what is
needed. The committee was G. M.
Bendixen, chairman, of Morgan,
J. B. Pattison Of St. Cloud
|, and w. L. Bernard Of Duluth. O.
H. Diercke, clerk Of the statehouse
appropriations committee, accom-
panied the subcommittee.
From reports in the daily pa
pers, it was assumed that some
thing of an investigation Of condi-
tons, complaints and even approx
ais would be held by the visitors.
One daily paper stated that the
solons would be at the armory
from 8 a. m. until afternoon, on
Sunday, to meet fire sufferers and
confer with them on any matters
Of Importance.
Several settlers from the hinter-
land came in, only to find the ar
mory deserted. The committee
said that it never was planned to
be there at that time, but to 60 to
the country and be in the city in
the evening. $780,.
Despite snow and cold, a visit Of
a sort was made out back Of Du-
luth as far as Twig and Pike Lake.
Only a few settlers were seen, ow-
ing to short time and bad weather.
| "Those settlers did not seem to
know what they want" was a re-
mark made by one Of the visiting
law makers.
That might have been due to
suddenness Of the appearance,
doubt as to identity of the visitors
and other good reasons.
Col. Eva kept his eye as closely
on the visitors as possible, joining
them out there in the charred
stumps and drifts Of snow at some
point.
That was Sunday. On Monday,
the members of the subcommittee
! went to Cloquet. Col. McNair
showed them around. They saw
Cloquet struggling to come back
and went far enough into the sub
urbs to interview few Finnish
| settlers who did not understand
much about the visit of the distin-
guished citizens.
Monday was terrible day as a
result of wet snow and high wind.
But, possibly, enough was seen to
salve the consciences Of the visi-
tors and to enable them to truly
report that they went, saw and
got back.
They certainly did not 60 back
with any burning desire for big,
broad, effective policy Of rehabili-
tation.
AS near as could be told, they
went back willing to boost for
enough to pay up that overdraft
and pull the fire sufferers through
until spring. Mere subsistence
until grass comes and the roads
are passable is about all the aid
that the people in the devastated
hinterland can expect from the
great state Of Minnesota, in the
humble opinion Of the Rip-saw.
Without rehabilitation to the
extent Of 100000 to $10,000,-
900, the chances are rather in
favor of abandonment of the
burned areas by the victims of the
fire. Every week, numbers of
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