28 ANNUAL REPORT OF 



A STROLL IN THE BLACK FOREST. 



An article in the Outing Magazine, last summer, by 

 Mary E. Blake, under the above title, tends to show how 

 a natural forest region can be used for forestry and park 

 purposes without preventing the development of agricul- 

 tural lands that are found in its limits. It shows that ex- 

 cellent carriage roads, railroads, towns, cities, wheat fields, 

 and a happy population are a part of the "Black Forest," 

 and if read by people in Northern Minnesota who are ob- 

 jecting to a national park would probably modify their 

 views. I quote a few passages: 



"The cost of the journey from Freiburg to Schaflf- 

 hausen, including such luxuries as baths, the wild extrava- 

 gance of our ten miles of charioteering, and the railway 

 fare from Neuehausen, was #23.28 for the party of four. 

 This gave an average of $5.82 for each person, from 2 

 o'clock on Sunday afternoon to 9 o'clock on Thursday 

 morning. We were in very light marching order. The 

 heavier bags had been sent two or three days ahead, by 

 that parcel-post which is such a blessing in Europe. To 

 mail your baggage as you would a letter or a newspaper, 

 pay a small postage and call for it at the desired postoflEice 

 with the rest of your mail, is a comfort and convenience 

 which we have not yet reached in America. We were to 

 cross the forest diagonally to the Rhine falls, entirely away 

 from the towns which usually attract the commercial and 

 conventional traveler. 



"The smooth white road wound through the broad 

 fields, shaded by rows of thrifty trees, -and followed 

 always by the singing brook that told of the hills beyond. 

 There was no dust. The softly rounded mountains 

 stretched away to the horizon in picturesque vistas; 

 orchards and wheat lands ran partly up the sides to meet 

 the wooded slopes. Such luxuriant farming lands we had 

 not seen before, with scattered flocks and herds browsing 



