Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-08-08
MORE MINNESOTA !
REFORESTATION
WORK is NEEDED

II 81 oAlAkAIS 1"AAAAsp Ea06s ~ Os|N OIhl1lS
onsthe theory that there is great need
for a more effective organization. to-
prevent, suppress and fight forest
fires, forestry mel supervising the two
and a quartHramillion acres of forests
! in northernaN Mimi esota }haveiyet to de-
velop work 5ofsreforstation. to what.
they term an extensive scale.
Minnesota.s forests are divided in
to three separate. and distinct areas,
known al the State, Superior National
and Minnesota forests.
The Superior National has the larg-s
est area. Within its boundary there
are 1,125.0o0 acres. The Minnesota
National is second largest with 60O,-
900 acres. The State forest region
comprises approximately 100000
acres. OF this more than 1000, 900.
acres, an estimated 100000 acres arr
under water, principally lakes, with
onlX q. few small streams:
While more attention is being paid
each year to the work Of reforesta-
tion, supervisors Of the three great
regions continue to center their eff
fire evil. Until some system of pre-
venting fires, which yearly destroy
thousands of acres of growing trees,
is established, reforestation, cannot
possibly be undertaken on a material
scale, forestry heads declare.
Forestry chiefs are firm in the be-
lief b a it is principally a waste of
effort and an impracticable scheme to
attempt extensive reforestation opera
tions when the time should be CEN
tered or combating fires which in a
short time destroy more timber thar.
rebuilding crews could replace in
years.
Z Stocked With Pines.
Supervisor G. A. Dahlgren Of the
Superior National, with headquarters
at Ely, reports little has been done
toward planting trees in the fire swept
and cut-over lands in his district. The
government owns $780, 900 acres of the
Superior National. The remainder Is
held by corporations and private in
dividuals. OF the area controlled by
the government eighty per cent is
fully stocked with white. Norway and
jack pine, spruce, 3balsam, popple
birch. aspen and similar species, said
Supervisor Wahlgren. This only needs
to- be protected from fire to insure
growth" he said. The forestry force
in the Superior National this sum.
mer is making an extensive planting
reconnaissance to determine areas thai
ACSu PAd0IAuBp anu GuOSS IndC SlCulC
be given hFst attention. AS soon a:
this survey has been completed, su.
pervisor Dahlgren hopes to star,
planting on the Superior National
!. Under present methods of cutting ir
this region car is taken to proven
destruction of small immature trees
Seed trees are left on areas to insure
natural reproduction. From Ave t,
twelve mature seed trees are left pei
acre.
Natural reforestauon has been The
means Of restocking the great bulh
Of the, Minnesota National forest
comprising 100000 acres, according
to Supervisor g. e. Marshall, Cas-
Lake, MINI. Natural reforestation il
the term applied to the young trees
removed in keeping with a definite
management plan.
Therefore, sareas in all Of the for
ests that have been cut-over for tim
Der are expected to be restocked by
natural reforestation, while burned
over territory will be r~eforestated arti.
f1cially. In the Superior National ex-
tensive stands of jack pine will be
cut and replaced with Norway pine
MI. Marshall said. The total area tc
be r~eforested artifically in this region
10 dUV x ZV,UVV dCTcS> tElA0 Y present
plan Is to work over 1000 acres a
year and it will take fully twenty
years to put this forest in the condi.
ton known in the forest service a.
fully stocked. Mr.. Marshall said. Ap.
proximately 5000 acres have been re.
istocked In this area.
The greater part Of our funds
have had to be used for Are protec.
ton and prevention said w. 4. Cox
supervisor Of the state forests, with
headquarters at st. Paul. "Durina
the ten years that the state forest
service has been In existence there
has been built up. first OF all. a field
and Office personnel enthusiastic an6
keenly alive to the problems con,
fronting the service. Our organiza.
Itfon has worked out an enormous
amount OF preliminary ana funda.
mental work, such as the construction
of trails, the making and improving
of-can0e routes, the building OF tele:
phone lines. lookout towers, shelte,
cabins and other improvements have
been done.
Legislation has been obtained gov.
erning great variety OF forestr,
matters. First OF all was the basi,
forest law, covering such matters q,
patrol. fires. slash disposed. right-of.
way clearing. spark arresters, and !
great variety of similar matters
There p the matter Of raising iittis