The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1927-10-12
CHASE PROPOSES
PROGRAM TO SAVE
STATES BEAUTIES


save all the beauties of the north
land rather than the timber alone"
was suggested for Superior National
Forest Tuesday in letter by Ray P.
Chase, state auditor, to 33 organiza-
lions affiliated with the Minnesota
Conservation Council.
The state auditor advised against
crippling the lumber industry Of
northern Minnesota by including all
or large portion of the forest with
in a proposed park, which had been
suggested as a means of saving the
scenic beauties of the Arrowhead
country. The letter was written at
the request of the Save Superior For
est committee, after the auditor had
Withheld issuance of rights of way
leases for construction of a logging
railroad which is intended to tap pri-
vately owned timber tracts within the
boundaries of the forest.
Two methods of procedure by
which the scenic beauty of the dis
trict could be saved were suggested
by Auditor Chase in his letter. They
were:
Amend federal and state tim
Der laws to forbid all logging
operations within the prescribed
area.
Set aside the prescribed area
as a national park.
He urged that eff you propose to
save in its primeval condition all
standing timber in some section of
Minnesota you should designate that
section at once, selecting an area
large enough so that your PROPOSE
ton will be of moment and small
enough so that it will be feasible"
Suggesting that attention be not
confined to the main section of Su-
perior forest 'but also on the scenic
beauty, the wonders of lake and
stream and forest along the interna-
tional boundary from Mountain lake
westward past Gunflint to Saganaga
and Lac La Croix," the auditor said
"Your purpose in seeking nation
al park will be to save all the beau
ties of the northland rather than the
timber alone, and the result, if you
succeed, will be to preserve select
ed area in northeastern Minnesota,
supervised by the national park SER
vice and dedicated to recreation, in
stead of forestry alone.
can immediate, definiee result will
be that you will receive the support
of many thoughtful people who ap-
prove the timber industry and resent
attacks upon it, but will favor Gre
alton of national park which does
not jeopardize Superior National For
est but will coordinate with it.
at will solve the irritating problem
of power dams along the boundary
lakes.
"But you never can set aside the
entire Superior National Forest area
for receation only. Public interest
will not permit it and public opinion
will not tolerate it."
Few, even in Minnesota, compre-
bend Superior forest, the auditor said.
Generally it is regarded as a vast,
unbroken tract, government owned,
covered with dense growth of tim
her. Actually it is much different, he
said.
He urged that the lumber indus
try be permitted to live and prosper
for the good of the entire state. One
company alone, he said, reported on
August 16 to the legislative interim
commission on reforestation that it
employs on an average 1862 men 1T
its mills and 1856 men in the woods,
paying them annually in wages ST.
100000.
"Such a business is neither to be
taken lightly nor lightly hampered
Or destroyed. Such an industry, vi
tally affecting the welfare of the state
and the lives, prosperity and happi-
ness of so many people, should be en-
couraged and not exterminated."
Superior National Forest, as set
aside by President Theodore Roose-
welt, includes three separate tracts,