The Ely miner., 1930-08-15
LEGION CONSERVATION COMMITTEE
PRESENT RESOLUTIONS At CROOKsTON

At the State Convention of the
American Legion held at Crookston
last week the standing conservation
committee of the state presented
recommendations and resolutions.
These resolutions were discussed and
endorsed by the convention conserva-
ton committee who submitted the
following report:
Since the State legislature has not
met during the tenure of Office of your
Committee, there is nothing to report
as accomplishments through the State
legislature. 1t is recommended there
fore, that any or all parts of this re-
port sanctioned by the State Conven-
ton be embodied in the mandatory
mittee to be created for the Legion
year 1880 to 1881.
1--WE re-affirm our previous stand
relative to public shooting grounds and
game refugees, and recommend the pas
sage of constructive legislation tending
toward reasonable increase in that
program. We recommend that an act
be passed giving authority to the Game
and Fish Commissioner of the State
to open and close game seasons on all
upland birds without executive order.
Your committee belives that Mime
sofa needs Forestry program which
will use conserve, ard restore our for
ests. AS a means to that general end,
we recommend that the legislature
provide for the institution of a State
owned nursery; that new laws are nee
essary and amendments of existing
ones by passed to provide an economic
land survey of the State which shall
be extensive and rapid rather than in
tensive and slow as it now exists in
practice.
your committee believes in the
furtherance of any and all programs
which look to the adoption of county
or municipal forests and the develop
ment through units and posts of the
American Legion of a consciousness of
forestry needs We commend the work
which is being done by civic and COM
merce organizations in furnishing
speakers for talks on conservation in
general, for the institution of bird
house contests, for the development of
essay contests on conservation, for the
planting of memorial trees, and for
the sponsoring of city, county and
municipal forests. We believe the
Legion should join whole-heartedly In
each of these programs.
1--WE believe that in order to increase
revenue for state development and
make possible the launching of a
definite program, forestry should have
the same recognition as has game and
fish. We recommend that a portion
of gross revenues of the State coming
from timber sales, recreation lands
owned bp the State, and sale of State
water power, should be devoted to the
extension, construction, and mainten-
ance of good systems of forest COM
munication, protection, and recon-
Struction.
1--WE further urge the utmost care
toward the reduction and ultimate
prevention of waste through logging
and numbering operations. We be-
lieve the close utilization of forest pro-
ducts to a higher degree constitutes
state and national advantage, and
will do much to delay the period OF
timber famine which is eminent at this
time and will provide additional op-
portunity for labor through the con-
tinuance of our various woodworking
industries.
Realizing that conservation is not
alone for our age and generation, and
believing that the actual practice of
conservation can follow only intensive
research and education, we seriously
recommend the institution by the
State Department of Education OF
courses in conservation in all public
| schools.
1--WE urge that the incoming COM
mander and incoming executive COM
mittee be charged with the response
bility of making the necessary recon-
mendations in accordance with this
| program to the Superintendent of the
State Department of Education.
1--WE believe heartily in Minnesota's
opportunities to be derived through
| and from her tourist trade. We con-
| gratulate the State Highway Depart
| ment and the Commissioner thereof for
the development of Minnesota's vast
system of State Highways. We feel
however, that along with planning OF
the roadway itself should go the pro-
| position of roadside Identification
| No stretch of the imagination is re-
quired in noting that the average poor
roadside suggests poor housekeeping
| We earnestly recommend that in the
development of any and all state roads
proper consideration be given to effec-
tive landscaping thereof. We believe
that this can be done, not only by
artificial means but by proper con-
sideration of natural advantages.
"Just recently the Congress of the
United States has passed the Ship
| ctn
vides generally for the retention OF
water levels in the Superior Nationa.
| Forest in their natural state; and pro-
hibits the introduction of dams OF
reservoir projects without congressional,
approval. The Legion has favored the
| passage of this Bill, believing on the
one hand that the Superior Nationa
Forest constitutes tremendous asset
in economic, health, educational ane
recreational opportunities; and on the
other hand believes that 1t should bt
set aside together with the Quetict
Provincial Park in Canada as vas
international Memorial to peace ane
friendlineSS. We greatly appreciate
the passage of this bill and believe tina
forward step has been taken towart
the real conservation of this area af
fected. 1t is well for us to be eve
mindful, however, that the law in it.
self does not prevent exploitation no
the building of dams in that territory
1t simply requires congressional ap
proval thereof. Let us, therefore, b.
ever mindful that eternal vigilance
in this case the price to be paid TO
true conservation.
Your Department Commander at
tended the hearings in Washington, o
c., upon occasion of the discussion o
this Bill. Your Committee congratu
lates him for the constructiveness O
his activities.
your Committee Chairman, q