Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-01-10
Declares .Tampering.
With Natlfxe Will Destroy
Value Of the State asa Re
sort for Visitors and Also
Drive Away Wild Game.

st. FRul, Mtnn,, Jan. lO.-frOpoDe0
drainage programs In southern and
central Minnesota threaten bto. rob.
districts, similar to those of western
North Dakota, thousands Of acres OF
rich, productive lands, according to
Harry J. LaDue, field secretary Of the
Minnesota Game Protective league. in
q formal statement issued tonight.
Not only would the drainage Of
lakes in southern and central Minne-
sofa result in O loss of moisture which
would be detrimental to the produce
tiveness Of the land. but the wild game
of the state would be sent to other
sections, Mr.. LaDue said.
From a careful study of the flu
tufe plans for huge drainage projects
in the northwest" he stated, "one
would imagine that modern man still
believes that when he wants moisture
all that he has to do is to appeal to
the gods, who will turn on the water.
HE will not live to realize his fall
lacy. Only the children OF the third
and fourth generations will suffer
from his thoughtless tampering with
nature. Without water, succeeding
generations will not follow.
Minnesota has a'land area of 6O,-
$4,000 acres and q water area Of g.
662,400 acres. Statisticians report that
approximately 28.OO0,0 600 acres are
used for crops and live stock raising.
The balance of 100000 acres pro-
duces nothing, except possibly some
timber. T~wo-thirds of the idle area
can be developed to produce foods,
cattle and fur-bearing animals.
Heretofore the only protest against
this ruthless program has come from
tho rcrn~fcpoor ,nl tho frorro~ Thofr
protests have been set aside on the
ground that they were merely prompt
ed by selfish motives.
They resent, however, the accuse
ton that they r prompted by mer::
cenary principles and point with pride
to the mighty efforts they have made
to preserve natural resources for the
use and enjoyment of the people of
today and tomorrow. We are today
beholden to him alone for all the con-
servation accomplishments Of the ma
ton.
1--WE are on the threshold of an era
en- flood from every state-with the
automobile and good roads. for trans
portation to state of Ten Thousand
Lakes. sy,s = ~. sAs5,
millions Of persons from other less
favored states are being attracted tc
the beautiful wooded, lake-studded
landscape of Minnesota
"a few years ago the Ten Thousand
Lakes of Minnesota association wa.
formed and statistics show that thrl
the efforts of the association in adver'
increased by the association was al
! follows:
I'm 1916, 1900 visitors in Mime
sofa spent $750.000; in 1917, 1905
visitors in Minnesota spent $4,000
in 1918, 10000 visitors in Minnesot,
spent $l,500p00; in 1919, 145,O00 Wis
itors in Minnesota spent Sc, 600, 900; ii
1920, 100000 visitors IN Minnesota
spent $4,000, 600. If :
Carlos Avery, state game and fist
commissioner, estimated that the in
trinsic value of wild life taken annual
+tly in Minnesota Is $4,000, 900; food
$1,0O0,000; commerce depending o.
wild life, exclusive Of tourist trade
$4,000, 900; value of birds to agricul
ture, $500, 600 and an incalculabl
esthetic value to persons. Add to thi
amount the $4,000, 900 from tours
trade and the total is $23,500,000
Drainage experts have been care
full to say they do not contemplate TIL
destruction of lakes of sufficient dept
to furnish boating and habitat fC
fish. They have only in mind tn
drainage of marshes and shallow lake
the natural habitat of Wild waite
fowl and many fur-bearing animal
I They studiously avoid mentioning
fact which other states have realize
to their sorrow. The gradual and PEI
sistent drainage Of marshes tends
lower the underground water level
the state.
THUS has the water level of low
been lowered more than nine feet
the past few years. The effect on tt
remaining lakes and streams is di
a%strous, to say the least. In southel
Minnesota thousands of IONS of fs
perish in lakes Of this character du
ing periods Of extremely low temper'
lures" ~ *