The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-10-09
s2,PER.YEAR IN ADVANCE.

control of the state on a high plane.
Admitting it has in the past been a
veritable football of politics, Mr. Nc
Even outlined plans for an efficient
service by something akin to civil ser
vice but without the Disadvantages of
that method. Several times he set I'D
the personnel of the forest service,
both state and national, as an ideal OF
the class of men needed in the game
and fish division. At BURNSIDE Lodge,
near Ely, present and past appoint
ments were the occasion of some plain
speaking on the part of the spokesman
of the Ely Commercial Club and the
state officials. Constructive criticism,
admittedly, it served to focus the at
tention of the public, through the news
papers, on what has been weak policy
in Minnesota.
The States Interest in Iron Mining.
At Babbitt, where six million dollar
plant, now idle, is located for benefi-
clatlng iron ores, the vast mineral
deposits requiring processing were ex-
planned by Walter G.. Swart, president
of the Mesabi Iron Co. According 20
F. A. W1des, in charge Of state mineral
lands, section sixteen adjoining the
of this low grade ore, which, if it could
be mined, would on a royalty Of five
cents ton, pay S15,000,000 into the
state trust funds. All along the Mes
aba range are many parcels of state
land, many in direct line with proven
mines, which have not been explored.
AS matter of fact, the biggest owner
of mineral lands in the state OF Mimi
esota is the State of Minnesota.
The Kabetogama State Forest.
Stopping for feed of chicken, wild
rice and other viands at Orr, problemS
connected with administering the Kabe-
togama state forest Of 100000 acres were
detailed by L. R. Beatty, forest ranger,
and Fred BeSSette, former state Sena-
tor. Over half a million acres of pri-
vately owned land within the boundaries
OF this new forest area, new in the sense
OF state project, are on their way
through tax delinquency to become the
property Of the state to be held IN trust
for the counties and other tax units.
For number OF years, because Of the
slash still rotting, it is advisable TO keep
this area secluded, said Mr.. Beatty
New roads are being discouraged as q
lire prevention measure, and blueberry
picking on commercial basis is being
regulated for the same reason One
benefit to arise from leaving the slash
Will be re-seeding Of pine timber, but
because Of the fire danger, every def
mite protection policy is needed. The
Importance OF preventing forest fires
surely impressed the commission from
the start to the finish of their tour.
Thn ~.
The recently fire stricken communi-
ties west and south of International
Falls in the Hay Greek and Little
Fork districts met the eyes OF the COM
mission and officials as they proceeded
along Highway No. 4. The writer left
the tour at Orr, so cannot give q d.
rect account. Facts given by Mr.. Con-
yet of the State Forest service indicate
it was a greater disaster than many
have realized. About fifty families lost
their homes and barns. Many head
of cattle and over 100 deer and moose
We're burned to death. It is one Of the
duties of the commission to build up
means to cope with the fire danger
and prevent losses Of this character.
Other Studies
The schedule Of the commissions
trip includes other areas, at Baudette,
Lake ItaSca Cass Lake, all vitality in
terested IN conservation as affecting the
every day life of the people. The sup
per with the Virginia Chamber Of Com
merce Thursday evening-tomorrow as
this was written-wll be an occasion for
a summing up the many problems in
volved IN putting into effect the policy
Of conservation Friday, October End,
the party will visit Cloquet, where prae-
tically every industry supporting a city
Of 6,782 people is entirely dependent
on conserving the new growth OF forest
trees in the Arrowhead.