The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-04-02
CcC Celebrate
Continued From Page one0

maximum amount of the highest grace |
of forest products and at the same time
correlate this work with developing the
wild life. recreational and other values.
1T is planned to put every acre on a
productive basis which in time will be
the source of steady employment for
large number of people in the manufac-
turing of forest products. This Will be
accomplished, not by the wholesale
Slaughtering operations as was done IN
the past, but by steady perpetual oper-
alton developed by scientific manage
ment.
ITO do the work necessary to reach
the detectives will Of course take many
years. What work will be done and
what has been done, is, and has been
the problem of the men who plan and
SIpervise the work 1t is the policy OF
these men to proceed along lines set by
standards that are the result OF ex-
perience and research work"
Charles R. Randall of the Duluth Of
flee of the Superior Forest, in comment
ing on the anniversary OF the CCC or
ganization gives a short history of the
four camps of which Ely is the center
He states that the Portage River Camp
on the historic Echo Trail; the new
camp to the southwest, Vermilion, and
two camps on the Ely-Finland road,
Halfway and Gegoka, all consider Ely
as their headquarters"
Halfway Camp located eleven miles
from the city, is typical Of the CCC &C
tivities on the forest" says Mr.. Reynolds.
Here many acres have been planted to
spruce and pine and the timber now
standing has been improved by cutting
out the inferior trees, thinning out the
thick stands and pruing the pines for
the production of valuable lumber. AS
in the case of all the other camps, fire
protection and suppression has been an
important part of the work.
Portage River camp is surrounded by
thick stands of jack pine. Hundreds OF
acres of this type has been thinned to
bring it to an earlier maturity and en-
courage logging much sooner than could
otherwise be affected. Game manage
ment and recreation has been en-
phaSized here. Better portage routes
have been established and many lakes
surveyed in order to determine their
suitability for fish and other forms OF
wild life. The first CCC boys arrived
at the site of this camp on Decoration
Day in 1888 and on June l actual field
work was begun.
'Vermilion is the only new camp in
the vicinity 1t is a portable 200 man
camp located on the northeast arm Of
Lake Vermilion and was occupied last
fall. Plans and surveys have been COM
pleted; fire hazard reduction accomp-
lished and timber stands improved
Planting will be an important activity
at this camp during the coming sum-
mer and a fire protection scheme is
being worked out that will hold forest
fires to minimum"
Superintendent D. M Wilson Of Yer
million camp praises the work done here
very highly and says the chief purpose
of the work in this area is the conserVa-
ton and building up Of our natural re-
sources and at the same time provide
vast recreational area where the genera
public may enjoy outdoor life to the
fullest extent with the minimum OF eX-
p2nse.
Mr.. Wilson further states that 1.-THE
work projects of the camp since its IN
ception last fall, have been directed to-
wards conservation. During this period
approximately 435 acres of forest have
been placed in the best possible con-
dition for production and 442 acres par
TALLY completed SO miles of linear sur
vey have been run; 1890 acres examined
for future work; 124 acres approved tor
future planting of trees which required
the examination of a much larger area
235 acres cleared of fire hazards; 5
miles of roadside cleanup completed;
los miles of winter roads built; a deer
census conducted over 1920 acres OF
representative country; survey made
of three lakes to determine suitability
for development for fish and waterfowl;
nine miles of telephone line built ano
numerous other achievements.
The projects for the coming sum-
mer contain large amount of trail ano
portage work, road improvement; picnic
and camp ground construction; well
directed tree planting program and tim
Der stand improvement. Several scenic
canoe routes will be developed and some
excellent fishing made accessible to the
outdoor enthusiast. Aside from these
recreational values complete trail and
portage system is necessary for the in
accessible portions of the area as an aid
to fighting forest fires. The system is
being SO developed that no area will
be more than two miles from some
means of transportation. In this way,
fire fighting crews may be rushed into
any area in the shortest possible time. !"
Project Superintendent A. c. Martin
son of Portage River camp I'll speaks
glowingly of the work done at this camp
during the years since May 80, 1888,
when the 200 young men arrived and
opened camp on this spot. He also said
that actual work was begun on June l
in the field
This is the Lac La CroiX district of
which Mr.. Martinson says: Its area
is about 100000 acres in extent. It's
only road, the Ely-Buyck, was badly in
need of maintenance work Fire towers,
telephone lines, general cleanup Of haz-
ardouS areas and fire trails were badly
needed to adequately protect this vast
area from the damaging effects of forest
fires.
A few Of the 200 men were detailed to
assist in building more permanent
buildings for housing the men and
others began actual woods work. Soon