Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1929-05-16
FARMING-NOT FORESTRY = FOR
PINE COUNTY

FAhMINU-NOI FORtSI III - FUN
PINE COUNTY
The proposed federal forest reserve
in eastern Pine county has now been
quite thoroughly discussed for three
months or more, one large public
meeting being, held at Sandstone on
March 30th. and meeting of the COM
mittee members, including two men
from each of the townships affected,
three county commissioners, state SEN
ator and representative and county
auditor, was held last Friday evening
at the Wilma township hall. The con-
clusion drawn from these meetings
and the general discussion out over
the county is to the effect that where
there is a fairly good start in farming
the reserve is not desired. Three or
four townships along the 500 Line in
the extreme eastern part of the cOun-
ty. where the bonded Indebtedness and
tax delinquency situation is bad. APP
parently are still in favor of the re-
serve and would like to see it estab-
lished.
In the townships farther west like
keene, Wilma, Park, Fleming, and
others. the settlers fear that if the
reserve were established it would
shut out growth and development in
the agricultural line. less chance of
getting new settlers and neighbors
and they like to live in the hope IF
further development. Some of the
Nest lands in the county are in the
proposed reserve and again some of
the land is not fit for agriculture
and would perhaps be better suited for
forestry
1t has been rumOred that if Pine
county does not accept, the govern
ment will step right across the line
into Wisconsin and there establish a
reserve. That would seem more fea-
sible anyway. The acreage is much
larger there and they haven't the
railroads as near at hand as we have
in eastern Pine county-one of the
essentials for making communities.
Then if three or four of our extreme
eastern townships feel that they are
so heavily indebted and have so much
tax delinquency that they cannot see
their way clear to get on top per-
haps they can join hands with the
neighbOrS across the state line and
become a part of that reserve if estab-
lished. Likely there will not be much
objection on the part of Pine county
citizens to losing small area for ag-
rfculture in the future, especially if
that area is hOpelessly in debt and the
optimism and cheerfulness of the few
remaining settlers is gone. One thing
must be remembered and that is that
when lands are set off into a federal
forest reserve they are there to stay
and for good long time. True, the
government may exchange small
tract inside the forest for another
tract adjoining the forest if more
convenient for the settler and an adj
vantage to him, but chances are they
will not lessen the entire acreage,
rather add to it.
AS above mentioned, here in Pine
county we have the railroad facili-
ties and that is already a good start
in developing communities, so why the
government should come here and try
to establish a forest reserve when
there are big wide open areas in
western South Dakota, Montana, Ida
no, Colorado and other states, is
something we cannot comprehend
Even in our own state there are other
places where there is more room fol
a reserve, where the railroads are
more distant and where the hand Of
man has not yet labored, and present
reserves already established can un
doubtedly be added to if more fores
is desired. Anyway this is the day
of fireproof building material an(
wood is not used so much as hereto
fore. Apparently there is no shortage
lit has also been rumored that the re
serve is desired as happy huntin.
ground for the sports of the Twin Cite:
and the Twin Ports, it being near i
hand if established in Pine county
That, however, we cannot vouch TO-
but it might have a bearing and b'
a reason for desiring to establish her,
alongside of a railroad which shoult
under ordinary circumstances be sue
cessful farming country.
Geo. w. Rash of Belden township
made statement at the fOrestr!
committee meeting Friday evening al
reported I'm the write-up of the meet
ing elsewhere in this issue, tina