the expense of buying all the timber, as much of it is dete- 

 riorating and would continue to do so unless the state were 

 in a position to handle it more effectively than is possible at 

 present. Furthermore, the areas to be logged are remote 

 from the lakes and roads and, they contend, 'will not spoil 

 the park as a. show place and delightful resort for tourists. 



"The contractors who have charge of the logging opera- 

 tions for the Walkers are under instructions to consult with 

 the forestry board and to leave untouched any tracts that 

 may be designated. It is not likely that any timber essential 

 to the attractiveness of the park will be removed. The board 

 is negotiating for the purchase from Messrs. Walker and Rug- 

 gles the pine that should be saved. It is expected the funds 

 on hand will be expended for that purpose and will nearly 

 cover the cost of the timber that it is deemed advisable to 

 buy. The board wants, and should have, funds with which 

 to acquire title to all the land in the park now owned by 

 Messrs. Walker and Ruggles. The Walker lands, without the 

 timber, were offered to the board at $2 an acre in 1907. 



"The state already has entered into an agreement with the 

 Weyerhaeusers regarding their holdings in the park. In ac- 

 cordance with an act of the Legislature passed in 1909, and 

 amended last year, they agreed to donate the land to the park 

 commission. They were given ten years from the date of 

 donation in which to remove the pine, spruce, cedar, tamarack 

 and balsam timber, the state meantime to pay the taxes on 

 the standing timber. They agree to cut no trees that are less 

 than eight inches in diameter at four and a half feet from 

 the ground. They reserve the mineral rights in the land 

 donated. 



Step by Step the State Is Planning to Obtain the Lan^s 

 Needed. 



"It is only a question of a few years, therefore, until the 

 state will have possession of the Weyerhaeuser tracts and 

 title to the land. The state at present is contesting before 

 the interior department the title of the Pine Tree Lumber 

 company to about 1,600 acres within the park. If it wins it 



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