The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1934-04-20

Much valuable soil erosion and soil saving
work was accomplished by the Indians on Indian
reservations John Collier, commissioner of In
dian affairs, states the capital value of the
Indian lands has been increased 50 for every 81
spent.
The white pine blister rust, one of the most
serious menaces to the nations 100000 acres
of valuable white pine, represented one Of the
major detectives Of the forest army.
The great bulk of the work done was accom-
plished during the months of July, August and
September in 1888, the strength of the forestry
army did not reach its peak of around 100000
until the middle of July. The report does not
include the large amount of forest work that was
done in October and November, as accurate fig
ures on this period were not available when Mr..
Fechner made his report.
Twenty-eight camps containing $500 veterans
did flood control work under the supervision of
the chief of engineers of the War department.
OF the 1922 camps in the continental United
States, 1880 were under the supervision of the
forest service 175 under the Office of national
parks buildings and reservations, II under the
bureau of Indian affairs % under the chief of
engineers, three under the bureau of biological
survey of the Department Of Agriculture and
one under the general land Office.
On the Importance of all this work, the New
York Times in editorial headed "Trees and
the Man" commented recently as follows TT
unemployed has done for the forests and wood
lands Of the United States Charles Lathrop
Pack president of the American Tree associa-
ton, estimates that the work of these forest
workers will mean the annual saving of hum
dreds of millions Of dollars. The program calls
for tree planting burned and cleared areas,
the thinning out of undesirable trees the eradi-
cation of insects and diseases that destroy great
numbers Of trees, flood control and protection
CT lino trail TO hQ1 In
fire-fghting building lookout towers and emer-
gency fire control landing fields, and the clear
ing of grounds for camping and other recrea-
tional uses.
This is sort of war that science and reli-
gion pacifist and materialist, practical man and
poet may unite in supporting. 1t is war against
the real enemies of man. These young men have
been characterized by President Roosevelt as
the vanguard of spirit They In a
very true sense pioneers in the recovery of lost
provinces that lie within national borders.
If it be said that they were drafted, the answer
is that they are all volunteers In their willing
ness to work. They are living a garrison
ration and are happy again AS letter to the
editor from one of this army says: I'm giving
value received for what 1 get. I'm earning my
way I'm not on charity The value received
that he gives will not all be Immediately avail
able but the dividends will come in due time.
"The benefit to the forest worker, however,
is instant. There are more than 100000 of these
young men in the more than 800 camps across
America. President Roosevelt, looking into their
faces at one of them recently, said that one had
but to see them to know that the camps are a
success Their chief success is, after ALL not in
the trees which these young foresters saving
or are planting for the future, but In the
spirit, vigor and hopefulness of the men them
selves When the epic story of this period comes
to be written 1t may even begin with Trees and
the Man sing At any rate, the trees will have
had proud part in it."
Even more Interesting than the foregoing testi-
mony to the Importance of this work is the testi-
mony of Mr. Pack himself. Writing under the
head of Auditing the CCC Ledger" in a recent
issue of the Review of Reviews and Worlds
Work, he said in part:
more than two hundred million dollars will
have been poured into this conservation hopper
by next spring. Out of spout has come a
satisfactory flow of human benefits. Out of the
streams of economic benefits and conservation
value
Under the federal foresters particularly there
have been amazing results. Some of these are
tangible and visible today others investments
In the future. Fire, insects and disease are the
three great enemies of our forest resources The
average annual loss from fire is estimated to be
ifty-three million dollars the burning over of
about fortyone million acres of forested land.
The CCC has made possible great extension
of the fire control work. There Is certainly