48 ANNUAL REPORT OF 



that for large tracts of land. The administration of the Burnt- 

 side Forest of 20,000 acres will cost as much as a tract of 200,000 

 acres but it has the advantage of no initial outlay for the land and 

 no taxes to pay, so that we may expect it to compare favorably 

 with other forests in the matter of net annual revenue. 



Private holdings within the present limits of the Reserve, and 

 adjoining it should be acquired by the State for forestry purposes, 

 and added to the Burntside Forest, so as to give a more compact 

 form. Steps should also be taken to secure an appropriation for 

 the purchase of all lands now held by the State Land Department 

 in this vicinity. The writer had occasion to examine a number 

 of such pieces belonging to the State, and found them to be of the 

 same general character as the Burntside Forest absolutely value- 

 less or agriculture and consequently unsalable. 



ATTRACTIONS. 



The Burntside country has its attractions, and special effort 

 should be made by the Forestry Board to present those attrac- 

 tions to the public. The State Forest Reserves should be de- 

 voted not alone to the business of raising timber, but to the 

 pleasure of all the people. They should be made popular as 

 summer-resorts, parks and hunting grounds. Ely, with its im- 

 portant iron-mining industry and its location on beautiful Long 

 Lake, has acquired considerable reputation among summer 

 visitors, much of which is due also to its proximity to famous 

 Burntside lake, and with improved waterways, roads, and trails 

 a larger number of tourists and sportsmen would be attracted 

 through Ely to Burntside Forest. 



The healthseeker will find here rest and recuperation from the 

 care and monotonous toil of the city, and the invigorating fresh- 

 ness of the woods will attune his wearied nerves to renewed effort 

 in the battle of life. There is no languor here no tired feeling 

 the summer climate is ideal. During the hot season of this year 

 when people were suffering and even dying of heat in the large 

 cities the temperature was moderate in the Burntside country, 

 and outdoor work was carried on without discomfort. 



FISH AND GAME. 



As before stated this region is wholly undesirable to the 

 farmer, and of human inhabitants there are none within the limits 



