The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-02-18
FOR COPPERS
LOTOF THE DULUTH POLICE
HAPPY ONE
Have Summer Camp on Barr
Lake for City-Weary
Officers -.
Associated Press Dispatch

Duluth, Mimi, February 13.AAs
Duluth patrolmen, during the winter
shTug their shoulders anu pull
warm, fur lined coats closely about
LneIr Doules 20 waru of wlnIry blasts
from across the ice-coated surfaces
OF Lake superior, there are thoughts
or at least one otner place besides
the home fires. For, some twenty
miles from the city, on the shores OF
Barr Lake, there is the duluth
folicemen's summer camp, a place
where, in the spring, summer and tall
the city weary 'coppers" retire for
Three years ago the camp was es-
tab.ished. Desire to convert at least
a part Of the great North Woods into
a recreation grounds for its own
benefit = prompted Duluth's police
force to purchase tract of twenty
three acres, facing on the lake. Barr
Lake is only one OF the thousands Of
small lakes in Northern Minnesota.
1t is situated just far enough north to
to provide an atmosphere of extreme
wilderness. 1t is here-the police
mems paradiSe"-that Duluth patrol
men, captains, desk sergarfts, detect
ives and their families spend their
vacations.
Articles OF incorporation
The organization has been granted
title of the Duluth policemen's
tention of the organizers, as explain
ed in the articles, was to establish a
camp where policemen, during the
months of milder weather might be
given IAN opportunity to desert the
strenuous, city life, gain much needed
rest and at the same time attend
classes of a general instructive
nature"
Based on the plan to increase the
efficiency of the police department of
Duluth, the organization articles
call for curriculum of training which
includes rifle and pistol practice, in
struction in physical, culture, advice
on first aid to the injured and in gen
eral ito promote higher morale
among the members Of the force"
The association started with a
clare, practically every member of the
police department is a member. At
present the buildings at the camp
consist of a group Of log cabins, q
large assembly cabin and several
smaller buildings. With laroer at
tendance and insuring provisions for
larger working capital the school
has laid plans for larger recreation
buildings, tennis courts, baseball
housing and recreational facilities.
Build Large Club House
Eventually, it is the hope of the
"coppers" to erect large club house.
However, as the time is growing near
for. actual preparation for the 1921
outing season and the time for build
ing in the winter league" is grow
ing short, officers assert the problem
of obtaining larger" buildings is the
great outdoors practically at their
command, they claim bare shelter Is
all they need to obtain the desired
summer training. In time, how
ever, the policemen expect to make
the camp more comprehensive af-
fair
Until that more prosperous time
presents itself, Duluth law enforcers
have announced themselves as salts
fed to sleep, during their vacations,
with only the stars for cover and to
have their food prepared and served
in wilderness" style. No modern
"trimmin's" are necessary to make
life happy at the camp, the officers
assert. In those days as short as
they may seem, the policeman de-
clare it is extremely easy to forget
chasing some reckless motorist over
the sloping streets of Duluth.
One of the pieces of land owned by
the association is a small island in
Bars Lake. The island is $40 long
by $50 feet wide. Fishing from this
island, the coppers say. is the best
ever. Plains have already been drawn
for the erection of series of cot
tages on the island this spring.
iy,tn 4
Besides the twenty three acres 1t
owns the association has a lease on
adjacent land-having a total acreage
of 116 acres. Fishing and hunting faci-
Titles for the Duluth's police force are
practically private. through the ex-
tensive land holdings and adjacent
water frontage of the club. Plans for
the first Of the cabins to be built on
peeled log cabin, IA by is feet ~ with
a sleeping porch, eieh by eight feet"
In the summer the woods in that
section abound with wild berries,
such as raspberries and blreberries,
while the fall brings its usual harvest
OF nuts. Soil on the lake is Of high-
ly productive nature and each family
has its own "heme" garden at the
garden, either" explained a veteran
patrolman who had been making an
occasional suggestion about the
camp's natural facilities When the
summer has exhausted itself and has
given wav to the fall the davs of
Measure do not end each year Of the
camp, for wild game is as plentiful in
the woods in tho earlv winter - er,,'t
in the summertime. Deer and duck
are banged regularly. each fall. al
most from the very front doors of the
Camp cabins