The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1930-07-31
Superior Forts Reserved for
POSTERITY

One of the greatest victories in
the conservation of Americas nat
ural resources eliminated with the
recent passage of the Shipstead-
Newton-Nolan Superior Forest Bill
The area protected covers approx.
mately fourteen thousand five hun.
dred square miles of wilderness in
the famous Rainy Lake watershed
region, lying in northern Minneso-
ia and Ontario, and the immedi-
ately adjacent lands and waters
constitute the only remaining vast
wilderness area in the central part
of North America.
The plan for the protection of the
great forest and lake region of
Northern Minnesota and Western
Ontario Council in 1927. It's pas
sage automatically withdraws all
remaining public domain lands in
that section of Minnesota from
entry and will make them a part
of the Superior National Forest.
The bill protects the present natur-
al water levels and prevents extern
sive flooding for any purpose ex-
cept by special permission of Con-
gress, and it establishes by law a
definite policy of preserving all
shoreline timber: on federal lands
within that vast wilderness region.
The bill was bitterly opposed ever
since it's Inauguration by thorough
ly organized, well financed opposi-
ton. The rights of the public have
triumphed only because of the de-
termined, organized effort of the
Izaak Walton League and the
Quetico-Superior Council, a coordi
mating organization with which the
various conservation groups of Min
nesota, the American Legion, the
Women's Clubs, the American For
estry Association, the American
Game Protective Association and
other groups are cooperating most
effectively. ID 9n1o
Precious international historic
values, rare scenic qualities and
unique recreational facilities sur
round this great region, all of which
are within easy reach of one hun
dred million residents of both
Canada and the United States. The
area contains the only remaining
extensive coniferous forests in the
Middle West with unusual poten-
tialities for the development of a
future continuous supply of forest
products. It also affords an un-
usual opportunity tolpreserve, per-
petuate, restoek, and increase vari-
Gus species Of wild dife of inval-
liable economic and aesthetic i'm
portance to both nations.
The awakening of the public to
a plan to building series of dams
which would ultimately have re-
suited in the control, of an i'm
n1ense lake and forest area in the
region referred to, came six years
ago. The dams would have affected
thousands of miles of wild, wooded
shores and add to the plight Of the
homesteaders at the entrance to the
region. The huge expanse of back
water created by interfering with
the natural flow of water would
ruin much of the scenic and re-
irrational value of the country and
also tend to drown out wild life.
An extensive program of re-
search was inaugurated by the
Izaak Walton League and the Quet-
ico-Superior Council for the pur-
pose of devising plan providing
both for the permanent preserva-
ton of the region as a wilderness
sanctuary and for it's permanent use
as a timber reserve. It proposed to
hold the waters of the lakes at
their normal level, and to forbid
numbering or other exploitation
along the margins of lakes and
streams hcnce protecting their
virgin natural beauty for posterity
The passage of the Shipstead;
Newton-Nolan bill brings to a sue
cessful conclusion the hectic fight
to save one of the greatest out
door areas in America. Conserva:
tionists throughout the country
have watched the progress of saw
ing this region from commercial.
ism with determined interest and
sincerity. It is an outstanding vic
tory for conservation and one that
means the preserving of a territory
unlike any other in America. 1t is
the most important of a number of
conservation victories IN the pres.
ent session of Congress.