Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1921-11-25
,tSSsE =
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER -25, 1921.
LAKE SHORES FOR THE PUBLIC


General Morgan Of Wisconsin, private
owners have no lawful right to OBJ
struct the lakes Of Wisconsin from use
by the public through construction OF
fenceaacross pathways or by any 9th
er means that would keep the waters
out OF public use. The stand of the at
torney general will open all OF the
lakes OF. the state to any person who
cares to make use Of them without per-
hitting private owners OF abuttlng
land from excluding them. 1t points
out that the shores of Lake Michigan
and Superior are included within this
Interpretation. If Minnesota lacks a
law Of similar nature, it is time for the
legislature to look into the matter.
And the shore land Of lakes of certain
sizes. at least, should be protected
against being wholly owned by indivld-
uals, a part to be reserved for the pub
lie use.
In Governor Preus' address at St.
Cloud, November Is, on the occasion
of the official opening Of the new
highway, among other things, he said:
II hope and propose that in the fu-
t.
broad policy" the governor said, OF
Taking over the forests on Minnie
sofa g lake fronts.
Reforesting other lake fronts.
Condemning lake shore property
owned by individuals and taking it
over for the state, so that it will be
available for all the people Of the
state.''
Minneapolis Journal (Nov. lD:-
Governor Preus at the St. Cloud high
way celebration proposed the rescue of
the lake shores of Minnesota for the
use Of the public. He would have
them reforested where necessary, and
the timber preserved where it is al.
ready standing. He would have lake
shores now in private ownership con-
demned and taken over by the state,
so that they may be enjoyed by the
people.
Minnesota has within it's borders I'M
numbered miles of lake shore-enongh
probably to 60 pretty we'll around it's
two or three million inhabitants, If
distributed.
The Governor, it may be assumed,
does not ask that all Of this shore line
be sequestered for public use. But ON
every lake Of consequence, he would
reserve or acquire fair share of it
FOR the people.
No doubt, this idea was planted in
his mind when, on visiting an old and
favorite camping ground on Lake Su-
perio1 beyond Grand Marais last sum-
mer, he found himself and his family
shut off from the water by the owner
ship of the shore that had been acquir'
ed by club of Wisconsin sportsmen.
Private ownership Of shore rights is
desirable, no doubt, so long as it does
not also shut out the public from en-
joyhent Of lake life. In out own Min,
netonka we Of Minneapolis have an ex-
ample of such enjoyment almost entire
ly prevented by private ownership.
No one would desire to prevent the
building of such fine summer homes as
surround this unrivaled lake, but we
can see now that great mistake was
made in Minnetonka s earlier days,
when public reservation along its
shores were overlooked. A family par
ty ont motor-picnicking nowadays will
travel far and search long for the spot
on Minnetonka g shores where it may
build its little fire and spread it's out
door viands.
Governor Preus has made a valuable
suggestion. The lake shores of Mime
sofa are fast being taken up for camps
and cabins, hotels and resorts. It is
time that provision was made for re-
serving accessible parts Of the shore
lines everywhere. g. 2 .~..,- .: ~. Is.