304 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



reason alone to endeavor to preserve it for future generations who 

 may be within reach of this region. There are twenty-four million 

 or more of people living within twenty-four hours ride of that region, 

 and I think it has been clearly established that there is no other 

 single region in this country that has equal health qualities for a 

 great many conditions as that region in the northern part of the state. 

 I personally know of a number of lives that have been saved by go- 

 ing there. 



There is another reason I might speak of why this tract should 

 be preserved, and that is that it would be sure to attract thousands 

 of visitors from outside the state; it will justify railroads in building 

 their lines in that direction, and it will be the means of bringing 

 millions of dollars within the state. Within the state of New Hamp- 

 shire are the White Mountains, which cannot be compared with this 

 region, and six and one-half million dollars are left there yearly by 

 those that come from outside the state, and at the rate the influx 

 is increasing the income from that source will soon amount to twenty 

 millions of dollars or more. We would have an income to this state 

 of as large an amount as that if this national park project were 

 pushed to completion. 



I am particularly to emphasize the value of health conditions 

 and the value of the region as a health resort, not only for consump- 

 tives, but for nervous conditions and a great many other conditions 

 of physical failing health. 



Now a few things in reference to the objection to the acquiring 

 of this region as a national park, and what some of us or all of us 

 may be able to do towards preserving it. There is no objection ex- 

 cept by lumbermen. The inhabitants of that region do not object to 

 it. The town of Cass Lake appreciates the value of it, and the busi- 

 ness, men in session there not long ago unanimously voted to sup- 

 port and favor the park measure. In the town of Cass Lake senti- 

 ment is divided. It is right in the midst of the proposed reservation, 

 there are two big lumber mills right in the town, and it is their object 

 to throw all the obstacles in the way of this reservation. If the de- 

 struction of the timber is kept up at the present rate it will be gone 

 in a few years ; 140,000,000 feet is small compared with the whole 

 amount to be cut. I understand the estimate is 300,000,000 feet, and 

 if the lumberman goes in and cuts that amount, fire will remove three 

 times as much. You may have seen the statement in the report of 

 the fire warden which spoke of the number of townships burned over 

 in the past few years, and most of the fires were started in the 

 slashes of the lumberman's cuttings. I also saw an account of two 

 lumbermen being convicted of setting fires for the purpose of mak- 



