The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1939-12-07
New Stump Fuller Helps
Land Clearing Problems
Diesel Powered Machine Proves
Answer to Fifty Years of
Settlers Prayers.

ana Cr1ed ana proven, apparently mas
solved the problems of the cut-over
area, entirely changing the outlook for
the future of region comprising some
81 ,0O0,0 900 acres of abandoned forest
land.
For half century men have racked
their brains for a cheap, quick method
of removing the never-rotting pine
stunps without much success. Ex-
ploSiveS were Me only solution to the
problem, but they proved to be much
too costly With dynamite it meant an
expense of from $40 to $3.50 per acre to
rid it of pine stumps.
That delayed development of an i'm
mense area of fertile soils in region
Of adequate rainfall.
Two years ago a new machine made
its appearance in Gogebic County, Mich.
Until the ground froze hard it knocked
out stumps for farmers near Ironwood
and BeSsemer at around an acre an
hour, and at a cost Of approximately
SIS an hour.
The machine was crawler type trac-
tor pushing hydraulicly operated bull
grader" or angle dozer'
It's Diesel engine used cheap fuel,
two to three gallons an hour, costing
8 to 8 cents a gallon. 1t smashed the
stumps to bits, swept them out roots and
all, and Smoothedsthe ground It dug
bitches to drain pot holes, or filled
them in from nearby knobs. 1t graded
roadways and excavated Easements for
barns and dwellings
Adjacent counties in Michigan and
Wisconsin bought similar machines in
1888. Last spring, 1889, the first came
Ito Minnesota's cut-over counties. Ten
were delivered to contractors by the
Duluth agent May l. Others have been
added since. Most of them have been
kept busy Is hours a day. Owners look
for buster year in 1910.
Each machine has cleared as much
land as previously had been cleared by
1000 men working with dynamite. The
average clearing the last so years has
been an acre and half per farm per
year. The machines have averaged
about 1,5O0 acres each
The invention has changed the out
look for the cut-over district in two
ways. They are making it possible
for farmers already in the district to
make living on their farms. The
average clearing per farm was q acres.
So small cultivated area is not enough
to support family. Outside jobs were
70 i,,aor,a
jobs failed, farmers had to go on re-
lief or seek WPA jobs. That increased
taxes-for themselves and others With
larger fields, the relief load and taxes
can be diminished. A living and money
can be made on adequate clearings.
Another way the macflinc has helped
has been by inviting a good many far
mers from other areas. With money
to buy cheap land that now can be
cleared at low cost, they are flocking
in, buying, building, clearing. The
5000 farmers in st. Louis county, even
with the new machines, would be long
time clearing its 100000 acres of good
agricultural land. Others are needed
to help develop the country. They are
coming in rather rapidly. Around
Blackjack, wheer the Northern Pacific
railroads immigration department has
concentrated effort the past summer.
375 new families have settled during
1888 They have kept two land clearers
busy all summer-may need more in
1910
The new method Of land clearing
working as well On rocks as on stumps
has had two years OF trial It has
demonstrated its value. 1t works. There
is now no question about it.
It means rapid agricultural develop
ment for great area Of virgin soil in
a region Of reliably accurate rainfall,
admirably suited to crops that are prec-
tically certain Of unusual profit. Among
them are small fruits, certified seed
potatoes, clover and alfalfa seed, root \
crops with rutabagas at top), nursery
stock, and hardy Towering perennial
roots and bulbs.
With the larger clearings, intensive
enterprises, such as dairying, poultry
production and gardening, can be sup
plemented at least with more extensive
methcds-the growing Of grains. the
production Of beef cattle, sheep and
even swine
All this can be done while at the
same time increasing the production of
timber from half the area, now officially
set aside for forests, and from better
tended woodlots on the new farms. Our
timber using industries would have
added sources of material, and an ex-
panded home market.
Each new farm is, to the cities that
serve, the equivalent of an additional
factory. A small one, it IS true, but one
in which there viii be no strikes, no
lockouts, no layoffs during dull season.
For the first time since the earliest
settlement, the pine cut-over section
may truly be said to be on the eve of
period of rapid expansion.
Many careful observers have mourned
that, in the recent depression, there
was no great area of cheap lands such
as relieved previous similar situations
Frontiers before always were open to
absorb those displayed by ceSsations in
industry.
The new invention has been given a
%r7r1w -. II