The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1919-02-22

Immediately after the October for
est fires and some weeks before the
November election, Gov. Burnquist
stood firmly for the rehabilitation, a
substantial restoration, of the burned
areas of Northern Minnesota.
Today, Gov. Burnquist is as silent
as the tomb on the problem of re-
habilitation. His critics seem in
clined to charge that he stood for
rehabilitation for election purposes
only, but the Rip-saw cannot
credit it.
Immediately after the fire it was
believed that it would take from
$20,000,00O to $25,000,000 to sub
stantially restore the burned regions.
Governor, citizens and fire victims
took rehabilitation as a natural mat
ter of course.
The Duluth News Tribune editori-
ally declared:
"The almost appalling task Of re-
storation not only will be undertaken
but will be promptly done,
They (the sufferers) will be provided
for until they can go back to their
lands, into new homes, with all that
Is needed Tor q, neM start. I. 49,.
As a temporary measure Of relief,
certain funds of the state safety COM
mission were appropriated. The gov
ernor even proposed to call a. special
session of the legislature to properly
meet emergencies. He started on an
inspection trip to Moose Lake, the
understanding being that he would
cell the legislature into special ses-
sion Immediately on his return.
While on that trip, Gov. Burnquist
experienced a change Of heart. In
Duluth, at the time. It was stated
that Odin Halden met Gov. Burnquist
and his encourage at Moose Lake and
induced him to abandon the special
session idea, thereby enabling Halden
to make one Of his grand-stand plays
for the purpose Of helping his re-
election as auditor of st. Louis
county. There may have been other
reasons unknown. to Duluthians.
The special session was not called.
Limited temporary funds for relief
were exhausted and an overdraft OF
100000 incurred.
Now, instead OF measures for a
practical rehabilitation and d sub
stantial restoration, the legislature is
soothing its political conscience by
appropriation of $1,S00,000 for tenn
porary relief.
Immediately after the fires, too.
Gov. BurnQuist sent numbers Of per-
sonal representatives into the burned
areas to comfort the fire victims;
note the needs; and to promise a
substantial restoration of lost prop
erty. Among those who came to the
hinterland were private secretary
Lindquist, adjutant general Rhinow,
state forester Cox and others Of les
ser note. ..-
Not only were assurances made by
the governor, members OF. his stan
prominent citizens and the daily
press, but by the selected, direct, per-
sonal Representatives who penetrated
the remotest parts Of the devastated
hinterland. In support of this fact.
listen to the testimony Of Ernest
Zebott.
Ernest Zebott lives at Alborn.
With his brother. he has 140F acres
Of land. He had a strictly modern
barn-steel stanchions, concrete floor
and block concrete walls for the first
story. He lost his barn, hay, two
head Of cattle, a breeding bull. 80
chickens and some farm machinery.
a ON Int ~ fne tno
19 head OF cattle and some farm
machinery,
Zehott estimates his fire loss at
$4,000. He carried Insurance. In
the sum Of $4,000 and estimates the
value Of saved property at~$1,50o.
The ire hit Zebott hard and he
was dazed under the blow. A day or
two after the terrible disaster, a
stranger came along. He gave bis
name but Zebott was too badly dis
turbed to pay proper heed to it. The
name was sMack-something," q
Scotch or Irish name.
The stranger positively stated that
he came directly from Gov. Burn
quist. "You are hit pretty hard, he
then remarked to Zebott.
Il certainly am" replied the
farmer.
what do you intend to do now?"
Sell my stock and get out Of here
as quickly as ! can" answered the
discouraged agriculturist.
The cattle do not belong to you.
You have no right 20 sell them, was