The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-03-03
Willard TO
HELP ELY
New Commissioner of Conser.
walton Writes on Forest
Office Removal.


Miner that he has secured the assist
ance of E. " Willard, the new conserva-
ton commissioner in the matter of the
Superior National Forest Office removal
subject Mr. Lommen also stated that
he had secured considerable other help
in the matter and had sent the protest
of this city to Milwaukee and Washing
ton.
Commissioner Willard, who replaced
Commissioner Cox two weeks ago on the
Minnesota Conservation Commission,
wrote the following letter to z. w.
Tinker, regional forester at Milwaukee.
Eliminating the sentimental aspects and
frontier" features and looking at it
from a business standpoint. we think
the letter Is Of inestimable value as
showing the attitude of the conservation
department in the matter. The letter
said:
Dear Mr. Tinker:
My attention has been called to a
proposal to have the headquarters Of
the q s. Forest Supervisor moved from
Ely where it has been located ever since
Federal Forest Management Of the Su-
perior National Forest was begun In
Minnesota, TO Duluth.
Naturally the people of Ely are
deeply concerned with this move. Ely
may be said to lie within the area Of
the Superior National Forest. It has
always been known as the gateway TO
the Forest and has been and Is ad-
vertised as such. The Forest Service
has becme an institution IN this nor
thern frontier community and its 10
cation in Ely Is a tradition.
ITO the average citizen of Ely and,
I believe, generally this question as to
why this move of headquarters should
be made at this time, is pertinent.
They see In the present location more
direct and easy contact with the Forest
and it seems natural that in the in
terests of convenience, efficiency and
economy it should be kept in its present
close proximity to the area where most
of the actual work is being done. Then
too, the headquarters of the Minnesota
Forest Service with whom you cooperate
IN forest problems are located at Tower
and the headquarters Of the District
Chief Game Warden are located at
it occurs to me that Il you do move the
headquarters to Duluth, as proposed, 1t
viii be necessary for you to maintain
some kind OF district Office in Ely. To
the people Of Ely and to others in
terested IN the Superior National
Forest the present location seems to
have very many advantages which can
not be claimed by a more remote 10
cation.
The city of Ely is a struggling nor
them frontier community more widely
known perhaps because of its relation
70 the Superior National Forest than for
any other feature. Relatively 1t VIII
miss the headquarters the families OF
| its employees and the advertising asset
that such headquarters have proven &c
be TO a much greater extent than what
the City OF Duluth with its many di-
vergent sources of income and pros
perity VIII stand to gain by such 9
| transfer.
It trust that If this proposal TO move
headquarters has attained statu;
where it is receiving serious considera-
ton that you VIII consider carefully
the matters I have referred 20 herein
before you take definite action"
| Very truly yours,
| E. ". WILLARD,
Acting Commissioner Of Conservation