Cornell University Library The original of tiiis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924009296363 LAND GRANT IN WISCONSfN HEARINGS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON THE PUBLIC LANDS HOl'SE OF EEPRESEI^TATITES WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1912 WASHINGTON GOVEENMENT PRINTING OEEIOE 1912 LAND GEANT IN WISCONSIN. Committee on the Public Lands, House of Representatives, }Yednesdai/ , January 10, 1912. The committee met at 10.30 o'clock a. m. Present: Representatives Graham (acting chairman), Taylor, Raker, Wickersham, Claypool, George, Maher, Mondell, Ferris, Dent, Godwin, Rubey, Volstead, Pickett, and Morgan. After consideration of other matters, H. R. 13417, Sixty-second Congress, by Mr. Morse of Wisconsin, was taken up for consideration and hearing. The C'HAiRMAN. Congressman Morse, of Wisconsin, is here, and desires to be heard on H. R. 13417. I think the committee work is now in such shape that he can be heard. STATEMENT OF HON. ELMER A. MORSE, A MEMBER OF CON- GRESS FROM WISCONSIN. Mr. ^loKSE. Mr. Chairman, that is a bill granting to the State of Wisconsin some islands in the little inland lakes in northern Wis- consin. The State of Wisconsin has a forest-reserve area of 475,000 acres, the third in size of any State in the Union — owned by the State, of course. The islands are now owned by the General Govern- ment. They are samll, not adapted to agriculture, and for that reason have not been taken up under the homestead law. They are in these little inland lakes, and the State has purchased most of the land around these lakes and is now using it. ]\Ir. Ferris. What is the total acreage ? Mr. Morse. Mr. Griffith, our State forester, will give you that. It is very small. Mr. Godwin. What do you propose to pay for them ? Mr. Morse. We do not propose to pay anything for them. Mr. Godwin. What are they worth ? Mr. Morse. Mr. Griffith can give you better information on that than I. I am just going to state what the bill is. Mr. George. Is there not timber on those islands? Mr. Morse. Yes. Mr. George. Good timber ? Mr. Morse. Some of it is good timber, but the acreage is very small. Now we have purchased all of this land excepting 20,000 acres given us by the General Government some time ago. The State of course is policing and taking care of this land, and one of the main reasons why we want to get possession of the islands is this: The Interior 3 4 LAND GRANT IN WISCONSIN. Department has held the matter up for tliree or four years \vhile this bill has been pending Mr. Godwin. What do you want with them ? Mr. Morse. We want to include them mthin our forest reserve. One of the great reasons for wanting to get title is this : We are cre- ating tliere in northern Wisconsin, m the lake region, a magnificent forest reserve. We have passed a bill whereby the State is damming up the outlet of .the lakes and using the water for water-power pur- poses; that is, letting it back up during high water and letting it out during low water. That is one reason why we want them, but the main reason is this: If those islands go into private ownership, as they have in some instances, people get possession of them, estab- lish saloons and houses of Ul repute in the islands, and in this way practically ruin our great forest reserve. Mr. JxAKER. Are they not valuable for anything else '^ Mr. Morse. Not Acjy --/aluable for am'thing except summer-resort purposes. The bill provides that wv can not sell them; we have got to keep them as a forest reserve. It is utterly impossible for us to police that great park unk^ss the vState owns those islands. The fact is that people from all over the Nation are coming there. A^ e are establishing a great national park, not only for the people of Wiscon- sin, but for the people of other States as well. Mr. Ferris. I am not acquainted with the geography of your State at all. Arc the islands all within the boundaries of Vt isconsin f! ]\[r. i\loRSE. Oh, yes: all withm the boundaries of Wisconsin. Mr. MoxDELL. Ilinv large a proportion of them are actualh' within the exterior boundaries of tlic forest reserve ( ]\Ir. Morse. Practically all of them; there are a few outside. They are on the headwaters of the \\ isconsin River. The islands are not in the river, but in the lakes. The Cii-\iKMAN. Those bodies of water constitute the watershed of that river? Mr. JIoESE. Of the Wisconsin River; yes, sir. The Chai7!Man. And the forests, whether large or small, would really constitute a part of the watershed ? Mr. ]\[(^rse. That is true. The Chairman. And the forests, therefore, would be useful in obtaining and retaining the waters up there '( My. iloRSE. They are doing that now by the building of retention dams. This map [indicating] will give you a very good idea of the number of lakes in that region. Those that are marked with crosses are now owned by the State of Wisconsin. I his is Alias County. Mr. Raker. You do nnt hold water biick for irrigation^ Mr. ]\ioj;sE. Oh, no; for v/ater-power purposes. We have several verv large danis on the V\ isronsin River. I\ow, Jilr. Cliairman, 3,[r. Grillith can state this matter more plainly and clearly than I can. 1 would like yon to have it from him. Air. Raker. Will you let me ask tliis question firsts If these islands are controlled as they are now and are used by private indi- vi(hials, would it prevent in any v, ay the holding bacvk of water? In other words, would their use of the islands in any way aU'ect the quantity or amount of water held back for water-power purposes ? LAND GRANT IN WISCONSIN. 5 ^ Mr. Morse. The question by canoe for several hundreds of miles. Mr. Raker. Are any of them now navigable lakes ? Mr. Griffith. They are all navigable for pleasure craft. There is no real navigation or commerce there. Mr. George. All these lakes are public water? Mr. Griffith. Yes. Mr. George. But in the case of private lakes — there are some private lakes there are there not « Mr. Griffith. I know of only one in that country, where a party, I think, owns all the shore line and can control the lake, although I think our courts have held that they can go up through the stream in a boat and go into the lake. 'Mi. Ferris. I would like to ask three or four questions. You are the State forester, I believe ? Mr. Griffith. Yes, sir. Mr. Ferris. I beUeve it was stated by you that these lands that are "x-ed" on the map are now State lands. Mr. Griffith. Yes, sir. Mr. Ferris. Will you please tell us the total acreage of the lands now owned by the State ? Mr. Griffith. Four hundred and seventy-five thousand acres within the forest reserve. Mr. Ferris. The lands "x-ed" then are the forestry lands of the State, and they aggregate 475,000 * Mr. Griffith. Well, there are a few outside, not shown on the map, but practically 475,000 acres. Mr. Ferris. Your bill only involves 467 acres of land ? Mr. Griffith. Yes, sir. Mr. Ferris. And that consists of 216 islands? Mr. Griffith. Yes, sir. Mr. Ferris. Did you state that nonownership of these 216 islands by the State interfered with the operations of the forestry service in that State as you desu'e to operate it ? Mr. Griffith. Yes, sir. Mr. Morse made that statement. Mr. Ferris. Mr. Morse, I think it was, stated that some of these islands were occupied by undesirable resorts; used for undesirable purposes. Do they occupy those islands by reason of any lease ? Mr. Griffith. No; they have taken them up on Government scrip. Mr. Ferris. That was the point I wanted to get at. What would be the result of passing a bill granting those 467 acres of land if there are vested rights that are attached there ? What troubles would you get into ? Mr. Griffith. We do not propose to include any of those islands which they have taken up. Those are islands which are now surveyed. Mr. Godwin. Who owns the lakes ? Where is the fee to the lakes ; in the National Government or in the State ? Mr. Griffith. Well, as I understand that, a lake which is not suitable for commerce is owned by the State. o LAND GBAWT IST WISCONSIN. Mr. Godwin. If it is a navigable stream it is owned by the Gov- ernment ? The Chaibman. The Government maj^ own the use of the water without owning the lake. The right of navigation does not involve ownership. Mr. Kakeb. Can you tell me whether or not the State has deter- nained it owned those islands within those nonnavigable lakes where it owned all lands on the border, and the Government had no control of selling them afterwards; in other words, that they were in the case of private individuals owning land surrounding the lakes 1 Is that the law in Wisconsin ? Mr. MoBSE. Our court has held the reverse. Mr. MoNDELL. These are all meandered lakes ? Mr. Gbipfith. Yes, sir; all meandered lakes. Mr. MoNDELL. It is the law that any lake within meander lines above water remains in the hands of the General Government until disposed of. Mr. Kakee. Provided the lake is nonnavigable. If it is nonnavi- gable, notwithstanding the meander lines, the water goes to the indi- vidual that owns the land around the lake. • Mr. MoNDELL. Not if it is meandered, because the Government only parts with its title to the meander line. Mr. Volstead. That is not the law in the Eastern States. Mr. Raker. Our courts have held contrary to that. Mr. Feeris. Of the 467 acres, all of that, as I understand it, is unappropriated land. Mr. Geiffith. Yes, all unappropriated. Mr. Feeeis. What per cent of the islands have already been appro- priated by the filing of script and other forms of entr\' and segregation ? Mr. Griffith. I do not understand you definitely. Mr. Ferris. A larger or smaller amount Mr. Griffith. Verjr much smaller. Mr. Ferris. Are the islands being taken up pretty rapidty now? Mr. Griffith. Yes. Mr. Taylor. I think it would be well to let the gentleman make a statement and not interrupt him. I\Ir. Geiffith. As Mr. Morse says, this bill has been pending for three years. We started in to build up this company in 1905 with only 40,000 acres. The State, hy purchase and selling oif its own State lands, has increased that to 475,000 acres. Our intention is to increase that eventually to 1,500,000 acres. These islands are unsur- veyed. A few years ago we found that certain parties, particularly some men from Chicago, were taking up these islands by script. These are little rocky knolls, averaging only al^out 2 acres to the island. Most of them are not a half or a ((uarter of an acre. They are very beautiful, and many of them are covered with pine or hem- lock. These men would go in and stri]) that timber off in the ^vinter time, and then they would sell them to almost anybody they could get to purchase. There is a great inclination while the lumber men are up m this country to locate saloons or get people in there who are very undesirable. C'onsequently President Van Heise, of the Uni- versity of Wisconsin, who is chairman of the board, and myself took the matter up with Mr. Garfield, then Secretary of the Interior, and explained the matter. After the matter was investigated somewhat LAND GBANT IN WISCONSIN. 9 Mr. Garfield withdrew those lands from entry, pending final considera- tion of Congressman ilorse's bill. There was no action taken upon the bill at that time. That action was continued under Secretary Ballinger until toward the end of his administration, and then those islands were again placed upon the market, and some 8 or 10 of the best of them were quickly snapped up. They are being surveyed slowly. We have a^ain taken the matter up with Secretary Fisher and Congressman Morse, who introduced the bill, and that is the reason we are so extremely anxious to get this bill passed so we can protect these islands. We are leasing land around these lakes and such islands as we own for people who want them for summer camps — not only people of Wis- consin, but of the whole Mississippi Valley. People come there from as far south as Xew Orleans, and many 'of them from Kansas City, Chicago, and St. Louis. We are leasing upon reasonable terms and with certain restrictions any particular land around our lakes. "We would, of course, handle these islands in exactly the same way. This is not a question, gentlemen, of giving us any amount of land for the timber that is on it, but the improvement of those islands from the esthetic point of view. In connection with the control of those reservoirs, there are estab- lished monuments on the shore line of the lake. We have a hydraulic engineer wlio takes those matters up witli all of the resort owners, and of course we have to fix a mean that will suit the storage men. The storage men would like to draw that water down as low as they can and fill the lakes as high as thej' can. The resort owner woidd hke to get a fluctuation of not more than 10 incli.es. Tliat keeijs down the thoroughfares between those lakes which you caii go through by launch or canoe. If tliese islands are taken up by private indi^-iduals, it will interfere very largely with the joint handling of tliose lakes both for reservoir puriv.ses and for resort purposes as well. ilr. Godwin. l-i»yv do they purcluise tlie timber; from whom? Mr. Griffith. They pay scrip upon tlie island; but of r-curse as soon as the land is j.atented to them tl'.e timber is theirs. Mr. Godwin. I understand that yen purchased a little of that land there tliat is "x-ed." ]Mr. Griffith. Yes, sir. Mr. Godwin. "Wliy is it, then, that you are not willing to purchase the islands in the lakes ? Mr. Griffith. I think that the United States Government has a very great interest in this work we are doing at the headwaters of these rivers. Some years ago — it was back in the nineties — the United States engineers made a survey of this region and also of the headwaters of the Mississippi in Minnesota. They reported — you will find this in the reports of the War Department — that this region and that at the headwaters of the Mississippi were two of the greatest storage reservoir regions in the United States, and if the water in these lakes could be controlled so that they would catclr all those flood waters, it would make a great difference in the valley of the Mississippi and the damage done by floods. Congress went ahead and built some storage dams on the Mississippi liiver, but nothing was done in Wisconsin at that time. The Government, showing its interest in that, has reserved, to itself all those lands — the right of flowa^e. In other words, thej could go in and overflow those lands. 10 LAND GKANT IN WISCONSIN. Now, the State, through this company, is going ahead and doing tha at the present time. A few j^ears ago the Governm.ent, showing its interest in this, granted to us 20,000 acres in this same region. Mr. (iouwiN. IldA'c tliese islands any financial value? Mr. Griffith. Yes, sir. Mr. Godwin. Wliat is that ? ^1t. Griffith. That is a difficult thing to say. ilr. Taylor. Is there any cultivable land in there ? Mr. Griffith. Xo, sir; it is not a farming proposition at all. The Chairman. This bill has been referred to the department, but no rop i i Mr. Mondell. You are wiUing to take chances that the J^ederal Government would not interfere with your use in that way ? It seems to me the grant should be clear. The Chairman. The language, jSfr. Mondell, in hues 7 and 8, as additions to the State forest reserves," when construed in connection with the language you read, would probably mean that such use could be made of them as might lawfully be made of the Wisconsin forest reserves. And if the law, as Mr. Griffith says, provides that they may be used for pleasure-resort purposes, I take it that these might also be. Mr. Mondell. At least, I doubt that there would be any question between the Federal Government and tlie State of Wisconsin. The Chairman. How old is your forestry bureau ? Mr. Griffith. The first law was passed in 1 904. Our firet real for- estry law was in 1905. i, Cl . n The (iiiAiRMAN. Is it operated at a loss to the btate ? 12 LAXD GRANT IN WISCONSIN. Mr. Griffith. It works this way : All our revenues that we get from the sale of timber, and so forth, go into a forest-reseiwe iuml, n"'' ^"■''}^ fund draws interest irom the treasury, and that fund can be used only for the puicliase of more lands and for their imprdvemcnt and pio- tection. You see, we are striving to get a reserve of 1,.500.000 a<^''*'^_- We started with 40,000 acres m 100.-^, and we have now nearly 50(!.<'"y acres. All this uk mey goes right back into the purchase < il more land.-?. But we are taking in more than we are expending. The C'haikmax. Is there any provision for tlie application of the moneys you take in after you have obtained all the land you want. ^Ir. GiUFFiTH. Xo; the legislature thought they had better wait for that. We expect eventually to have to return to the State from $1 to $2 an acre. gS^The ('HAiE^rAN. Have you any other source of income than the sale of timber? Mr. CiRiFFiTH. Yes. sir; quite a good deal from the lease of these lands for camping purposes. Mr. Godwin. What does the department sav about tliis ? The CiiAiRMAx. I have just stated that the bill was referred to the department but that no report has been received. Mr. Morse. Y"ou will find the report of the department here: it is very favorable. Mr. Taylor. It has been favorable all along? Mr. Griffith. Oh, yes. Mr. MoNDELL. jMv only reason for not reporting this bill favorably^ would be that Wisconsiji, wlxile taking these islands off our hands, might take some other lands at the same time. IMr. j\I()RSE. Th;^t has been the difhculty every time. The Fed- eral Government has a few forests in the St.ite of ^.Visconsin — I think a few thousand acres, that rei)ort ^vill show what they own. The committee has each time suggested that the St^de nf Wisconsin take tlie rest of that Federal land and use it ior a forest reserve, and in that way" get rid of that l;;nd. We were perfectly willing to take that, but as soon as it was suggested tiiat the St-.ite of Wisconsin take that Federal land somebody else in another State said, "Let us take tile Federal land in our State," and somebody in another State said, "Let us tal^e the Federal land in our State," and the trouble with tjiis bill has been tJiat it gre\\' so fast it couid not be i>:iSsed. If we can confine it simply to those islands and imt take a.ny more of tlie land, the gentlemen from the other St;ites \\-ill not insist upon their taking land. ]\lr. Rakki;. This is a s])eeial matter relating to Vriseonsin, is it not '. Mr. ]).l()KsE. Yes, sir. '\lr. Rakek. Let me ask you just a fcAx f|uestions on that. It would not relate to the general ])olicv of the Government m another State? }dr. M(ii;sE. No, sir; not at all. Mr. Raker. I understand there are about S.OOI) acres in all that the Government owns in the entire State? Mr. MousK. Y'es, sir. Mr. Raker. How nmuy land olhces ;ire there now maintained in that State ? Mr. MojiSE. One at Wausau. I think there are two; I know of one. LAND GRANT IN WISCONSIN. 13 Mr. Raker. Now, if this land were turned over to the State of Wisconsin, under the same regulation as is asked*for by this bill, it '^^^r eiimmate all of the public land offices in the State of Wisconsm ? Mr. Morse. That is true. Mr. Raker. Couldn't the State take the rest of this land under the same condition as provided in this bill? Mr. Morse. Certainly it could, but just as soon as Wisconsin does that, Minnesota, Wyoming, Missouri, and the other States would want to do the same. Mr. Raker. That ought not to defeat the bill. Mr. Morse. It has done so. Mr. Raker. I know; but the question before this committee and what we ought to act on — we ought to take each individual case and pass upon it and determine whether it is valuable or not. Now, before I quit, I want to s\vitch off on another matter. I notice you have a statement there in your hand. Does that contain the loca- tion in the township and the section of each of these islands? Mr. Griffith. Yes, sir. Mr. Raker. Would it not require under this bill a suivpy by the Government as to these islands so they could be definitety"^put into the patent that the Government would issue ? Mr. Griffith. I do not so undertand; no, sir. If you grant to us all the remaining islands we would get everything there is. Viv. MoNDELL. Let me make this suggestion: 1 had in mind when the time came to report the bill to change its form. I think in the form the bill now stands it is subject to the objection you suggest. If the committee wants to grant this land, they should grant it. In the form in which the biU now stands the Secretary of the Interior can not well issue a patent to lands that have not been definitely located and surveyed, but Congress can grant lands by prescription. We certainly do not want to go to the expense of surveying. Mr. Raker. How can you obviate the latter provision of this act? Mr. MoNDELL. Personally I have no sympathy with the latter pro- vision. I say that if the sovereign State of Wisconsin will take these little dinky islands in these lakes she ought to liave them, and Con- gress ought not to place any restriction on them. I think it is a mighty good bill. If I were to write the bill, I would say, "The unsurveyed islands in the State of Wisconsin are hereby granted to the Common- wealth." Mr. George. How would you describe them? Mr. MoNDELL. As unsurveyed lands. Mr. Morse. The State of Wisconsin has out of its own funds purchased 455,000 acres. We are pohcing that, taking care of that. We have not asked the Federal Government to come in there and establish forest reserves for us. The actual money value of this is almost notliing. Mr. Taylor. If some administration should come along here and revoke that withdrawal it would make those islands a nuisance to the State of Wisconsin ? Mr. Griffith. Yes, sir; it would. Mr. Taylor. And do irreparable injury? Ml-. Griffith. Yes, sir. . . , , The Chairman. Is there any other question involved except those you have mentioned? Is there any other possibility of property right as to minerals or other water power ? 14 LAND GRANT IN WISCONSIN. Mr. Griffith. Not that I have ever heard of. The Chairman. 'Oil or gas ? Mr. Griffith. No, sir; not that we know of up there. ]\Ir. Raker. In this same connection, is there any question m regard to monopoly Air. Griffith. None whatever. Mr. Rakek. That by granting this land to the State of Wisconsin the Government will thereby be deprived of its power to control those water powers in that State by this general bill? Air. Griffith. The Uriited'States would reserve the flowage rights, and I suppose if you thought it advisat)le you could reserve — I do not think so; those companies are absolutelv under the control_ of the State, both as to the issuing of stocks and bonds and the raising and lowering of the water. . . Mr. Rarer. I'nder the conditions that exist now, is it your opmion that the Government, owning the islands located as they are for the purpose of developing water power if the Government so desired, would be in a position to regulate the water powers that were placed there ? Mr. Griffith. The Federal Government ? I do not think it could. Mr. Raker. WJiy not'^ Mr. Morse. I do not think that the Federal Government would have any authority to regulate the water powers within the State. I may be mistaken. The Chairmax. The term "navigable water" is very broad. Where a log can be floated is navigable water. Mr. Griffith. y(^s, all lliose lakes have been held navigable. Mr. Kaker. This lias not anything to do ^dth the general prop- osition, but irrespective of the State of Wisconsin handling this in connection \\ith its Forest vScrvice and the necessity of it and the good tliat might result, still would not the Crovernment as it exists have the power to regulate generally in the States the water power wherever it Hows in these islands ? Mr. (iiuFFiTii. The mere granting of these islands would not aU'ect that question. Mr. K.VKER. It would eliminate the power of the Government over the land entirely. Mr. Griffith. Over those islands; yes. The t'ii.viR.\r.\N. I would suggest that further action on this be ])ostponed until the department is heard from on this bill. The committee has never ti.xed a regular meeting day. I think the com- mittee should do that. Mr. George. How is it you are meeting on "'iVediiesday, then. The ('ii.viR.MAN. This is e. I am not fully informed as to how many there may be of these islands, but think there must be quite a number of them altogether. They are mostly in the lakes of the region in which the State is developing its principal forest reserve, and certainly should belong to the State to become a part of such reserve instead of passing into private ownership, as I believe they may (and some already have) under existing laws. Such islands, being small isolated tracts, can never bring to the Federal (Government any considerable amount if offered for sale. The best possible disposition which can be made of these islands is that provided for in your bill. Respectfully, Geo. Curtis, Jr. Madison, Wis., January 20, 1910. Hon. E. A. .Mou.sE, Washington, D. C. Dear Sik; I understand House bill 17.544, introduced by you, has been referred to the Committee on the Public Lands. I can see no objection to this bill, and there are so many features to recommend it that I hope you may be able to secure its passage and secure for the State land that ought by right to belong to it. If I can serve you in any way, by any further communication, trust you will draw upon me. Wishing you success in securing the passage of the bill, I am, \'ery truly, yours, .T. A. Feeah, Secretary of Stats. The University of Wisconsin, Madison, .January 21, 1910. My Dear Congressman Morse: I note that you have introduced House bill 17544, providing for a grant to the State of Wisconsin of unsurveyed and unattached islands in the inland lakes north of township 33 and 34 in \\'isconsin, with the condi- tion that they be attached to the State forest reser\e As you are aware we are attempting to develnp a forest reserve on the headwaters of the chief tributaries of the Mississippi in Wiscnn-io.. Already the State has ac- quired several hundred thousand acres for this purpose. This forest reserve is in the area in which the islands referred to are located; it is important that they become a part of this reser\'0. While the State forest reserve has been planned by the State primarily with reference to Wisconsin, (here is no question that its maintenance and extension will be advantageous to the United States, since the forest reserves and the stream flow are closely connected. In the State of Wisconsin are several important rivers, especially the Wisconsin and the Cliippewa, which flow into the Mississippi. The maintenance of a uniform flow upon these streams will be one factor in the pro- motion of uniform flow in the Mississippi, and therefore in maintaining favorable conditions for navigation. Thus it is clear that the United States as well as the State is interested in the extension of the forest reserve in Wisconsin, and this seems a suSi- cient reason why the bill proposed liy you should become a law. Very truly, yours, Charles R. Van Hise. Congressman E. A. Morse. Wisconsin Legislature, Oshkosh, TT7.?., January 25, 1910. Hon. E. A. Mouse, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. Dear Sir: Inclosed you will please find copy of letter I have just received from Mr. Griffith, our State forester. As you know, Mr. Griffith is absolutely reliable, public spirited, looking out for the best interests of the State, and knows wliat he ia talking about. Anything that you may be able to do to further his plans I am sure will be very acceptable to the people of your district and to the people of the State at large. Presently I know nothing in particular about the merits of the bill he advo- LAND GRANT IN WISCONSIN. 19 Rta^^' ^^u'^'^ ^'^°^ ^^'^'-^^ '^^ ^^y^ ^^ ^^^ letter, but I do know that Mr. Griffith under- rands the situation and knows the needs of the State, and would not advocate any measure that was not meritorious and just to the State. lours, truly, \\'m. M. Bbay. Univbbsity of Wisconsin, r. „ Madison, Wis., January £5, 1910. Congressman E. A. Morse, Washington, D. C. My Dear Sir: Your bill introduced (H. R. 17544), relative to the assignment of imsurveyed and unattached islands in Wisconsin for forestry purposes, comes to my attention, and inasmuch as the purpose of this will be to improve the conditions witn reference to forestry in this State, as well ag to eliminate the possibility of these islands falling into the hands of private owners, in the midst of the forest reserves, 1 am heartily in favor of the bill and trust you may be able to secure its passage at the next session of Congress. Yours, truly, H. L. Russell. Wisconsin Legislature, Madison, January t6, 1910. Hon. E. A. Morse, Washington, D. C. Dear Sir: I am deeply interested in a bill now pending in Congress withdrawing from entry the unsurveyed islands in our inland lakes north of town 33 in our State — nor ain I alone thus interested, but every citizen of the State who is familiar with the existing conditions has a similar interest. The State already owns the larger part of the lands surrounding these lakes, and is acquiring more of such land as fast as possible — all of which is for a State forest reserve. The main purposes of this forest reserve are to grow timber for promoting our indus- tries — to cover the sources of our rivers, in order to promote a more uniform flow, thus aiding in the prevention of destructive and excessive floods as well as the long periods of low water — ^in improving navigation for small crafts and forest products — aim in the propagation of fish — but besides these purposes, which are generally understood, there is a further reason which the people generally do not, as yet, know much about. I refer to the income to our people from tourists. More and more are (he people from warmer sections of the country making annual-trips to the more northerly and cooler places. Some of our New England States, where the atfracliims have become known, receive over 810,000,000 each year from this source. In the northern part of our State ar-i more than 1,500 lakes of every imaginable shape and size, of clear pure water, and wnich are now, to some extent, surrounded by grow- ing and beautiful forests. Under State management, these forests will be propagated and enlarged, to take the place of the cut-over and burned sections, until the entire lake region will, not many years hence, present a diversity of forest and lake scenery unexcelled anywhere. Boating in these lakes and through the connecting ' ' thorough- fares" has attractions with which larger bodies of water, subject to storms, can not compare, while hunting and fishing will be of the very best. The State forestry board is now arranging for leasing small pieces of land, at a nominal rent and for a term of years, when desired, for the building of summer cottages. As soon as the conditions are further advanced and the facts become ;-!(_inerally known, it requires no prophet to see the vast number of tourists that will visit cur State and the lar<^e amount of money that will We circulated to our people as a result. Now, one factor in this development is the ownership of the islands, mostly sm_all, that are situated within these lakes. In the hands of private owners the timber on these islands will be cut off in the usual devastating style of the lumberman, fire will follow, so that instead of beauty spots these will become a blot and blemish in the land- scape. The rental of summer cottage sites on these islands will be prevented. The beauty and attractiveness of the region will be greatly marred . It is probable that the ownership of the islands is being sought by individuals, in many cases, in order that the State may be compelled to buy them later in order to be rid of a nuisance. Any- how there must be some motive, and as a rule these isolated islands arc of no practical value to an individual, while to the State, which owns surrounding lands, and on the (TTound of attractive scenery, they are of great value. On some of these islands, I understand, there is a limited amount of timber. If owned by the State, this would be cut at proper times under forestry regulation, °^ich will prevent unsightly d6bris, forest fires, or entirely denuding the surface. 20 LAND GEANT IN WISCONSIN. I greatly hope that you will succeed in securing the passage of the bill preventing these lands being entered by scrip, but secured to the State instead. If I can be of ser^dce whatever is this matter, it will be a pleasure to render such help. I am, yours, very re.^jjcftfullv, " ' ' H, P. BiKD, Chairman Stiite Formlrii C'o}iimittee. Madisox, Wis., January '.'7, 1910. Hon. E. A. Morse, Souse of Representatives, Washington, D. C. My Dear Mr. Morse: I wish to express my hearty approval of bill (H. R. 17544) introduced by you for "granting unsurveyed and unattached islands to the State of Wisconsin for forestry purposes." I believe this is a verv good bill and sincerely trust the bill will pa,-*.«. Wishing >'ou succcb.-^ in this matter and thanking you for your interest in l.iehall of the forest reserve of tliis State, I am, Very truly, vours. A, H. Dahl, State Trrasurer. Executive Chamber, Madison, ^Vis., Januaiy ,.'7, 1910. My Dear Mr. Morse: Jly attention has been called to the bill introduced by you in the House of Piepresentatives to grant the unsurveyed and unattached islands in inland lakes, north of township 'iZ, to the State of Wisconsin, as additions to the State forest reserves. This measure was lirsl considered some two years ago, when it was found that land speculators were placing scrip upon these islands, and when the matter was called to the attention of the Secretary of the Interior he withdrew all these i.-^hmds from entry pending consideration by ( Vmgress of your bill. The State of Wisconsin has now built up a foresi reserve id :524.0l)i) acres, and we are cousolidatiug the main forest reserve ui'on the headwaters of the Wisronsiii and ( iiippewa Rivers, which are important tribu- taries of the Mississippi. We expect evendially tn acquire by purchase a forest reserve of l,-50i),()l)0 to 2,000,000 acres in this region, and the effect of these reserves will be to regulate the flow of the ri\'ers, vhereby preventing to a \'ery I'nusideraliie extent the disa.strous floods upon the Mi.ssissippi, which is a f(uesli!)n not alone of Stale, but of national importance. In northern Wisconsin there are some 1,.500 beautiful inland hikes, which are aheady becoming more attractive to the jiciple of the whole ilississippi \'alley as summer res. iris. If ymu bill passe:^ and the State receives patent (o the small islands in these beautiful lakes, the timber upon the islands, instead of being stripped off, will be pTDtei'ted, and it is the policy of the State to lease camp and cottage sites, not only to the I'itizens of our own State, but other States as well. If, however, these islands should fall into the hands of land speculators, the timber is lia))le to be stripped off and the islands left in a \-ery desolate conditinn Your measure is, therefore, along the lines of Irnest con.servation, and I trust (hat nothing will prevent its passage. Yonrs, trnlv. Hon. E. A. iloRSE, House of Hcprcsrniuiins. Washington, D. (' J. 0. Davidsox, (roi-crnor. Wl.sCONSIN LEni.sLATVRE, Waj_ij)(n:a, Wis., January J9. 1910. Hon. E. A. MoK.sE, tVashington., I>. C. Dear Mr. Mor.se Vour bill (H. R. 17544) jirovidiug for the issuing of patents to the State of WiseoiLsin for the unsurveyed islands in inland lakes north of township line between townships 33 and 34 north of the fourth principal meridian, I belieA'e to be a meritorious bill. These islands will lie taken up by speculators who will monopo- lize the use of them. If tliej- are held by the State under the forest reserxe, (hey will be a benefit (o the citizens of this State and other States and their posterity for cen- turies. If this had been jiassed years ago in this State it ^vould have been a -jreat bene- fit to the people and would have saved many beauty spots that are now witliheld from the peo|ile by a few weaKliy people. Last winter our State legislature appropriated Sl.^.O.OOO for public parks in'this Stale. Yours, \ery truly, Ehward E. I'.rowne. LAND GEANT IN WISCONSIN. 21 -rr JfENOMONIE, Wis., Jllltunn/ J9, 1910. -Hon. E. A. Morse, Washington, D. C. Dear Sir: I have just received, through Mr. Griffith, copy of your bill (H. R. 17544) granting unsurveyed and unattached islands to the State of "Wisconsin for forestry pur- poses. I am heartily in favor of this measure and trust you may be able to secure its passage very soon. Can I assist vou further in arn- way in this matter? Yours, truly, J. H. Stout. Mev.\sh.\, Wis., Frhruuri/ 1, 1910. Hon. E. A. Morse, Washint/ton. D. C My Dear Mr. Morse: Your bill (H. R. 1754-1) for the granting of unsurveyed and imattached lands to the State of Wisconsin for forestry purposes is before me. I cer- tainly hope that you may succeed in having this bill become a law, because of the importance of it to the forestry interests of the State of Wisconsin. Few of us have a realization of the importance of administering in every way to the propagation and protection of our forests, and at a time like this, when the public is beginning to take notice of the necessity of the curing of the sins of the past, it ought tn be easy for your associates in Congress to see the wisdom of passing all such bills as the one you have introduced. Wishing you success in this and in other good measures. I am. Yours, trulv, John Strange. Su^^:RIOR, Wis., Frhninri/ 1, lUlO. Hon. E. A. Morse, M. C, Washington, D. C. My Dear Sir; I understand that on January 10, 1910, you introduced House bill 17544, relating to patenting to the State of Wisconsin unsurveyed and unattached islands in inland lakes north of township line 33 as additions to State forest reserve. As a member of the Wisconsin Senate, I have had the pleasure of voting for bills establishing a forest reserve in this same territory and withdrawing from ^■.\\p all State lands thereon, as well as authorize the purchase of additional lamlp. Your bill ought to pass, and I sincerely hope the same will pass without serious opiin^iiiioii. Very truly, yours, Geo. B. lluDXALL. Railroad Commission of Wisconsin', Madison, IT'i.s'., Fchrunrti 14, 1910. Mr. E. A. Morse, House of Representatives, Washington, D. O.. Dear Sir: Our forester, Mr. Griffith, has handed me a copy of the bill (H. R. 17544) granting unsurveyed and unattached islands to the State of Wisconsin for forestry purposes. A reading of the bill, in the light of the statement of facts made to me by Mr. Griffith, impresses me that this is a measure in the public interest and deserving of approval. „ tt ,, Very truly, yours, ■, B. H. Meyer. Thereupon, at 12.05 o'clock p. m., the committee adjourned to meet Wednesday, January 17, 1912.