Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-03-28
TALK PLAN FOR
STATE FOREST
Project for Pine County is
Told by Official of For
estry Department.
Delegation Also Puts Up
Plea for Improvement of
Highway No. 48.

n.
creation of new state forest which
would include four townships in
northeastern Pine county were dis
cussed Tuesday at a meeting in the
office of Lieutenant Governor HAL
mar Petersen. A. F. Opel, deputy
director of forestry, explained the
projected forest to a delegation from
Pine county.
Among those in the county dele
cation were joseph e. Therrien,
county auditor; John S. Patrick and
c.. A. Pearson, county commissioners;
H. w. Jorgensen, county engineer; H.
M. Dempsey, John Danger, and Mer-
chant Van der DUN, all of Hinckley.
Representative C. G. Mann, Hinckley;
Senator C. Elmer johnson, Almelund;
and Lieutenant Governor Petersen
also attended the meeting.
Forester Tells Plan.
Mr.. Opel explained to the Pine
county delegation how the plan would
be worked out under the provisions
Of bill that is now before the Pub
lie Domain committee of the House
and is expected to be introduced as
a committee bill. This bill provides
| for the creation of Is new state for
ests and additions to four of the pres
ent state forests.
Under the plan as outlined by Mr..
Opel the state would buy from own
ers in the areas affected lands which
are delinquent in taxes for three years
or more. After settling with the own
er of the land and acquiring title the
state would pay to the county the
tax obligations on the property.
Lose no Rights.
The question was raised as to
/ whether persons desiring to remain
in the area designated as the new
state forest would lose any of their
rights. They would not, Mr.. Opel
explained. They would still be per-
mitted to farm lands within these
areas the same as before If they
chose. However, they would, as he
expressed it, ''be on their own" They
could no longer depend on the county
to keep up roads and schools for their
territory. After such lands were &C.
quired by the state the county would
no longer have to keep up roads and
other improvements In the forest
area. Thus the plan would remove
this burden from the county and
would give them the back tax pay
ments owed on the lands taken over
by the state.
|
Much of this territory within the
contemplated forest is land which is
unfit for farming and should be re-
stored to forest culture" Mr.. Opel
said. eff such land is taken over
by the state under this plan it will
relieve the county of a costly load
which it is bearing to provide GER
tain services for scattered settlers
within the area"
In addition to the land in Pine
county-the extreme northeast corner
two and a half townships in Carl
ton county directly to the north also
would be included in the proposed
state forest.
Present Highway Plea.
After the Pine county delegation
had consulted with Mr.. Opel the
members went to the office Of N. W.
Elsberg. state highway commissioner
to ask that at least a part of Trunk
Highway No. 4S. running east Of
Hinckley to Danbury. Wis.,, be I'm
proved this summer. They asked es-
pecially that a bridge be built over
the Kettle river
The two CCC camps in the region
east of Hinckley and the proposed
national park on the bank of the st.
Croix river were cited by the delega-
tion as reasons for pushing this i'm
provement.
Mr.. Elsberg received the Pine
county visitors cordially and assured
them that If sufficient funds were
made available for the Highway de-
partment as much as possible Of the
work would be done.