Resettlement in Northern Minnesota

The first resettlement project to be undertaken in Minnesota involves the reestablishment of dwellers from the Beltrami Forest Reserve on other farms where they will have better opportunities. This reserve is located near the Canadian boundary, and as originally established having an area of approximately 144-5*000 acres, three-fourths in Lake of the Woods County and one-fourth in adjacent Roseau County. In Lake of the Woods County are the most northerly farms in the continental United States. Roseau lies Just to the west of it. In this area of 445,000 acres there were 509 farms or at least that many homes. Most of the settlers were owners of the land on which they lived, a few were renters and the others squatters. It was planned to entirely depopulate this area. Up to November 1, 1935, a11 But 15 had accepted the government 's offer and have arranged to leave the Forest Area. Eighty liave selected land in Lake of the Woods and Roseau Counties upon which to relocate and their set-upa have been approved by the resettlement agency. The first map (A) shows the location of the Beltrami Island Forest and of Roseau and Lake of the Woods Counties. Of Lake of the Woods County a reconnoissance soil survey was made about 12 years ago, while the survey of Roseau County was nearly completed this past season. The soil map of Lake of the Woods County shows peat occupying 61j. per cent of the surface, and poor sands 12 per cent. The wide distribution of the peat in the County is shown in the next •nap (B) , On this are indicated the boundaries of the Forest Area, in which the