The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-10-07
ARROWHEAD SECRETARY
LAND UTILIZATION POLICY

schools. In many instances there are
telephone lines and usually rural mail
routes. Cooperative stores and COM
munity clubs exist in these rural COM
munities. In the present economic
stress these people are in much better
condition than equal numbers in the
towns and cities.
My recommendation is that maps be
prepared of the best developed Of these
farm communities, possibly six or eight
townships in each group as a unit, and
that there be plated thereon in color
all the lands reyerting for taxes, and
then through all the existing agencies,
concentrate in placing people on these
lands for the development Of farms.
The land may be sold at low price
or it may be disposed of by the home
stead method. In many cases owners
of existing farms will acquire adjoining
land, assuming reasonable increase in
the price of farm products. Some
would acquire for woodlots in which
case the taxes should be adjusted at
lower rate. Sons of farmers win be
interested in securing some acreage.
In case the homestead system is used,
credit should be given for the main
tenance of well kept woodlot. Get
ting out timber in the winter gives
employment at period Of the year
when other demands are not so heavy.
Income from wood production is har-
monious with other farm income.
The state should exercise its in
f1uence to see that new settlers get
located in the agricultural sections al
ready partially developed, where they
may have the advantage Of existing
rural facilities and a community life
This would promote success for the
settler, so that he will be an asset -
the commercial life of the district and
a permanent taxpayer. Such areas wiz
accommodate vast amount of settle
ment. There is land within these farm
areas for all the settlers that could
possibly be attracted for some years to
come.
1t goes without saying that such
maps of farm areas should be accom-
panied by reports as to the nature Of
the land offered by the state.
ID.
There will still remain a vast acre
age outside of state and national forests
and outside of known agricultural sec
tons. This land would be in the third
zone, a twilight zone. Plan as we may.
it is possible that we do not know
just what to do about its disposition.
Our organization has favored private
forestry in this zone, with taxes ad-
juSted on yield basis. A land tax OF
a specific amount per acre would also
have to be applied. Five cents an acre
from private forest land would be bet
ter than nothing at all. At present
there is nothing to show that private
interests are interested in forestry on
this basis. Still there may be in the
future.
There is an idea quite general in
this par tot the state that land of the
kind and location we have in mind
should not irrevocably be set apart IS
forest land. The conclusion would
seem to be that this zone must be ex-
amined on the basis of the economic
survey, thereby enabling the governing
body to determine whether additional
forest areas should be set up and
whether some of the land, and just
what land, should be offered for farm
settlement. This problem is going to
be with us a long time. Meanwhile
these areas must be protected from fire
In view of the fact that about s5Tc
Of the permanent trust funds of the
state have been derived from the
wooded portion of Northern Minnesota,
a large part from the mines within this
area, the state has a duty in fire pre-
vention and protection through its regu-
lar department, which is the Division
Of Forestry under the Conservation
Commission. In the same connection
it should be stated that the local COM
munities in the state forests should re-
ceive an apportionment of money from
the state to offset the absence of tax
able land.
To sum up:
i. All tax delinquent land reverting
to the state within designated forest
areas should become forest land and be
by the proper department.
An amount per acre should be ap-
portioned by the state to the local
communities.
2. Settlement should be immediately
and actively promoted on reverting
lands within known agricultural COM
munities with due regard to their char
acter as agricultural land and with en-
couragement of woodlots
3. A continuing study or survey
should be made of the remaining lands
with view to learning to what use they
can be best assigned. The facts as
developed should be communicated to
the public and the public should in
terest itself in helping determine wise
course. Fire prevention facilities, in
equipment and personnel, must be con-
tinued and improved.
Respectfully.
GEO. A. PERHAM.