The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-01-15
BOARD MAPS
1882 PLANS
Commissioner Cox Maps Pro.
gram for 1892 and Speaks
of Last Year.

guarded carefully while the state de-
partment of conservation Is carrying
out constructive program, Commits
sioner w. T. Cox promises in report
made to Governor Olson.
The department, created by the last
legislature and which took over all
state units dealing with conservation,
has been working out program IN
accordance with policies approved by
the Minnesota conservation commission
Mr.. Cox said in pointing out accomp-
lishments for the past year.
The plan, part of which is now In
effect, according to the report, includes
Creation of a system of personnel
classification to set up higher stand
ard by means of tests and continued
training.
Classification of more than 100000
acres of land granted the state by the
federal government or reverting to the
state through nonpayment of taxes.
Conservative administration of miner
al lands held by the state including
utilization of low grade ores and re-
duction of waste in mines to a mini
mum,
Continuation of an effective fire con-
troll policy with only conservative
methods of logging to be permitted, ano
tree planting encouraged.
Completion of major lake level
maintenance program to restore some
of the natural habitat of valuable wild
life.
During the year, the Thief lake pro-
ject to restore the Marshall county
marshes and the lake to bring back to
their former status nearly $1,000 acres
of waterfowl breeding grounds, has
been completed with additional pre-
liminary work on 10 others, he said
"The game and fish division has
two major duties, enforcement of pro-
tective laws, and the restoration of our
wild life resources" the report con-
tinued.
'sProrating the area of the state
among the present staff of wardens
we find that each man would have an
average of 465 square miles to guard
1t is inconceivable that one man could
begin to check all probable violations
in such large area. During the past
wear the warden force has been aug
mented in districts needing further
protection, to a nextent permissible
with economical administration.
TN restoration, the division has pro-
pagated 1856 per cent of the past
seven years average of the ten species
of food and game fish under propaga-
ton in Minnesota.
First of all there has been put into
effect a system whereby the personnel
of all the divisions is being brought up
to a higher standard and so MAIN
tanned by means of tests and con-
tinued training.
Of all the lands originally granted
to the state by the federal government,
about 100000 acres remain the prop
erty of Minnesota. Commissioner Cox
said in referring to the division OF
lands and minerals.
Some of this is heavily timbered, y
UllS ICpOlG AOAAlS SOAAtdA1A0
iron ore of immense value. As re-
suit of high taxes and the economic
situation, millions of acres that have
been in private hands are reverting to
the state through nonpayment of taxes.
The area so reverting can scarcely be
less than six million acres.
Among the lands reverting to the
state are considerable areas Of good
farming lands. 1t is hoped that the
scattered settlers on poor lands far
from community advantages may be
induced to exchange their holdings for
more desirable locations where they
NAV have a chance to win out and
where they will not be menace to
the forest and a liability to the county
The lives and property saved by the
rangers fire fighting crews, the green
woods preserved around lakes, and the
millions of acres of second growth tim
Der that is being protected to grow the
useful size, represent many times the
cost of the state forest service since
its inception in 1911, Mr.. Cox pointed
out in referring to the work of the
division of forestry and fire prevention