The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-08-13
FOREST ROAD
DOPE QUEER.
CONFLICTING STATEMENTS ON
FOREST ROADS IN THE
PAPERS-PROPACANDA FOR
AND AGAINST-PAUL B. RlIS
WRITES AS FOLLOWS:

Only 1Ou COulu hN"hS eh~%e -
est. only Man can destroy it."
"A statewide protest, headed by
George H. Selover, president of the
Minnesota division, IZaak Walton
League of America, and strongly
backed by the Arrowhead associa-
ton, as well as a number of COM
mercial and luncheon clubs and
league chapters scattered through
the range cities, was made against
the building of any more roads In
the Superior national forest.
"Colonel A. S. Peck of the United
States forest service was in the
Superior to personally give the final
word starting the projects, as out
lined in a previous bulletin. The
Ely-Fernberg road was to be made.
a county road, thus clearing the
decks for the building of the Ely
Gunfiint road. The Ely CONNER
cial club voted three to one against
this project.
"Many meetings were held in OPP
position to these roads and the press
vigorously pleaded with the authori-
ties to leave the wonderful Superior
as it now stands, strictly the work
of God. Secretary of Agriculture
w. M. Jardine, gave the DIRECTORS
until July 3 to state their case, ex
tending this date until July 80 for a
final hearing.
"a few years ago a group of tech
nically trained men, Of which Presi-
dent Riis of this association was a
member, offered their services gratu-
itously to the United States forest
service for a study of the Superior
forest with view of making definite
recommendation from studies on
the ground. The trip, taking six
weeks, was to cover every essential
part of the forest by means of out
board motors. The government was
to be represented by one of its own
men, also technically trained, who
enjoys a most enviable reputation.
1t, however, became apparent from
the outset that the government did
not particularly relish this cooper
alton, as the bureaus representative
Immediately created situation that
defeated all further negotiations.
Our own association has met with
this same invisible opposition on the
part of the forest service, through
out it's existence and has been made
| to feel in many ways that it's friend
ly offices were not only unlimited,
but plainly not desired.
Before making final arrange
| mentS on the protested roads,
Colone Peck called on President Riis
here in Rockford for moral comfort
in his project. 1t was plainly to be
seen that the forest service desired
no cooperation save that to concur
ence with official Washington, the
| district forester's Office at Denver
and the supervisors office at ely,
indicated a most polite public be
damned" policy.
"The May-June, 1926, bulletin
outlined a paragraph on the pro-
posed roads which may be greatly
misleading. In this it was stated
that technically qualified members
of the association, intimately familiar
with the Superior, submitted to the
United States forest service com.
prehensive road program. There is
not now or ever was in existence q
plan worked out by members of oul
association depicting their ideas
We have consistently protested
practically every road ever suggest
ed by the forest service as not Civ
| ing IRE problem consideration from
a national standpoint. Most of these
roads were convenient arrangement:
Ibetween local communities, county
and the state officials of which thu
forest service always gladly took ad
vantage to further it's own ends
with Uncle Sam usually playing thu
role of a poor relation.
eve protested the Gunflint roat
because this region would be ma
tionally more valuable undeveleped
We protested the Ely-Fernberg roa'
because it was the forerunner of tn
Ely-Gunflint road. Present plan
indicate that this was only too true
We also protested the Ely-Buyck a
cutting in two wilderness area an
game sanctuary BURNSIDE lake wa
so located as to give easy acces
through it's north arm to territor
sought to protect and which now
exposed to the public by an aut
road. Yet the forest service quietl
went ahead and built it's road lii
tie at "a time.
'In late winter inquiry was mad
I at the supervisors Office as to tn
I road plans for the year, and wor
! came back that nothing definite wa
decided and, therefore, there wa
nothing to discuss. On insistent d.
1 mandS the entire tentative schem
/ was submitted.
! "As previously stated, technical
3 qualified men set to work to say
) from the forest service plans whs
Il they could. We pointed out to til
Il frest service where certain changt
q could and should be made to at lea
q soften the blow. A few of the mil
4 or roads on the outskirts Of the 70
Il est were concurred in. The FEEDER
3 steamroller, however, was going
& high speed and the forest servi,
& showed not the slightest willingre
Il to accept single minor suggestio
3 obviously, the forest service mu
& have administrative roads. Our e
Il perience and that of others ha
= conclusively demonstrated the fat
81 that these roads cannot be combin
& with recreational roads, since tn
Il must lead to many parts of the &c
Il est. 1t has been repeatedly sugge.
81 ed to the forest service to build Il
& type forest roads and close these
Il the public entirely. But the fore
= service, in it's competent way, resel
3 ed the advice of laymen. Who b
Il forester could or would dare to
Il tempt developing a forest. 1t "
i further suggested to conceal the {