The very first step, and the most important one, in 

 the development of these natural advantages is the 

 absolute suppression of forest fires which endangers 

 settlers, destroy future timber and discourage tourists. 

 If the people of the north woods have confidence in 

 their country as it is, and insist on its protection they 

 would be a long way on the road to prosperity. It is 

 the protection of developments .of their forests on 

 which they should insist, and the development of their 

 farms would quickly follow. 



In minor matters not involving the expenditure of 

 state money the legislature was more considerate of 

 the Forestry Board. They passed a bill creating a 

 closed season for the setting of fires. Prom April to 

 November no one can start a fire in brush, slashings 

 or meadows without a permit from the state forester. 

 The district rangers will, of course, be authorized to 

 issue such permits and it will not work any hardship 

 on the settlers. On the other hand it will enable 

 the rangers to prevent fires from being started when 

 the country is dangerously dry and to fix the respon- 

 sibility for fires which get out of control. 



They also passed a bill memorializing Congress to 

 increase the appropriations under, the Weeks Law so 

 that Minnesota may be allotted $50,000 a year from 

 the federal funds for fire patrol instead of the $8,000 

 she is now getting. Another memorial asked Congress 

 to establish a hydro-airplane training station at Duluth 

 and conduct an airplane patrol for fires as a part 

 of their training work. 



Still another bill gave the State Forester increased 

 power to enforce the use of spark arresters and other 



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