The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-03-10
forester COMET Makes MOVE
IN REFoREsTATIoN PROGRAM
Would Make Elaborate Classification of State Lands
servaton Zones Be Established In Northern Section
of the State.

n 0eluIDG move towards Te1OT6SUa-
ton Of the state has been taken by
Grover NJ Comet, state forester, II
announcing a land classification Of nine
new proposed state forest projects in
volving 2,355, 900 acres Of land IN the
northern section Of the state.
Mr.. Comet IN a report to E. Y.
Willard, acting commissioner Of con-
servation, Governor Floyd B. Olson and
The state legislature urged that the
nine projects be established and set
apart Is state conservation zones at the
earliest time possible.
He said that Of the total acreage in
volved IN the new projects only 673,-
4S2 acres are tax paying lands while
l,66e, s3s acres are non-tax paying lands,
Including 1,306,351 which are tax de-
inQuent. Government lands make I'D
90. 452 acres and state lands 283, lbs.
In pointing out the high cost Of
government and tax delinquency IN the
area, Mr.. Comet suggested that settlers
be transferred from the poorer lands
and scattered developments in the
forest projects TO better areas adjacent
to the forest projects, which VIII not
decrease their possibility Of working N
the forest or gaining profit from it.
Then too, the report said, the trans
fered settlers would increase their
agricultural returns from being on
better lands. This plan, It said, would
reduce the cost Of local government IN
one place and in the other be assisted
by the additional help Of the new SET
tier.
1T is important" Mr. Comet said,
That zoning measure, land exchange
and limited acquisition be started at
once, not only TO correct the past mis-
takes as fast as possible but 10 prevent
repetition due to the back-to- the-sol
movement that IS rapidly taking
momentum.
The present economic crisis" be
continued, has shown the importance
Of small, Independent, self-sustaining
units of industry, either farmers or
others using the soil, saw mills, small
wood working industries and small
water power plants.
When the forest units proposed are
a going proposition they VIII furnish
fuel wood, timber and al kinds Of wood
for market, game and recreation and
water for power purposes and human
consumption, either IN good or de-
preston times, rain or drouth.
"Au efforts and measures TO en-
courage reforestation, and forest pro-
lection by private ownership Of forest
lands in this state have failed. Il IS
becoming more and more a public pro-
iect.
The consolidation Of the proposed
areas and the beginning Of intensive
management can never be started at
a more opportune time than the present
The land is hopelessly abandoned and
it needs tree planting and other forest
management. Any labor put on the
forest at this time for such purposes
or for improved and increased fire pro-
lection VIII eventually pay returns for
the investment. The forest VIII not
only be improved but a very large
amount Of relief labor can be employed. :"
The nine new proposed state forests
ARE:
Behrami Island State Forest pro-
jec-located ten miles south Of War
road in Lake Of the Woods and Roseau
counties, area 364, 500 acres.
Cloquet Valley PROFESSIONALLY miles
northeast Of Duluth IN St. Louis county.
Area 225, 707 acres.
Finland State forest project Eighteen
miles north Of Beaver Bay IN Lake
county. Area 1851 acres.
Grand Portage State forest project -
Northeastern part Of the state IN Cook
county. Area 1883 acres.
George Washington State forest pro-
ject-Twenty miles north Of Hibbing
and Iron Range IN ST. Louis and Itasca
county. Area $4,000 acres.
Kabetogama State Forest project
Northwest corner Of St Louis county.
Area 81 ,599 acres.
Savanna State forest project-adjoins
McGregor on the north IN Aitkin county.
Area 202. SIG acres.
Third River State forest projec-Ten
miles southeast Of Blackjack In Itasca
county. Area IS BOO acres.
White Earth State forest projece-
Immediately west OF Itasca Park In
Becker, Clearwater and Mahnomer
counties. Area 289, 71s acres.
As these areas are depopulated, the
report said, and local government dis
solved there IS going to remain a debt
obligation IN the form Of local bonds OF
outstanding warrants amounting to ap-
pruxmately IL cents per acre over the
entire nine projects As fast as these
lands are taken over by the state for
conservation purposes It should assume
its prorata share Of this debt IN pro-
portion 20 the valuation taken over. il
recommended
As an aid to communities slu remain
ing within the forest boundaries. MI
Comet suggested that a gross receipt;
tax be levied, perhaps IS per cent which
would be paid them as means Of aid.
ing N operation Of their local schools
government and road maintenance.