The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1928-07-27
AUDITOR CHASE
ANSWERS INQUIRIES

Ray P. Chase, state auditor, Monday
began answering 40 questions put to
him by the state reforStation commits
sion and, incidentally, fired another
gun in his argument with Grover M.
Comet, state forester, over Minnesota
forestry policy.
Minnesota owns but 10 per cent Of
| the timberland in the state, and peo-
pie who talk about the number or
StumpS in northern Minnesota as evil
dence that the state is cutting too
much timber, are misleading the peo-
ple," Mr. Chase states in letter sent
out today to members of the commits
sion.
In one of his letters in the controv-
ersy between him and Mr. Chase, Mr..
Comet said "let the silent stumps
of MinneSota'S timberland tell the
story"
Sight of cutover lands misleads the
ter. He says that the state auditor, in
charge of timber sales for the state,
"has no control over 80 per cent of
the land, nor of the sale of timber
from the 90 per cent of the lands"
Mr. Chase begins his letter to the
commissioners by announcing he will
answer the 40 questions on the state
forestry policy in groups of two and
three at a time. He explains he has
been delayed in answering the ques-
tions, submitted to him Jan. "a, be-
cause he has had to "call in experts
more acquainted with some of the
more technical questions.
Two of the questions are potent fac
tors in the controversy between Mr..
Chase and the state forester.
One asks: I'm your opinion, should
handling of the state forest lands be
turned over to the state forester?"
The other queries: what definite
recommendation would you make in
regard to handling of state forest lands
so as to increase their productivity and
make them permanent sources Of
revenue?"
At present, three different groups
are involved in the sale of timber One
appraises the timber, another marks
the timber to be left standing and a
third checks the sale of timber
One of the questions answered by
Mr. Chase was what is the present
area of state land?"
Mr.. Chase's answer, in which he
places the acreage at 2,072, 491 88 as of
TYlv 16 avpJoipc tho ipcrooco II, tho
last few years as being due to little
demand" The state has repossessed
itself of much land at one time owned
by individuals and corporations, he
adds, because of delinquent taxes
Part of Mr.. Chases letter is devoted
to citation of figures gathered by the
state superintendent of timber In 1925,
showing the amount cut from state
owned and privately-owned lands in 10
years prior to that year.
These figures show, Mr. Chase states,
that the average yearly cut in the 10
year period from state-owned lands was
7:8 per cent, while the average from
privately land was 92.2 per
cent"
For pulpwood, the state cut 11.6
per cent and from privately-owned
land 1874 per cent was cut the letter
states.
1.-THE state only cut 1879 per cent for
| ties and private individuals and cor
porations cut 86.1 per cent. The state
cut 1913 per cent for cedar poles and
23.4 per cent for cedar posts, while
from private land 1852 per cent were
cut for cedar poles and 76 s per cent
for cedar posts"
Mr.. Chase informs the commission
ers that letters he has written and
statements given out to the press were
done for four specific purposes and
that he had no wrongful motives in