History favors Baxter park land deal

The Maine Legislature should support the acquisition of Katahdin Lake by Baxter State Park without insisting that hunting be allowed. Rather than focusing on the impact that this might have on hunting, the Legislature ought to consider safety concerns and the potential for fallout if this deal fails. Also, as this deal is considered, Gov. Percival Baxter’s goals and those who many years ago sought to block his efforts must be recalled.

The Legislature would be well served to assess the safety of allowing hunting in the Katahdin Lake area. A glimpse at a map illustrates how close Katahdin Lake is to Baxter State Park. Not only is it close to the park, it is very close to the most popular launching spot within the park, Roaring Brook campground. From Roaring Brook one ascends Mount Katahdin to Chimney Pond. It is from Roaring Brook that families walk to Sandy Stream Pond, perhaps the best spot in the park from which to view moose. What does Roaring Brook’s proximity to Katahdin Lake have to do with safety?

Well, just imagine hiking into Katahdin Lake in late August or September with your children. With no black flies or mosquitoes and the fall foliage approaching, it’s bound to be a popular time of the year to hike into Katahdin Lake. As your family ambles along the trail, expecting to picnic on the shore of the lake, you may be met by bear hunters, moose hunters and-or even deer hunters (hunting with bows). Why risk an accident? It would be safer for the Legislature to support the prohibition of hunting in this area.

Does the Maine Legislature need another reason for rejecting the arguments of those who are insisting on hunting in this area? If so, they should consider this: If not for the proposed deal that would add the Katahdin Lake parcel to Baxter State Park, there is a very real chance that this land would be sold to someone other than the state or the Baxter State Park.

If only the opponents to this deal would consider what might happen then. To the north of the Katahdin Lake land is a relatively new landowner, Roxanne Quimby. Do the opponents to this deal want Quimby or someone with her goals to be the owner of Katahdin Lake? If not a Quimby, perhaps some other wealthy out-of-stater will acquire the property. Perhaps another Plum Creek type development might be considered. Do any of these scenarios seem better than the land being held by the Baxter State Park?

The most compelling reason for the Legislature to support this deal is historical. Since 1921 when Gov. Baxter first identified this section of Maine for preserving, obstacles were placed in front of him. In the early days as he identified parcels to purchase with his money, he was met with stiff opposition. Back then folks objected to the loss of logging and hunting on the land around Mount Katahdin.

Indeed, while Baxter offered a fair price to purchase the lands, and the sellers agreed to sell, the anti-Baxter forces claimed foul. They charged that they were being deprived of what they considered to be their own. Similarly, those who are insisting that hunting be allowed on the Katahdin Lake parcel argue that this deal, if completed, will deprive them of a right to use this land. They are reminiscent of those who continually placed obstacles before Gov. Baxter as he sought to acquire land to build the park. Given the extraordinary success of the Baxter State Park since it was established, the Legislature should honor Gov. Baxter by stepping over this obstacle.

It has been asserted that without the guarantee that hunting be allowed on the Katahdin Lake parcel, two-thirds of the Legislature will never support this deal. Such an assertion assumes that the opponents to this deal are in charge of our Legislature. Since when did our Legislature become hostage to the ideas and goals of those who are apparently opposed to the wishes of Gov. Baxter?

Recall that Gov. Baxter, over many years, acquired land to establish a park for all of the people of Maine and sought to establish “a sanctuary for beasts and birds.” While I am sure that many members of our Legislature enjoy hunting and fully support the rights of Mainers who wish to hunt, I am equally confident that our Legislature is comprised of members who appreciate the goals and wisdom of Gov. Baxter.

Gov. Baxter is one of the most revered and respected governors this state ever had. Due to his determination and vision, one of the most beautiful sections of our state was preserved and kept open to all Mainers.

I hope the Legislature will step up and support the determination and vision of all who have worked so hard to negotiate the plan to bring Katahdin Lake into Baxter State Park.

J. Bradford Coffey is a resident of Bangor.