The Ely miner., 1923-03-09

day and age, when we must think
in other terms than bank accounts
and finance, and preserve and per
petuate a little of what remains to
us of our forests and wild life. II
seems to me it would be a tragedy
to build automobile roads through
the Superior National forest, which
is one Of the few virginia. forests
I know Of, which can be kept as q
tremendous game Sanctuary, and 9
wilderness canoe country unexcelled
not even by the Rainy River region
with which, am well acquainted
| We have hundreds Of recreational
grounds now in existence that are
accessible to the multitudes who
own automobiles. but we have very
flew that now remain as they were
a hundred years ago. Let US have
at least one place left in the middle
west where fathers may take THEN
sons, their wives and their daugh-
ters into real wilderness. As
| such, the Superior National forest
will mean more to its state and the
nation than as only one more recre.
ational ground for the motorist. II
is my hope and prayer that your
investigation Of this matter viii
prove to you that / am right
Mr.. Curwod also wrote to Gov.
ernor Pinchot asking him to com,
municate with Secretary Wallace
In the communication to the gov.
ernor, Mr.. Curwood says, "God
knows, hope we may keep in these
United States, at last a few places
in their primitive grandeur and
| According to Mr.. Riis' communi.
cations to the several organizations
| whose purpose it is to preserve
natural beauty. far greater recrea.
tional values will be destroyed thar
it is contemplated to produce
through the construction of the for
est motor highways.
Following are points brought out
in Mr.. Riis' communications: That
the consummation of the project
practically will wipe out the only
typical canoe country publicly owned
or available; that it will defeat the
purpose Of the largest game sanctp
ary in the United States, especially
in regard to moose; that it will de-
stroy a virginia. wilderness still
breathing the spirit of hundred
years gone; that as an auto play.
ground it will only add to the mul
ltitude of others of that type OF
recreational area already existing.
| Mr.. Riis points out that the mem.
bers of the American Institute OF
Park Executives and American Parl
society have given great deal o1
study to the question and advocate
preservation of the present recrea
tional values now found in the
Superior National forest.
| Here is a part Of the letter sen,
by Mr.. Riis to the Duluth Chamber
of Commerce: The Superior Nationa
forest must be placed on the same
plane as the Yellowstone, the Y6sem
ite and the Grand Canyon. Eacl
of these three places are tn,
supreme sections of certain typica
landscape. The Superior forest, too
is in that class. 1t is our. only ant
last portion of lake country wilder
ness in public possession; If aut,
roads are built into it, the las
water travel country of Americ,
has vanished. 1t is Of greatest i'm
portance in our national recreation
system and any move which ma.
in any manner impair its value
must be thoroughly studied from
the viewpoint Of how it will affec
the scenic and recreation values.
"Venice is a world wide attrac
!. tion because of its canals. /
|. streets were to be built there t.
: see the city. its attractiveness woul
disappear at once. Your lakelan
: wilderness stands alone in tn
| United States and will prove grea
attraction only as such. AS a
, auto playground, you will have t
go out and hustle to get the busi
ness away from the other fellow
, The American Institute of Park ES
, ecutives, who are behind this effort
feel that they did not lend thei
. assistance and influence whereve
it is needed in the interest Of tn
) public"
i Important facts concerning tn
{ forest outlined by individuals inter
: ested in the preservation of tn
, wooded area are enumerated as fo
, lows: ~
It is located between, LAX
: Superior and the Canadian boune
, ary
It has an area Of 1,25o,ooo acre,
e 1t is coincident with and owe,
2 Tapped by the Superior state gam
reserve.
!. It is adjacent to the Quetico pr.
{ vincial park and Ontario gam
. refuge, game sanctuary of l
! 100000 acres.
e 1t has a combined area of 4
| 100000 acres of game sanctuar,
: Moose are making their last ztan
e OF consequence in this forest.
1t is a rocky upland, covered wit
almost impenetrable forest.
It's lakes and water surface
cover one-fifth of its area. Th
water area as yet Is unpolluted.
1t is the only lakeland wilderne,
of size publicly owned.
1t is a typical canoe country, th
only pure type canoe country In tn
United States, having 1000 mile
of canoe trails.
1t is game preserve. full q
deer, moose. beaver and much ,othe
game. 1t is a. greater game pre-
serve than the Yellowstone.
1t is an. ideal breeding groun
for song and game birds and aquati
fowl. :.
It is a fisherman's paradise. II
waters are stocked with the game.
of American fresh water game ,fisl
1t is as fully important in nj
tional recreation as any other .eou,
area owned by the people.
1t is large enough to merit n.
tional attention. due to it's in
portance.
It's waters will be quickly pollute
with the introduction of auto toul
ist traffic.
Tickets Going Fast.
Admission tickets for the "Roal
ing Stoney" to be presented by til
American Legion next month a,