The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1928-11-02
A FOREST POLICY FOR MINNESOTA. )
(By W. A. Coventry

And two statements of policy:
Every Minnesota acre should be de-
voted to its best economic use.
All waste and idle lands should be
utilized.
Automatic, you will say. Yet, If you
think back three or five years, you will
see that the meaning in which every
one concurs today is quite different
from the meaning that would have
been given to them formerly And
you may remember how one could al
| most have started a riot not very long
ago by saying some of these things
that everyone repeats now as obvious
truths
Mr.. Chase's summary reminds us first
of all how much has been accomplish
ed in the way of general agreement on
principles and the main outline of pro-
gram.
III.
Perhaps the next thing that strikes
one is the emphasis which MFR. Chase
laws on several phases which the Ar
rowhead Association has kept to the
fore.
For example:
Forestrys principal object is to grow
timber crops.
Secondary objects are recreation;
protection of water sheds, water
courses, water supplies, scenic beauty
and wild life; prevention of erosion
and floods.
Those are Arrowhead doctrines. Not
that the idea originated in the Arrow
head, but that the Association has kept
these objects in view in the same pro-
portions in the midst of all sorts of
confused notions. And though public
opinion is getting fairly clear on these
matters, even now someone OCCASION
ally starts the cry that 1t Is crime to
harvest timber.
Mr.. ChaSes statement of primary
and secondary objects could hardly be
improved upon. 1T will be our pleasure
in this association, so far as we can
help, to fix and hold public attention
on these purposes.
III.
Another agreeable Feature Is the posi-
tive force which Mr.. Chase gives to
several propositions which have never
been denied They have merely Ian
guished
For example, speaking of the &C
quistition of state forests:
The state should cooperate with the
federal forest service in a mutually
agreeable program looking to all de-
sirable consolidation Of holdings.
State owned lands, within or ada.
cent to national forests, recreation and
wild life reserves, should be admins
tered in the same manner and in &C.
cordance with the same plan as feder-
ally owned lands. When feasible, adj.
ministration should be under coopera-i
tive arrangements.
Probably the wisdom of such ar
rangements has never been disputed.
But very little has been done hither-
to to bring them about. The posi-
tive aggressive not in Mr.. ChaSe'S out
line promises progress.
Nv. /.
Every idea which the Arrowhead As
ISOLATION considers vital is reflected in
Mr.. Chase's summary.
The Arrowhead Association has
maintained that the best policy for the
state as guardian of the trust funds
will set the lines of best policy for
all property. Mr.. Chase reflects that
view.
The Association holds that the prop
err organization of the state land office
is the key to the whole problem. Mr..
Chase reflects that.
The Association holds that public
forests are not only the model but the
base of forest development. Mr.. Chase
reflects that.
The Association holds that the man
agement and policy of the United
States forest service is on the right
lines for production of timber and for
collateral purposes. MIR. Chase re-
fleets that view also.
1t is not intimated that Mr.. Chase
derives his views from this Associa-
ton. Only-and this cannot be made
too en1phatic-we are all going along
the same way.
At the core Of the whole matter are
two statements. Of policy as to pri-
vate and state forests. In these Mr..
Chase adhereS closely to the lines
which have been advocated by the As
ISOLATION. There may be differences of
emphasis; there may be slight reserva-
tons as to particular items, but in the
main outline we are all in full agree
ment.
AS described by Mr.. Chase, the state
policy toward forest development is as
follows:
Minnesota should encourage private
forests and private ownership of for
est lands for growing timber crops for
commercial and other purposes.
1t should foster private ownership
by more equitable adjustment of the
tax burden, adequate fire protection
and counsel and assistance in improv-
ing quality and quantity of timber
There should be made available for
est planting stock of good quality at
reasonable prices through either state
or commercial forest nurseries.
The state should encourage estab-
lishinent and maintenance of farm
wood lots for timber and other pur-
poses on Minnesota farms.
Again, as definite by Mr. Chase, the
objects of state forests are as follows:
Primarily to grow timber crops, pro-
ducing timber of larger size and bet
ter quality than will ordinarily be
grown by private forests with their
shorter rotation. t.
Increasing and improving produc-
ton on permanent trust fund lands
Secondarily to serve as. object les
sons in sound forestry and exemplify
good forest, practice. ~ 1890.
To prevent floods and erosion, protect
water sheds, preserve water supplies.
Conserve coverts and food and ,af-
ford sanctuaries for wild life.
Preserve scenic beauty and provide
public recreation places.
Quotations might be continued
through the entire run Of sixty para
graphs Anyone might be a text for
extended discussion and each of them
is, in fact. the conclusion of a long
debate. In the general outline the As