The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-08-20

The Cook county commissioners
have writttn a letter to Secretary
of Agriculture Jardine protesting
against the wave of sentiment which
has been expressed in opposition to
the building of roads in the Superior
National Forest. The letter fol-
lows:
Recognizing the injustice to local
communities and to private owners
in the national forests of holding in
their undeveloped state large areas
of land, tax free, plan was de-
vised for local communities in the
building of roads in and adjacent
to the national forests.
"Availing itself of this proffered
help, this country several years ago
adopted definite road building
plan providing for system of neces-
sary roads and branch roads for
this territory and with the help and
approval of the national and state
forestry departments we have push
ed this work toward completion as
fast as funds were available for
the purpose.
To Help Fire Fighters.
"This road system was planned
with a view to its advantages in
coping with the fire menace, it being
made possible under this system co
reach any part of forest in this
county within three hours from the
time a notice of fire is received.
These roads are therefore necessary
to the usefulness of the lookout
stations established at remote points
throughout this territory.
"Now come certain agitators pre-
tending to represent local public
sentiment, to protest against any
further government appropriations
for road building in Lake and Cook
counties, Minnesota, and to give
force to this protest they use certain
well known outdoor and recreat:onal
organizations as their mouthpieces.
Not Sentiment of Majority.
"We very respectfully submit that
these professors do not in any way
represent the sentiment of this
county. The people of this county
have not been invited to attend and
have had no opportunity to be heard
at any meeting where such resolu-
tions of protest have been adopted.
These agitators are unfamiliar with
the conditions; they have no interest
in the national forest further than
to make it serve their desire for
pleasure. Local sentiment is unan-
imously in favor of the present road
program. These roads are laid out
with a view of making them of the
greatest possible use in combating
the fire menace and they are serving
that purpose we'll. 1t is claimed
that is not true. For example, Gun
flint trail has been built and in use
for the past six years yet fire has
not been reported along that road
during that time.
Fire Hazard Lessened.
"The fire hazard will be lessened
rather than increased by proper
system of roads in the forest, A
greater fire menace is the canoe
tourist. who is generally out OF
reach of forest rangers and fire
fighting forces. And it is by and
for them wholly that this anti road
agitation is carried on. A large
part of the lands in the national for.
est IN this county is privately owned
To set aside the forest in its unde.
veloped state for public recreationa
purposes is equivalent to confisca
tion of private property. The rec
reational idea is to preserve the
wilderness for the favored few. Tht
opening of roads as planned viii
not interfere with the recreatiana
advantages of the forest, but viii
on the contrary make them avail
able to all people.
"In justice to the taxpayers OF
forest lands, who, as well as cthel
taxpayers, are entitled to access t.
their property, it devolves upon tn
county to provide them with roads
and for reasons above stated, we tn
board of county commissioners o
Cook county, Minnesota. pray for
continuance Of governmental coop
Grafton of the road system planned
Signed at Grand Marais, Mimi, Jun
Il %, 1925.
H. o. ENGELSON,
JOHN SAMSKAR,
TnRCEN pEDEPSEN