Seat LESS is a ets frbee ors fae St ee, ‘ are as) s me rst uitralers he > CaCI SSO: BRAN Ca a Rta) ROG ie sete ae Re ; i Ries Potaloalagheyasiarsienad SEH GUEM RU aO aati RRP Gens Baoe * wath beast eyo pacesteap SMe tan ORR et) iat He , ely ABA A AES (ot f Fh EP Ohh? BONA AAS AL hg Eh eeeind Pye ey AAI es it i Cais Peay gy hate ‘ ah Ad ae ¢ Maier noe y : é Vi i 4 EEE AAPL AY e ey re Ay i Tore OP alg 7 oe ty eer Yr iG aMtie, iis tid CELE ge Mids Fa i nee, te Mee Mae ad J Woe RL TE Hy oe ceed ee ie tht est lye ere TY ry, as ry Leys ths ar i Ce Tego i fs Roi Wiiinae , er itinren ae, 4 Teper, r , és tuts Cena PIG ee fee Vinee fey i GMAT AEE i CISL LIAL he KA Q heen tA Ay J if ile VE. 7 4 A Tee ARIE Aid ? Vee A SEP eds Tetris, 4 ° Hrew Dork Htate College of Agriculture At Cornell Aniversity Ithaca, N. V. Library Cornell University Library SD 121.F71 v.7 Wn AL 3 1924 003 106 113 mann Cornell University The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http:/Awww.archive.org/details/cu31924003106113 Had M Experiment Station. St. Anthony Park, Minn. UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA. Department of Agriculture. WM. M. LIGGETT, Dean. DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE. CLASS BULLETIN No. 9. THE EXPENSE OF THE PROPOSED NATIONAL PARK FOR MINNESOTA, BY SAMUEL B. GREEN, Professor of Horticulture and Forestry. It has been proposed that the National Government reserve for the purposes of a public park the land and water included inthe Leech Lake Indian Reservationin Minnesota, except such land as has been alloted to the Indians in sever- alty. Allowing for the land taken by the Indians, which no 2 one proposes to interfere with, there would remain to be in- cluded in the proposed park 489,790 acres of land and 218,- 470 acres of water surface. Of the land 100,000 acres is classed as “timber land,’ that is contains much valuable timber. The surface is gently undulating and is mostly covered with trees although there are some natural mead- ows. Thewater surface comprises three of the largest lakes in the state besides many smaller lakes and many miles of river that are suitable for canoeing. The lake shores are broken and picturesque and the sandy beaches are good bathing places. There is also good hunting and fishing. This reservation is crossed from east to west by the Great Northern Railway, and is reached from the south by a direct railway line from St. Paul. These lines of commu- nication make this section easily accessible, which is an important point if it is to be set aside for the purposes of a public park. There is no apparent good reason why this proposed national park should not be carried on as an example in good forestry and serve the purposes of a park at the same time. In Europe many of the woodland resorts are thus carried on, so that they not only afford good pleasure grounds, but a fair return on the money invested in them. It seems to me that this is the only practical way of mana- ging such a large park asis proposed. The carrying out of such a plan means practically the establishment of a busi- ness which at the outset will result in the employment of several hundred men for several years, cutting two-thirds of the present stand of pine, which business will thereafter be continued indefinitely, paying out each year probably at least $40,000 for wages and supplies. The data for the estimates of the yield per acre are obtained from Bulletin No. 49 of the experiment station of the University of Min- nesota, published in 1896, together with subsequent data which I have collected at various times and from several visits made to this reservation. I am very sure that the 3 estimates given are conservative, and that the balance be- tween outlay and income has not been made to appear more favorable than can be realized in practice. Each item is numbered, and following the financial statement will be found notes on each according to number wherever explana- tion seems necessary. IMMEDIATE OUTLAY. (1) 100,000 acres timber land containing pine estimated at 625,000,000 feet, at ‘ BAGO Moses, aGicacescesc cesetenesaraessiencnaeedans $2,500,000.00 (2) 389,790 acres at $1.25 per acre........... 487,237.50 $2,987,237.50 (S) Houses and. Dares cscs cs icccsiesesesonranionnes 15,000.00 (4) Horses, implements, ete... eee 3,000.00 Total immediate outlay............... $3,005,237.50 IMMEDIATE INCOME. 5) Bysaleof trees now overripe and begin- ning to deteriorate, and which should be cut at once tosaveloss, estimated at two-thirds present stand... $1,666,666.67 Baiance of purchase price unpaid.. $1,338,570.83 € ANNUAL INCOME. (6) 185 feet, board measure, per acre annual growth on 100,000 acres would be 18,500,000 feet, board measure, which can be cut each year without intruding upon the normal growing stock, i.e. the primcipal, Bb BS Per Mavsccsmmecsmeseeiesnses $74,000.00 (7) For fishing and hunting privileges, cran- berries, rents and pasture..............008 21,500.00 ‘Total annual income..........cccceeee $95,500.00 (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (14) (16) (17) (18) 4, ANNUAL OUTLAY. Interest at 5% on $1,338,570.83......... $66,928.54 For administration and protection...... 12,500.00 For planting 3,000 acres with pine and SPEUCC aes cnicsieve'gaadesniksgieaisss sa wadvaseas consesbucs 15,000.00 For labor improving meadows, making roads, fire-lanes, etc....... iit eel saiddeemuabess 8,000.00 For implements, repairs, etc................ 5,000.00 Total annual outlay... $107,428.54 If debt is funded at 3% instead of 5% the total annual outlay will be............ $80,657.12 and the net annual income................... 14,842.88 ANNUAL INCOME, AFTER TWENTY YEARS. Increase 185 feet, board measure, on 200,000 acres at $4 per Mo... eee $148,000.00 Income from hunting and fishing privi- leges, rent of house sites, agricultural Vad CEC aisiecsssiase ors) atsasonsateoaakgeasigs ss baene 10,000 00 Hay and pasture, 10,000 acres at $1... 10,000.00 Total annual income after 20 years... $168,000.00 ANNUAL OUTLAY AFTER TWENTY YEARS, Interest at 5 per cent on debt $1955 5 70:89 wcsvemonmcenanonereramnee $ 66,928.54. Administration and protection............... 20,500.00 For planting 5,000 acres per year at $5 PCE ACL Crave ce iwexseressavecesennecesmmvenscereccvaenss 25,000.00 Total annual outlay after twenty years.. $112,428.54. If debt is funded at 3 per cent instead of 5 per cent the total annual outlay will be $ 85,657.12 and the annual net income...............c0cce 82,342.88 5 Item No. 1. This 100,000 acres of timber land I esti- mate to contain approximately 625,000,000 feet of timber which is somewhat higher than the government estimate, but it is considered a fair estimate by those who know the situation. This is here valued at $4 per thousand, with the expectation of cutting two-thirds of it at once on the selection plan, which will be more expensive than if it were logged in the ordinary way, and perhaps will cost as much as 50 cents per thousand in excess of ordinary expenses; but I believe that even under such conditions $4 per 1000 feet is a reasonable figure, since there is a railroad going through the reservation, and the timber is easily gotten out by this or by water, and there are two saw mills close by or on the reservation of very large capacity. Iam inclined to think that this figure is under rather than above what can be obtained for the timber. Item number 2. There are 389,790 acres termed “‘ag- ricultural land” in this reservation. This isa misnomer, — for but little of it is really agricultural land in the ordinary sense of the word. As understood here the term “agri- cultural land’ means only land that has but little, if any, pine timber on it. But this land is so poor in quality that comparatively little of it has any value for agricultural pur- poses. And in view ofthe fact that there is sucha large amount of good agricultural land in the timbered section of this state that is still unoccupied, it is ridiculous to claim it necessary to hold this land open for agricultural purposes. The agricultural land is figured at $1.25 per acre, the regular homestead price, and which would be ‘a reasonable sum for the government to pay the Indians for it. , Item number 3. It is estimated that at least twenty families must be permanently located at onceuponthis land were it taken for park purposes. Item number 5. From many surveys made it seems fair toestimate that about two-thirds ofthe trees on this land are overripe, so to speak: in other words, are not improving, 6 and these, under good forest management, should be cut at once. This would mean the employment of fully two-thirds as much labor as would be employed were the whole timber cut at one time, and would give a large immediate income, which could be applied upon the principal, thus reducing it by two-thirds. After this was cut, it is estimated that the land would continue to render a certain annual income in timber, as shown by item No. 6. Item number 6. The estimate of 185 feet board measure per acre increase per year may seem high eat first thought, but it will be noticed that it is figured on only 100,000 acres, and it is well known that there is a large amount of timber on what is known as “agricultural land,” on which no increase whatever is figured, and in my own experience I have found 185 board feet per acre increase per year to ob- tain in a number of localities in Minnesota on land appar- ently no better or better stocked than this, I have thought that it is no more than fair to use this as the factor for the sustained yield. Item number 8. The interest on the balance of the prin- cipal not paid is here estimated at 5 per cent, although this money could be borrowed at a much lower figure, for the rea- son that the government is required to pay the Indians 5 per cent on money received from this purchase. If this prin- cipal were paid to the Indians at once, and the government were to borrow the money for this purpose, it would not cost over 3 per cent, which would result in the very material reduction of this interest by $26,771.42 per year. Item number 13. After twenty years I am sure it would be safe to expect double the returns from the land that would be possible soon after taking the reservation in hand, for the reason that a large amount of what is nuw classed as agricultural land will, under proper management, have developed into good timber land. This has been figured at $4 per thousand, but it seems very probable that in the course of the next twenty years timber as centrally situated 7 as this, and so very accessible, will more likely be worth $6. per thousand, besides which, the meadows and some agri- cultural land will have been opened up and rented out, and will afford an income much greater than that estimated in No. 7. The annual outlay, on the other hand, after twenty years, will not necessarily have increased much except for purposes of planting and perhaps a little closer supervision of the grounds. It would seem quite probable that the estimate for pa- trolling this land for fire protection would be reduced very materially by the assistance of the war department, which, it is more than likely, would detail a company of cavalry for this purpose. Theestimate given does not take into con- sideration any returns from the sale of firewood, and is fig- ured on conditions now existing in our woods. It seems certain that after twenty years 40 per cent. of the material which is now left in the woods by our loggers will be readily salable for fuel, if easily accessible. EFFECT ON THE SURROUNDING COUNTRY. The immediate effect of putting this reservation intoa park on this plan will be very apparent. Two-thirds of the standing timber, to the value of $1,666,666.67, will be cut at once. This will mean the employment of a large number of men, and will start a period of great activity in the coun- try near by. But when this has been done the source of wealth will not have ended, as in the ordinary cutting of timber. There will still be employment in the park for prob- ably one hundred or more men continuously, in the harvest- ing of $74,000 worth ofannualincrease, the building of roads, the making of fire lanes and other employment; and should the United States government decide to locate a company of cavalry here for fire protection, there will be in addition the supplies for this force. This will, with the families depend- 8 ent upon the employes, etc., probably mean the location at once, and permanently, of 500 persons on or near the reser- vation, many of whom would be in families, and this would make a large and permanent market for the farm products of the country near by. In addition to this, the natural attractions of the section are such that many tour- ists would come in, each of whom would leave some money behind, and this would assist in making a permanent de- mand for supplies by the hotels located here. It is probable that one or more sanitariums would be established here for the cure of pulmonary diseases, which would be open the year round. School houses would be opened in the park, and the better agricultural land would be used for agricul- tural purposes. If the above, figures are correct the proposed park, merely as a financial venture, will take care of itself, and as an example in good forestry anda place for recreation for our people it ought to be above almost any price. Besides, from the purely economical standpoint, the establishment of this park would have the effect on the surrounding coun- try that the establishment of any great, permanent manu- facturing concern has, and would undoubtedly result in much improvement over the ordinary way of cutting timber in this state which so often has left a trail of stagnation be- hind it. Why not try sucha planas this? Surely the gov- ernment can well afford to do so, and it cannot possibly be any worse than the plan of selling all the timber to tie highest bidder without any regard to the interests of pos- terity. gia In Itasca Park. Photographed 1907 for the Annual Rep Itasca Park includes the head-waters of the Mississippi Tiver. under charge of the Forestry Board. No sound standing timber, and recreation resort for the public, rt of the Forestry Commissioner of Minnesota. It is a forest reserve and has recently come however, is to be cut in its limits. It is a health FORESTRY THIRTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT oF THR FORESTRY COMMISSIONER [FORMERLY CHIEF FIRE WARDEN] MINNESOTA AS REQUIRED BY CHAPTER 22 OF THE REVISED LAWS OF MINNESOTA, 1905. FOR THE YEAR 1907. ST. PAUL, MINN., PRINTED BY THE PIONEER PRESS COMPANY, 1908 OFrFIcE oF Forestry COMMISSIONER, St. Pau, JUNE 1, 1908. Hon. S, G. Iverson, State Auditor: STATE OF MINNESOTA Sir: As required by Section 3 of Chapter 22, Re- vised Laws of Minnesota, 1905, I have the honor to sub- mit, herewith, my annual report for the year 1907. Very respectfully, | C. C. ANDREWS, Forestry Commissioner. THIRTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE FORESTRY COMMISSIONER OF MINNESOTA. The year 1907 was not an exceptional one in having continued dry weather for several weeks in different parts of Northern Minnesota in May-June and in October and November. The damage reported from forest fires was, however, only $16,145. Eight were reported to have been caused by railroad locomotives, eight by hunters, three from clearing land and 29 from causes unknown; but probably the greater part of these last were from burning brush and clearing land. The principal damage was from prairie fires, which were considerable in Clay, Polk and Wilkin counties. The number of acres reported burned over, usually re- ported in round numbers, and possibly exaggerated in some instances, were 172,760, damage $23,942. As many as 17 of these fires were reported as caused by railroad locomotives; 11 were caused from burning brush and meadow. One of the worst of these fires was in Wilkin county, caused by a well-to-do farmer attempting to burn a fire break around his haystacks after having plowed a few furrows. I obtained evidence which 4 ANNUAL REPORT OF should be sufficient to convict him of carelessness in caus- ing the fire, but refrained from instituting criminal prose- cution, because it appeared that he was liable to suffer considerably in payment of damage in civil actions at law. THIRTEEN YEARS’ EXPERIENCE. We have now had 13 years’ experience with the law for the prevention of forest and prairie fires. Town supervisors, mayors of cities and presidents of village councils are constituted fire wardens under this law; they are every year instructed in their duties under the law, and cautioned to use their efforts for the prevention and control of fires; they are paid for investigating and report- ing fires; they are liable to a penalty for failing to report forest and prairie fires in their districts; in unorganized territory wardens are appointed by the Forestry Commissioner, where there is a suitable person whose services can be obtained; and it can be safely assumed that about all the fires that are at all important have been reported. The returns show that the damage done by forest fires during these past 13 years has averaged only $29,819 annually, and that the damage from prairie fires during the same period has averaged only $16,397 annually. When we consider the great area of country—20, 000,000 acres and upwards—where such fires are liable to prevail, the great activity in the settlement of the country and in the various industries, the damage from fires has been exceedingly small. In neighboring states during the period mentioned forest fires have occurred doing damage in at least one instance to the amount of a million dollars. I believe the administration of this law in Minnesota has saved more than a million dollars worth of property. There is, however, room for improvement. No one FORESTRY COMMISSIONER 5 can tell when a season like that preceding the Hinckley calamity, September 1, 1894, may occur, and too much care cannot be observed in regard to fires in dangerous localities in seasons of drought. A small fire, if left to smoulder and burn, might in a very dry period, with a terrific gale of wind, cause a great calamity. The only safe way in case of such fire is, if a warden in whose dis- trict it occurs cannot entirely extinguish it, to summon assistance and make sucha break around it that it cannot spread. It must not be neglected. The law is explicit in making it the duty of a warden to ‘‘go to the place of danger,” to conTROL fires and to PREVENT fires. Wardens have other public duties, but none of their duties is more respectable than that of saving their dis- tricts from a catastrophe that is liable from forest and prairie fires. If such catastrophe should occur through their neglect, it would be a lasting discredit to their memory; on the other hand, where their vigilance results in the preservation of life and property in their com- munities, they deserve public gratitude. ANNUAL REPORT OF SUMMARY OF FOREST FIRES, 1907. County anp Town. Date. Acres,| Damage. Cause, Aitkin County— Beavet.iceccic evens Oct. 21. ..... 25 $300 |Hunters Farm Island........ Oo} ey eee 70 Slight |School Children Beltrami County— Battles. oo. cscs ener June 8....... 30 Slight |Camper Port Hope......... OCE. 26s ccaase 200 too |Hunters Summit, o.¢ ssa + sass June 5....... 200 50 |Unknown SUMMIb a os wawercces June 8....... 120 500 |Unknown Carlton County— Wrenshall.......... June ro,....., 30 150 |Unknown Cass County— Bungo...... caucus 4 Ob BE cece 640 Slight |Unknown _ Moose Lake........ OGts Bi sues. sa 700 2,500 {Campers Chisago County-— Branch 045 pecneen« Aprilat....../...... 25 |Unknown Sunrise ........... April22...... 500 300 |Clearing Land Clearwater County— Bear Creek,........ JUNE Fcc. ave 120 375 |Unknown Cook County— Grand Marais...... June 19...... 160 50 |Unknown Grand Marais...... June 28...... 100 None |Lightning Lutsen,............ June 10-19 200 1,500 |Unknown Maple Hill......... June 22...... 5 None |Unknown Crow Wing County— TG als. sc:d kes een Aprilar...... 40 50 |Unknown Pelican........... Aprilar...... 30 io |Burning Meadow Pelican ............ July 20....... 40 200 |Travellers Watertown......... May 20...... 100 50 |Unknown Houston County— WS Cs) " is a a oO ~~ ie} fu o EI s wa fe} pe we fo} & vo [4] = 3 = a i=} < o o s is ° = < fe} Oo 5 +. eo = = a 3 il to ° = ° P=) i=) Original white pine forest in township 50, range 18, on the Fond du L Minnesota. FORESTRY COMMISSIONER Proposed Constitutional Amendment. To secure a sustained yield of timber for the use of the people of this State the proper officers shall annually levy and collect a tax of three-tenths of one mili on each dollar of the taxable property within this State, the proceeds of which shail be used for the purchase of land for the State adapted for forest at not over $5.00 per acre, and for the production and maintenance thereon of forest according to forestry principles. Unexpended balances shall not lapse but constitute a fund for forestry purposes. The timber produced thereon shall be sold at a fair valuation and the revenue therefrom be paid into the State treasury, except that one quarter of the net revenue shall be paid to the towns in which the land is situated, in aid of public schools and roads. Should any tract acquired be found better adapted for any other purpose than the production of timber, it may be sold or leased and the proceeds used for acquiring or developing forestry land. Until otherwise directed by the legislature, which may supplement these provisions with necessary enactments, the State Forestry Board shall draw and disburse the money hereby provided and purchase, manage and control the lands and forests. No money shall be paid for any tract until the attorney general shail certify to the validity of thetitle. It shall be com- petent for two successive regular legislatures, by a two-thirds vote of each house, to alter or repeal any of these provisions. 26 ANNUAL REPORT OF LETTERS FROM VARIOUS CITIZENS OF MINNESOTA APPROVING THE FOREGOING PLAN OF REFORESTATION, IN THE ORDER OF THEIR DATE. (From Mr. J. M. Underwood, experienced nurseryman and formerly President of the State Horticultural Society. ) Lake City, Minn., Jan, 22, 1968. Gen, C. C. Andrews, St. Paul, Minn. Dear Sir: I have just read over the plan you recommend for reforesta- tion. Youcertainly have put the subject in a logical and conclu- sive manner, and I heartily endorse the proposed constitutional amendment. There is nothing of greater importance to our State and country than of promoting moisture in our climate and retain- ing it, and in no way can it be done except by reforesting our cut- over forests and adding to them. Commending you for your efficient service in this work, I am, Very truly yours, J. M. UNDERWOOD. (From Hon. S. G. Comstock, ex-Member of Congress. ) MooruEap, Minn., Jan, 22, 1908. Hon, C. C, Andrews, Forestry Commissioner, St. Paul, Minn. Dear General: I have read with much interest your plan of reforestation. The need for some energetic action in that line is apparent to all familiar with the facts. I have heard no plan so feasible and practical as the one you outline, In my judgment the State will do well to adopt and putin early execution your recommendations. Very sincerely yours, S. G. COMSTOCK, FORESTRY COMMISSLONER 27 (From Mr, J. H. Beek, Secretary St. Paul Jobbers’ and Manufac- turers’ Association. ) St. PauL, Minn,, Jan, 22, 1908. Gen. C. C. Andrews, Forestry Commissioner, State Capitol, City. Dear Sir: I have very carefully thought over your plan of reforestation as outlined in your letter of January 14th, and I am heartily in favor of it. Unless the State of Minnesota enters upon some comprehensive plan of reforestation and pursues it continuously the time is not far distant when the people will realize how costly has been the indifference and shortsightedness of our lawmakers. Yours truly, J. H. BEEK. (From General C. McC. Reeve.) Minneapo.is, Minn,, Jan. 22, 1908. General C. C. Andrews, St, Paul, Minn. My Dear General: I have examined carefully your plan of reforestation and I certainly approve most heartily of it. To my mind no one ques- tion is deserving of more prompt and intelligent action on the part of the proper authorities than the question of providing an adequate timber supply for future generations. Yours very truly, C. McC, REEVE. (From Mr. Daniel R. Noyes. ) St. Pau, Minn., Jan, 23, 1908. Hon, C. C. Andrews, Forestry Commissioner, St. Paul, Minn, Dear Sir: Your favor of Jan. 20 received, Jam heartily in favor of the plan proposed to ‘‘secure a sustained yield of timber” in this State. The matter of ‘‘reforestation” is one of great importance to Minnesota, and some practical plan of reforestation is of the utmost importance to our State, and cannot be entered upon too soon. Yours truly, DANIEL R. NOYES. 28 ANNUAL REPORT OF (From Ex-Lieut. Governor A. E. Rice.) Wittmar, MINN., Jan, 23, 1908, Hon. C. C. Andrews, St. Paul, Minn, My Dear General: The necessity of reforestation under such a plan as you propose, or something similar, ought to be given serious consider- ation by every thinking person who has at heart the needs of the State and the welfare of its future generations. Sincerely yours, A. E. RICE. (From Mr. Robert A. Kirk.) St. Paut, Minn., Jan. 24, 1908. Gen. C. C. Andrews, St. Paul, Minn. Dear Sir: I have your valued favor of the 21st, enclosing statement of your plan of reforestation. Iam sure that most thoughtful men are disposed to regard this subject as one of the most important subjects before our people. Already valuable time has been lost in getting to work on it, and it is to be hoped that our next legislature will take favorable action on it, Ido not attempt to recommend any particular plan for this purpose. I have not given the matter careful attention, and am not qualified to express an opinion of the value of any plan under consideration. I feel deeply, however, that this work should be undertaken at the earliest day possible, and that it should be put into operation as soon as the large body of intelligent men who have been giving this subject careful consideration can unitedly work together in carrying out this object. It is a great work and deserves the most thoughtful considera- tion of all public spirited citizens, Yours truly, R. A. KIRK, FORESTRY COMMISSIONER 29 (From Hon. W. P. Allen, former Senator from Cloquet District, and for many years Vice Pres. C, N. Nelson Lumber Company.) Gen. C, C, Andrews, Forestry Commissioner, St. Paul, Minn, Dear Sir: I have carefully read your circular offering a plan of refor- estation, to be submitted to the people of Minnesota through a constitutional amendment. With the general purpose of the proposed plan I am, as you know, heartily in sympathy, and I do not know of any one in the State better fitted by temperament and experience to work out the details than yourself. The adoption of some permanent sys- tem of scientific forestry by the State of Minnesota is, in my opinion, the only way to avert a disastrous famine in forest products in the near future, and, what is worse, a steady decrease in rainfall and the consequent lessening of agricultural production. No dependence can be put on private initiative and enterprise, even when encouraged by tax exemption or other subsidy. It is a work to be undertaken by the whole State, since its ulti- mate benefits accrue to the treeless portions of the State even more than to the regions included in the forested limits. Very truly yours, W. P. ALLEN. (From Mr. James J. Hill, Great Northern Railroad Company.) St. Paut, Minn., Jan 25, 1908. Mr. C, C, Andrews, Forestry Commissioner, St, Paul, Minnesota. Dear Sir: Acknowledging receipt of your favor of the 24th instant, I beg to say that I have read your plan for reforestation of cut-over pine lands in this State, and find it well worthy of the best efforts of all the people in the State. Our forest, once a rich heritage, is rapidly disappearing. Except for the areas on the Pacific coast, the forests of the whole country will in twenty years be practically exhausted, and then we will be compelled to begin in earnest what you recommend now. Yours truly, JAS. J. HILL. 30 ANNUAL REPORT OF (From Hon. Wm, B. Dean, Ex-Senator from Ramsey County.) Repianps, Catir., Jan. 26, 1908, My Dear General Andrews: Yours of the 2oth instant, forwarded from St. Paul, is athand, I know of nothing relating to the material interests of Minne- sota that should command the hearty support of our people more than the subject of reforestation. The plan proposed in the amendment to the Constitution seems practical and common sense. If it should ever be put into opera- tion, future generations will bless the wise men who devised it. I hope you will be successful in your efforts. Yours truly, WM. B. DEAN. (From Mr. Thos, Owens, Gen. Sup’t, Duluth & Iron Range R. R.) Two Hargors, Minn., Jan. 27th, 1908, Mr, C. C, Andrews, Forestry Commissioner, St. Paul, Minn, Dear Sir: I am in receipt of your letter of the 24th inst., with your plan of reforestation; and J assure you that I heartily concur in same, In fact, Iama strong believer in the fact that we should plant trees for the coming generation. Yours truly, THOS. OWENS. (From President Northrop, State University. ) MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., Jan. 28, 1908. Hon, C, C. Andrews, St. Paul, Minn. Dear Sir: I have read with interest the plan of reforestation recom- mended by the Forestry Commissioner of Minnesota, and while I cannot go into a minute examination of the plan, I may say un- hesitatingly that the plan seems to me to be feasible and desirable, It is of the utmost importance that the land in Minnesota that is not adapted to agriculture should be restored to forests, if possi- ble; and I have faith in your knowledge of the subject and your wisdom that justifies me in approving your plan, Very truly yours CYRUS NORTHROP. FORESTRY COMMISSIONER 3l (From Mr, Geo. Rupley of Duluth,) Du.utH, Miny,, Jan. 20th, 1908, Hon. C, C. Andrews, St. Paul, Minn. Dear Sir: I have your favor of the 28th instant enclosing copy of pro- posed constitutional amendment. I certainly approve of the plan of State forestry outlined there- in and trust there will be no unnecessary delay in its adoption. Very truly yours, GEORGE RUPLEY. (From Mr, J. W. Cooper, of Griggs, Cooper & Co., St. Paul.) St. Paut, MINN., Jan. 30, 1908. Mr. C. C. Andrews, Forestry Commissioner, State Capitol, City. Dear Sir: I have read with a good deal of interest the printed com- munication sent me in your favor of Jan, 28th. I have long thought that the State could well afford to spend sufficient means to eventually cover lands that are unfit for agriculture with timber of various kinds. I believe there is no question of more import- ance than the question of reforestation, and I regret so few people give the matter any thought, If it was possible to place before the people of Minnesota what reforestation means to future gene- rations, 1 have no doubt a large majority of the people would favor liberal use of public moneys for suchascheme. I assure you it will be my pleasure to do anything in my power to assist you in the matter. Yours very truly, J. W. COOPER. (From Mr. T, G. Walther of St. Paul.) St. PauL, Miny,, Jan. 29, 1908. Gen. C. C, Andrews, St. Paul, Minn. Dear Sir: The subject of the restoration of our pine forests is very interesting to me. I fully believe that the United States ought to take hold of this 32 ANNUAL REPORT OF subject and carry it out to its fullest possibility, but it would also be a grand idea for the State of Minnesota. In this State we have many thousands of acres of land which is really waste and is only fit to raise pine trees,—in addition to that, the question of what the future generations will do if there 1S no pine is a very serious one. It is right that we who live at the present time should do all we can for the happiness and profit of the future, and I am very much in sympathy with your efforts to bring about the restoration of the forests. Of course, you know much more about the detail than I do, but I assure you that if my assistance can be of benefit to you at any time I will be very glad indeed to give you my help to the fullest extent, If a system of taxation is necessary, I will be very glad to put in my share,—in fact, anything that is done to restore our forests to the greatest possible extent will meet with my hearty approval. Yours truly, T. G. WALTHER. (From Hon. C. D. O’Brien.) Mr. C. C, Andrews, St. Paut, Minn,, Jan. 30, 1908. Forestry Commissioner, St. Paul, Minn. Dear Sir: I am in receipt to-day of your favor of the 30th inst., enclos- ing your plan for the reforestation of this State. The matter can- not be commended too highly, and is one of lasting importance. I sincerely trust that your plan will be carried out. Sincerely yours, C.D, O’BRIEN. (From President C. H. Cooper, State Normal School, Mankato.) Mankato, Minn., January 30, 1908. General C. C. Andrews, Forestry Commissioner, St. Paul. Minn. Dear Sir: Iam greatly interested in the effort that is being made for an amendment to our State Constitution, and the plan of reforesta- tion contained in the amendment submitted to me meets my approval. I believe that the State should in fairness to the com- ing generations do what it can to restore the forests that have been destroyed; no investment could yield greater returns. Very truly yours, C. H. COOPER. FORESTRY COMMISSIONER 33 (From Mr. Joseph McKibbin of St. Paul.) St. Pau, Minn., Feb. rst, 1908. Gen. C. C. Andrews, Forestry Commissioner, St. Paul, Minn. My Dear Sir: I have read your plan of reforestation with great interest, and while lacking the information to discuss it fully in all its de- tails, the plan as a whole has my hearty endorsement. Forestry is one of our greatest economic problems... It should especially command the attention of our more thoughtful citizens and legislators. When we are so resolved, we can extricate our- selves in a comparatively short time from most of our economic difficulties—but no amount of penitence and energetic reform can grow a pine forest in much less than a hundred years. Individuals will not engage to any extent in enterprises from which they must wait a century for returns. Reforestation is peculiarly the work of the State and the nation, and a vigorous and broadspread start should at once be made in Minnesota. Very truly yours, JOSEPH McKIBBIN. (From Professor Thomas Shaw, of St. Anthony Park, Minn. Wituiston, N. D., Feb. 1st, 1908. Gen. C. C. Andrews, St. Paul, Minn. Dear Sir: Your letter of the 28th ult. and the circular inclosed have reached me here. I take the first spare moment to reply. I have read what you say in the circular headed ‘‘Plan of Reforestation Recommended by the Forestry Commissioner of Minnesota,” and am in hearty accord with the same. Minnesota will not be true to herself nor to her future citizens unless steps are taken at the earliest possible moment looking to reforestation under govern- ment supervision, I am also in hearty accord with the proposition to ask for a Constitutional amendment on the general lines suggested by the Commissioner, but have not yet been able to give that study to this phase of the question which its importance demands Truly yours, THOMAS SHAW. 34 ANNUAL REPORT OF (From Hon. Daniel W. Lawler.) St. Paut, Minn., Feb. 3, 1908. Gen. C. C, Andrews, Forestry Commissioner, St. Paul, Minn, Dear General: I have carefully studied your plan of reforestation and your draft of the proposed Constitutional amendment to put it into effect. I believe that your plan is feasible and that the commencement of the work should be no longer delayed. During the past several years I have carefully read in the newspapers the accounts of your efforts for the preservation and renewal of our forests, and I believe that the people of the State are under great obligations to you for the intelligent and efficient work which you have done. Respectfully, D, W. LAWLER. (From J. W. Strong, President Emeritus, Carlton College, of of Northfield, Minn. Los ANGELES, Catir., Feb. 4, 1908. Hon, C. C. Andrews, Forestry Commissioner, St, Paul, Minn, My Dear Sir: For many years I have been deeply interested in your earnest efforts to preserve the forests of Minnesota from needless waste—a waste far greater than most of our citizens appreciate. The importance of reforestation cannot be overestimated. The adoption of the Constitutional amendment suggested would, in time, accomplish what President Roosevelt so wisely calls ‘“‘an im- perative business necessity.” I sincerely hope your plan may be carried out at the earliest possible date. With personal regards, Very cordially yours JAS. W. STRONG. FORESTRY COMMISSIONER 35 (From Mr, L. W. Ayer, Experienced Woodsman and Timber Estimator.) BELLE PRAIRIE, Minn., Feb, 3, 1908. Gen. C, C, Andrews, Forestry Commissioner, St. Paul, Minnesota. Dear Sir: Your favor of the rst inst., enclosing ‘‘Plan of Reforesta- tion,” is before me. That this ‘‘Plan,” or something equivalent thereto, is absolutely necessary to prevent the destruction of our entire timber resources in the near future, is evident to any one fully conversant with the facts; and Iam glad to give it my un- qualified endorsement. Born and raised in the timber region of Minnesota and having followed the occupation of surveyor, cruiser and timber estimator for thirty-five years or more, my opportunities for observation have been perhaps as great as those of any person in the State. Truly yours, L. W. AYER. (From Ex-Governor Lucius F. Hubbard.) St. Paut, Minn., Feb. 6, 1908. General C. C, Andrews, St. Paul, Minn. My Dear Sir: The proposition that Minnesota should adopt a definite policy for the protection and perpetuation of her forest products, such as would be provided by the Constitutional amendment you have suggested, is one of the important questions that ought to be pressed upon the attention of the people of the State. This is one of the vital questions of the moment, and much farther postponement of its serious consideration and practical action thereon, would be a neglect of duty that would be severely judged by generations to follow us. I believe that our people are now educated upon this subject to a point where a decided opinion in favor of substantial State aid for the reforestation of our denuded timber tracts would be secured if an opportunity was given for its expression, Very truly yours, L, F. HUBBARD. 36 ANNUAL REPORT OF (From Mr. Frank J. Waterous.) Gen, C. C. Andrews, St. Paut, Minn., Feb. 13, 1908, Forestry Commissioner, St. Paul, Minn. My Dear Sir: The proposed Constitutional amendment as recommended by you appears to me to be thoroughly practical and feasible, and I am satisfied that if the people of our State understood the situa- tion that the amendment would carry by an overwhelming majority. Is there not some way that a campaign of education can be inaugurated calling the people’s attention to the importance of this matter? Yours sincerely, FRANK J. WATEROUS. (From Hon, J. R. Morley, Chairman House Committee on Forestry, Legislature, 1905.) Gen, C. C. Andrews, Owatonna, Minn., March 3, 1908, St. Paul, Minn, Dear Sir: I have read with much interest the Constitutional amend- ment proposed by you for presentation to the next Legislature. And Ican assure you that I am very much pleased to see these steps taken toward reforesting the cut-over lands not fit for agri- culture. And I think the State should take the necessary steps at once to reforest these cut-over lands. It is common knowledge that our forests are fast becoming depleted and the average citizen is indifferent about it. But if the State does not interest itself in the matter of reforestation it will never be done, Such a system of reforestation as you propose would put Minne- sota in the front rank in this particular enterprise, as she has been in everything she undertakes. Let the people become once inter- ested in this matter and realize the benefit that will accrue to pos- terity, and your measure will become instantly popular. No time should be wasted, and I hope you will use every effort to get this matter before the people, to the end that public sentiment may crystallize and results may be got at the hands of the next legis- lature. Yours truly, J. R. MORLEY. N So6r ‘Ainf paydeizZojoyg “(zt aBuey ‘99 diysumoy) vjosauur jo Adepunog UsayjIOU ‘xIOId eT PART OFUI aYVT payoory jo japjno ‘sy[ey wreyind “sainosay [einjeN FORESTRY COMMISSIONER 37 (From Mr. James E, McGee, of Hibbing, St. Louis County, Timber Cruiser and Surveyor for Thirty Years. ) Hipsinc, Minn., April 13, 1908. Mr, C. C, Andrews, Forestry Commissioner, St, Paul, Minn. My Dear Sir: In answer to your letter of February 1st, 1908, will say that your plan of reforestation meets my approval; and also your pro- posed Constitutional amendment meets my approval. I have had thirty years’ experience as timber cruiser, surveyor and logging superintendent in the forests of Northern Wisconsin and Minnesota. Yours truly, JAS. E. McGEE. TAX EXEMPTION TO PROMOTE FORESTRY. It is the opinion of some people that it would be good policy to encourage the production of timber by private parties by reducing the tax on land soused. In Minne- sota it would require an amendment to the Constitution to authorize a lower rate of tax for forest than for other land. If any such measure were adopted there would have to be conditions that on land receiving the benefit of low tax, forest should be maintained according to forestry principles. It would not do to leave the land in a wild state to take its chances for natural forest growth, because in such a condition it might be very many years before the whole of it would become well stocked with valuable timber. There would have to be conditions that all of the land not well stocked naturally should be planted with valuable trees at proper distance apart—say not more than about five feet apart when two or three years old; also that the assessor should in person annually visit the land and report in detail as to the manner in which forest was maintained. Besides, the State forestry authority 38 ANNUAL REPORT OF would have to keep informed as to the way in which forest was maintained on private land receiving the benefit of tax exemption or reduction. I believe the opinion which favors any such encourage- ment of private parties in forest production goes no further than to recommend that the land be taxed simply for its value as land, and that no tax be levied upon the timber until it is cut, and that the tax shall then be collected according to a fair value of the timber. I do not believe that public opinion would favor treating large tracts of private land nor land of large corporations in this way; but only about 40, possibly 80, acres owned by any one individual. If it should be found expedient, I would not object to the submission of an additional amendment to the Con- stitution of a clause in substance like the following, to form a part of and follow the amendment I have recom- mended for a tax levy of three-tenths of one mill on every dollar of taxable property, namely: To encourage the production of timber by private parties, the Legislature may provide that not exceeding 80 acres of land belonging to any separate owner and used for the production of timber in a manner which the Legislature shall prescribe, shall be taxed only for its value as land; the timber to be exempt from tax until cut. DISSEMINATE INFORMATION. The law makes it one of the duties of the Forestry Commissioner to ‘‘disseminate information concerning forestry.” He is frequently called upon to give talks on forestry. As it may interest the reader to see a sample of these talks, the following report of an address made by him before the Men’s Club of the Park Avenue Congre- gational Church, Minneapolis, the evening of January 28, 1908, is here given: FORESTRY COMMISSIONER 39 The Hinckley forest fire, in which 418 persons perished, occurred September ist, 1894. There was at that time a law against setting forest fires, but there was no one particularly required to have it enforced. If the present law had been in force the Hinckley fire would not have occurred. The law of 1895 made town supervisors fire wardens. It provided for a chief, since changed to Forestry Commissioner, whose duty was to instruct the local wardens and keep them on the alert, provide them with blanks on which to report fires and warning notices to post against setting fires. He was also required to investigate the forests, the means of regrowth and to make an annual report containing information on forestry. Thus he was and is more than a mere police officer. The State pays the wardens for their actual services and collects half from the counties in which the service was rendered. The appropriation is extremely inadequate, being only $5,000 for an ordinary season and $5,000 for a season of unusual drought. Nevertheless, according to the reports of wardens, the average damage done by forest fires the past twelve years was only $30,000 a year. Many people think that a forest is a dense wilderness. As a forest should only occupy third and fourth rate land that is unsuited for cultivation, it naturally must be in detached bodies. Take, for example, the so-called Black Forest, lying partly in Baden and partly in Wurtemburg.- That forest extends over country 90 miles in length, with an average breadth of 30 miles, yet within it are cultivated farms, villages and even cities, and a population of 1,000,000, it abounds with fine roads and is practically a fine park. A year or two ago I stood on a hill in my native town, Hillsboro, N. H., from which I could see most of the sur- 40 ANNUAL REPORT OF face, and it seemed to me that two-thirds of it was forest, and yet it has four villages and a larger population than average towns. According to forestry a tree has reached its fiscal age and ought to be cut when it ceases to earn good interest by its growth. On third and fourth rate—hilly, rocky and sandy land, which only should be used for forest, the pine will on an average reach its fiscal age in 80 years. The original pine of Minnesota will last only about ten years longer. The State should begin reforestation on an extensive scale and the friends of forestry would accom- plish a good work if they would secure the election to the Legislature of even one able man who would make forestry a specialty. EDITORIAL ASSOCIATION. Address of Gen. C. C. Andrews, Forestry Commissioner of Minnesota, at the annual meeting of the State Editorial Association in the reception room of the Mayor of Minne- apolis, February 20, 1908: After something over twelve years’ experience in the forestry service of the State I have ventured to recommend a plan of reforestation. I bring it before you, because I believe that, as educators of public opinion, you can, if you try, secure its adoption. It is that a constitutional amendment be adopted providing for an annual tax of three-tenths of a mill on each dollar of taxable property, the proceeds to be used by the Forestry Board in the pur- chase of forestry land at not exceeding $5.00 per acre, and maintaining forest thereon according to forestry principles. This tax would be only thirty cents on a thousand dollars. The revenue from the forest to be paid into the State treasury, except that one-quarter part of the net revenue to go to the town in which the forest is situated in aid of schools and roads. FORESTRY COMMISSIONER 4) Third and fourth rate land can be bought for $1.50 per acre, but as the State holds some land only fit for forest the minimum price of which is $5.00 per acre, there should be authority to pay that when necessary, The German yield tables show that an acre of third or fourth rate land planted as part of a forest with pine on forestry principles—two or three year old seedlings five feet apart—will in eighty years produce 18,000 feet of tim- ber, board measure. I say eighty years, because on an average pine does its fastest growing in that period. It grows after that, but not ata rate to earn good interest on the capital it represents. Forestry always looks to getting good revenue. Experience shows that the State can plant forest at about $6.00 per acre, exclusive of cost of land. If the State had 37,500 acres of third or fourth rate land to plant with forest we would find that 5 per cent of it was already well stocked with pine or some other valuable timber, and that another 5 per cent of the area was rock or water, which we would call blank spaces; deducting this to per cent from 37,500 would leave 33,750 acres to be actually planted. The three-tenths of a mill levy will yield about $300,000 annually, but if adopted it will be five years before any money will be available. In the course of ten years the State would be able to annually acquire and plant 37,500 acres, not in one body but in scattered localities. Then in eighty years the state would own three million acres of normal forest from which 675,000,000 feet board measure of timber could annually be cut perpetually. It would be worth $200,000,000, yielding a net revenue of 3 per cent; giving steady employment to 50,000 workmen, besides those in mills and shops, and affording other benefits, 42 ANNUAL REPORT OF such as improvement of climate and soil, water supply in streams, beauty of scenery and covert for game. No one feels poorer for that splendid fleet that has gone to the Pacific, and no one will feel poorer for the adoption of this plan of reforestation. PROGRESS OF UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT FORESTRY. The progress of forestry under the government of the United States in recent years has been remarkable. Twenty years ago the appropriation made by Congress for the U. S. Bureau of Forestry in Washington—and which was then occupied simply in the diffusion of forestry information—was only $10,000 a year. The appropria- tion made for forestry at the last session of Congress, 1907, was $2,400,000! Twenty years ago there was not an acre of United States forestry reserve (now called national forest). To- day there are 167,000,000 acres of national forest! If the United States government employed scientifically trained foresters for the management of its forests in the same proportion as they are employed by Prussia for the management of its state forests, and assuming that only half of the United States’ national forests are productive (it is supposed that a portion are too mountainous to be productive), then even for that half it would require eight thousand scientifically educated foresters for their man- agement! At present there are not one hundred scientifically trained foresters available for such service. What a vast field is open for scientifically educated young American foresters! And what a useful influence will the needed body of scientific men for the manage- ment of the forests have on the general welfare of the country. FORESTRY COMMISSIONER 43 The country that gave the world the sewing machine, the electric telegraph, the ocean cable and the telephone is not going to be very slow in scientific forestry after it gets once started; and I confidently predict that in thirty years from now the United States will be in the front rank of countries, if not indeed the leader, for splendid forestry achievement. REPORT BY A COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCE ON A PLAN OF FOREST ADMINISTRATION. It will be valuable here to place on record the first steps taken by the government of the United States in creating a forestry system. The Act of Congress of March 3, 1891, section 24, authorized the President to set apart any part of the public lands, wholly or in part covered with timber or undergrowth, whether of commercial value or not, as public reservations, and by public proclamation declare the establishment and limits thereof. By the year 1896 sixteen forest reservations had been established under this law, aggregating an area of 17,500,000 acres, but no plan had been devised for their administration. February 15, 1896, the Secretary of the Interior, Hon. Hoke Smith, addressed a communication to Professor Wolcott Gibbs, of Newport, Rhode Island; President of the National Academy of Sciences, requesting that an “investigation and report” be made by the National Academy :“‘upon the inauguration of a rational forest policy for the forested lands of the United States.” Congress, June 11, 1896, appropriated $25,000 for such investigation and report, and Professor Gibbs appointed a commission consisting of Professor Charles S. Sargent, director of the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University; Gen. Henry L. Abbott, United States Engineer Corps; 44 ANNUAL REPORT OF Professor William H. Brewer, of Yale University; Mr. Arnold Hague, of the United States Geological Survey; Mr. Alexander Agassiz, and Mr. Gifford Pinchot, forester, to perform the duty. The members of this commission began their work July 2, 1896, ‘‘visited most or all of the forest reservations and other public forests of the United States, devoting three months of hard travel and careful study, without compensation, to the work assigned them.” Their report, dated May 1, 1897, was drawn up by the chairman, Professor Charles S. Sargent, and signed by all the members, and contains much valuable information and various recommendations; and is accompanied by several carefully drawn bills which, or portions of which, have been enacted by Congress. The appointment and labors of such a commission, of course, gave a great im- pulse to American forestry. The commission recom- mended the establishment of a permanent forest bureau, composed of trained officers, to administer, maintain and improve the reserved forested lands; that topographical surveys, under the supervision of the Director of the Geological Survey, be made of the reservations to deter- mine what portions of them should be permanently reserved on account of their forest covering, and what portions should be reopened to entry and sale; that regu- lations should be issued for the protection, growth and improvement of the forests on the reservations, for the sale of timber, firewood and fencing to actual settlers and to owners of mines; for allowing the public to enter and cross the reservations, etc., etc.; that all public lands of the United States more valuable for the production of timber than for agriculture or mining shall be withdrawn from sale, settlement and other disposition, and held for the growth and sale of timber. FORESTRY COMMISSIONER 45 The following are a few extracts from this noteworthy report: NEGLECT OF REPRODUCTIVE MEASURES. ‘But a well regulated water supply is not the only thing dependent on the preservation of forests. In civilized nations the demand for lumber and other forest products is continuous, and requires systematic and intelligent forest reproduction. Numerous districts in our country have now no more timber than is needed for early use, and if forest reproduction is not encouraged local timber scarcity in the not distant future seems inevitable. The enormous waste from forest fires, incendiary and. acci- dental, which prevail in nearly every part of the United States, the extravagant modes of lumbering, especially in the West, permitting valuable logs to rot in the brush on account of slight defects, and the universal neglect of all reproductive measures, threaten the prosperity of the country and should receive early attention from the Government.” FOREST FIRES. ‘‘No human agency can stop a Western forest fire when it has obtained real headway, and the only hope of avert- ing the enormous losses which the country suffers every year from this cause is in PREVENTING FIRES FROM START- ING IN THE FORESTS OR IN EXTINGUISHING THEM PROMPTLY. They will always occur, but the experience gained in the Yellowstone National Park since it has been patrolled by detachments of the United States army and in Canada shows conclusively that with the aid of disciplined forest rangers intelligently directed the number of forest fires in any district can be greatly reduced, and that it is fre- quently possible to extinguish small fires if they are ener- getically attacked when first discovered.” 46 ANNUAL REPORT OF FOREST RESERVES FOR THE PEOPLE. ‘“‘A study of the forest reserves in their relations to the general development and welfare of the country shows that the segregations of these great bodies of reserved lands can not be withdrawn from all occupation and use, and that they must be made to perform their part in the economy of the nation. According to a strict interpreta- tion of the ruling of the Department of the Interior, no one has a right to enter a forest reserve, to cut a single tree from its forests, or to examine its rocks in search of valuable minerals. Forty million acres of land are thus theoretically shut out from all human occupation or en- joyment. Such a condition of things should not continue, for unless the reserved lands of the public domain are made to contribute to the welfare and prosperity of the country they should be thrown open to settlement and the whole system of reserved forests abandoned. Land more valuable for its mineral deposit or for the production of agricultural crops than for its timber should be taken from the reservations and sold to miners and farmers, the mature timber should be cut and sold, settlers within or adjacent to the boundaries, unable to procure it in other ways, should be authorized to take such material from reserved forests as is necessary for their needs, and pros pectors should be allowed to search them for minerals. “But it must not be forgotten that the public domain of which these reserves form a part belongs to the people of the whole country and not to those of any one section. It is right, therefore, that the forest reserves should be managed for the benefit of the people of the whole country and not for any particular class or section. Steep and elevated mountain slopes should not be cleared of their forests for the sole benefit of the prospector or the miner, because this, by its influence on water flow, might FORESTRY COMMISSIONER 47 mean permanent injury to persons living hundreds of miles away. A few foreign sheep owners should not be allowed to exterminate great forests at the expense of the whole country; and prospectors and miners should not be permitted to burn, wilfully or carelessly, forests in which all classes of the community are equally interested. ‘Our examination of the Western forests shows that the existing methods and forces at the disposal of the Interior Department are entirely inadequate to protect the forests of the public domain. Civil employes, often selected for political reasons and retained in office by political favor, insufficiently paid and without security in their tenure of office, have proved unable to cope with the difficulties of forest protection, and the reserves are prac- tically unguarded.” FOREST ADMINISTRATION. ‘It has been shown that the preservation and judicious management of the forests on those portions of the public domain which are unsuited for agriculture are of great importance for the flow of rivers needed for the irrigation of arid districts, and to furnish forest products for settlers on adjacent arable lands and for mining operations. The cheapness of forest products in the United States, and the length of time required to produce crops of timber in the West, will make the investment of the capital of indi- viduals in silvicultural operations, for the present at least, a doubtful enterprise in those States and Territories where the public domain is now principally situated; and silvi- culture in western North America will only be really suc- cessful under sustained government control and adminis- tration; for, dealing with crops which often do not reach maturity until the end of one or two centuries, it can only be made profitable by carrying out, without interruption 48 ANNUAL REPORT OF and under thoroughly trained officers, plans which must often be followed during the lives of several generations of men. Thisstability and continuity of management can only be secured by a permanent government administra- tion composed of officers of the highest character, entirely devoted to duty.” “Ultimate self-support of a government forest adminis- tration is possible in the United States, and it may be expected to yield a permanent income if the national forests are managed with the intelligence, thrift and honesty which characterize the forest administration in Germany, France and other European countries. At first, however, the cost of administration will exceed the receipts, as is almost invariably the case in important economic reforms, but outlays may be expected to dimin- ish in proportion as the administration is faithful, intelli- gent and honest.” “The fundamental principle of any government system of forest management should be the retention of the fee of forest lands, and the sale of forest products from them at reasonable prices, under regulations looking to the perpetual reproduction of the forest. While it is not desirable, perhaps, that the Government in the imme- diate future should enter into competition with the private owners of forest lands, it is evident that ultimately the sale of forest supplies from the government timber lands should not only cover all expenses of government forest management, but produce a steadily increasing income. ‘Upon officers charged with the administration of the government forests will devolve the care of immensely valuable public property, its improvement under the best established scientific methods, police responsibility of ex- ceptional delicacy, surveys, the construction of roads and engineering works for the protection of mountain slopes, FORESTRY COMMISSIONER 49 and the control of numerous agents, widely separated and not easily trained to habits of discipline. Many of these duties are essentially military in character and should be regulated for the present on military principles. Wise forest management calls for technical knowledge which must be based on a liberal scientific education. The forest officers must be men of the highest personal character, who can be trusted to avoid participation in any private business connected, however remotely, with forest products. To secure the service of men qualified to meet these several requirements will call for liberal remuneration and permanent tenure of office.” PAY OF FORESTRY OFFICIALS. ‘‘The following are the rates of annual compensation suggested for forest officers, with an increase of 10 per cent for each period of five years’ service: For the director, $4,500; for the assistant director, $4,000; for an inspector, $3,500; for a head forester $2,500; for a forester, $2,000. For the subordinate grades a monthly pay of $45 for rangers and of $35 for assistant rangers is proposed, with a gradual increase for length of service. ations in kind, or a commutation, should also be furnished. All officers of the service, on reaching the age of 64 years, should be entitled to receive 50 per cent of their pay at the time of their retirement, and a like inducement to faithful service should be extended to rangers after a service of thirty years. “This organization will require for salaries, including those of rangers, for each of the first five years, an annual appropriation of $250,000. While the number of officers proposed is much smaller in proportion to the area of the territory to be protected, now about 40,000,000 acres, than has been found necessary in other countries, it is 3 50 ANNUAL REPORT OF believed to be sufficient for the immediate wants of the service. It is probable, however, that it will have to be enlarged in the future, when increase of population in the Western States and Territories and a greater demand for forest supplies than now exists will make the protection of the reserved forest lands more difficult and will justify more elaborate methods of forest management than now appear necessary, or when now unreserved forest lands of the public domain are controlled by the officers of the forest bureau. ‘‘When it is remembered that several million dollars’ worth of timber are taken every year from the public domain without the Government being able to obtain any payment for it, it would appear a wise and economical policy to spend annually a few hundred thousand dollars on an organization which would prevent such unnecessary drains on the wealth of the nation. It must be remem- bered also that an efficient forest administration would be able to prevent many forest fires on the public domain, and that it is not an unusual occurrence for a single fire to destroy material in a few days worth more in actual money than this forest administration would cost in years, while the loss to the country in impaired water flow through forest fires, which might be easily prevented, is incal- culable. The expenditure, therefore, of $250,000 a year in furnishing means for protecting the forests on the pub- lic domain would appear to be justified by every considera- tion of common sense and economy. ‘‘The example, moreover, of wisely directed national forests may be expected to be a substantial benefit to the private interests of the citizens of the United States, both as object lessons and inthe opportunity they would offer for the special training of foresters. Such examples would grad- ually change the wasteful methods now practiced by indi- “IVAN VIUIIME'T ‘JG 2Y} JO SpUR[ST PURsNOYL oy) URY} [NJTNvaq sow aye] SIYy paounouoid ‘aeBysIyT Jo IsIBOjoIH ‘{aYUTM, Japuexaly “eye, siq} UO siapioq ‘sasodaind A1jso10y Joy ‘PoOr ur ssaiZuod Aq ejOSIUUI 0} pawUvAD purl Zulaq ‘jseoj aplsiuing $,2}01$ ay} Jo yred Yo “Bulysy ynosy soy ysosat aeyndog “AjyuNoD simoy 3G UL eYVT oepisjuing FORESTRY COMMISSIONER 51 vidual owners of forest property, and in this way increase national wealth and prosperity. Your committee fully realizes that the organization of such an administrative bureau of civil officers would be a radical departure from the recognized customs of the United States. The nature and extent of the interests at stake, however, and the difficulty, delicacy and permanency of the duties demand an exceptionally stable service. The experience of all other countries shows that this service can be successfully performed only by highly trained and conscientious officers.” MINNESOTA NATIONAL FOREST. The following is the Act of Congress approved May 23, 1908, changing the boundary and somewhat reducing the area of the Minnesota National Forest: Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there is hereby created in the State of Minnesota a national forest consisting of lands and territory described as follows, to-wit: Beginning at a point where the north line of section thirty-one in township one hundred and forty-eight north, range twenty-eight west, fifth principal meridian, intersects the low water mark of the lake formed by the waters of Third River; thence easterly along the north line of sections thirty-one, thirty- two, thirty-three, thirty-four, thirty-five, and thirty-six in township one hundred and forty-eight north, ranges twenty-eight and twenty-seven west, continuing easterly along the north line of section thirty-one in township one hundred and forty-eight north, range twenty-six west, to a point where said line intersects the low water mark of Bow String Lake on the west shore; thence southerly along the west side of said lake at low water mark to a point where it crosses the section line between sections sixteen and seventeen in township one hundred and forty- seven north, range twenty-six west; thence southerly along the section line on the east side of sections seventeen, twenty, twenty-nine, and thirty-two in township one hundred and forty-seven north, range twenty-six west, and continuing souther- ly along the east side of sections five, eight, seventeen, twenty, twenty-nine, and thirty-two, township one hundred and forty-six north, range twenty-six west, continuing southerly along the east line of sections five, eight, seventeen, twenty, and twenty-nine, township one hundred and forty-five north, range twenty-six west, to a point at the low water mark on the right bank of the Mississippi River on the section line between sections twenty-eight and twenty-nine in said town- ship; thence southeasterly along the right bank of the Mississippi River at low 52 ANNUAL REPORT OF water mark to its confluence with Leech Lake River in section twelve in township one hundred and forty-four north, range twenty-six west; thence southwesterly along the right bank of Leech Lake River along the low water mark to Mud Lake; thence along the line of low water mark of Mud Lake on its northern and western shores to the point where Leech Lake River empties into the same on fractional section thirty-two, township one hundred and forty-four north, range twenty-six west; thence up said river along the low water mark on the right bank thereof to a point in fractional section twenty-nine where the line intersects the low water mark of Leech Lake; thence in a northwesterly and southwesterly direction following the contours of said lake at low water mark to the point at low water mark on the shore of said lake on the northeast boundary of the ceded Leech Lake Indian Reservation on section line between sections five and eight, township one hundred and forty-three north, range twenty-nine west; thence in a southwesterly direction following the contours of said lake at low water mark to the point on said lake at the southwestern extremity of Ottertail Point; thence southwesterly in a direct line to the southern extremity of section twenty-five in township one hundred and forty-three north, range thirty-one west; thence in a westerly direction along the contour of said lake to the southwestern extremity of section twenty-six in said township; thence in a northerly and westerly direc- tion along the contour of said lake at low water mark to a point where the center -line through section two, running in a north and south direction in township one hundred and forty-three north, range thirty-one west, intersects the low water mark of Leech Lake; thence northerly through the middle of said section two to the shore of a small lake at low water mark; thence along the east shore of said lake at low water line to a point where the section line between sections thirty-five and thirty-six, township one hundred and forty-four north, range thirty-one west, intersects low water mark of said lake on north shore; thence northerly on section line between sections thirty-five, thirty-six, twenty-five, and twenty-six, to the low water mark at the shore of a small lake; thence northerly along the east side of said lake to a point where the section line between sections twenty-five and twenty-six intersects the low water mark of said lake in said township; thence northerly along the east line of sections twenty-six, twenty- three, and fourteen, to a point on the east line of section fourteen, twenty chains north of the southeast corner of section fourteen; thence west twenty chains, thence north twenty chains; thence west twenty chains; thence northerly along the east side of a small lake to a point where the center line running in a north and south direction through section fourteen intersects the north side of said lake at low water mark; thence northerly along the center line of said section through section eleven to the quarter corner between sections two and eleven of said township; thence westerly to a point twenty chains west of the northwest corner of section eleven; thence north forty chains; thence west twenty chains; thence north to a point where the center line running in a north and south direc- tion in section three intersects the township line between townships one hundred and forty-four and one hundred and forty-five north, range thirty-one west; thence westerly to the quarter quarter corner on the township line in the south- east quarter of section thirty-four in township one hundred and forty-five north range thirty-one west; thence north twenty chains; thence west forty chains; thence north twenty chains; thence west twenty chains to the quarter corner FORESTRY COMMISSIONER 53 between sections thirty-three and thirty-four in said township and range; thence northerly along the east line of sections thirty-three, twenty-eight, twenty-one and sixteen in said township to a point where it intersects the right-of-way of the Great Northern Railway as at present located; thence easterly along said right-of-way to a point where it intersects the shore of Cass Lake at low water mark in section fifteen, township one hundred and forty-five north, range thirty- one west; thence northerly along the west shore of Cass Lake and the south, west and north shore of Allen’s Bay and the northwest shore of Cass Lake to a point along the contour of said lake at low water mark at the head of the Missis- sippi River, approximately in section twenty-one, township one hundred and forty-six north, range thirty west; thence easterly along the right bank of said river to a point where the range line between ranges twenty-nine and thirty west intersects said river; thence northerly along the range line to the northwest corner of section nineteen in township one hundred and forty-seven north, range twenty- nine’ west; thence easterly along the north line of sections nineteen, twenty, twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-three and twenty-four in said township and along the north side of sections nineteen and twenty in township one hundred and forty-seven north, range twenty-eight west, to a point where said line inter- sects the left bank of Third River at low water mark; thence northerly along the right bank of Third River to the contour line at low water mark of the lake formed by the waters of Third River; thence southeasterly and northerly along the contour line of said lake to the point of beginning; and it is the intent of this Act to include in said national forest and make a part thereof all that certain territory and land which has heretofore been selected by the Forester of the Department of Agriculture as the ten sections situated in townships one hundred and forty-four, one hundred and forty-five, and one hundred and forty-six north» ranges thirty and thirty-one west of the fifth principal meridian in Minnesota and designated as being the ten sections referred to and authorized to be selected by section two of the Act approved June twenty-seventh, nineteen hundred and two, being chapter eleven hundred and fifty-seven, United States Statutes at Large, volume thirty-two, entitled, ‘‘An Act to amend an Act entitled, ‘An Act for the relief and civilization of the Chippewa Indians in the State of Minnesota,” ’ approved January fourteenth, eighteen hundred and eighty-nine; and also all the islands in Cass Lake in the State of Minnesota. And in addition to the lands and territory above described, the lands de- scribed by section two of said Act of June twenty-seventh, nineteen hundred and two, as follows: ‘One hundred and sixty acres at the extremity of Sugar Point, on Leech Lake, and the peninsula known as Pine Point, on which the new Leech Lake Agency is now located’ shall be included in and are hereby made a part of said national forest: Provided, That this Act shall not in any manner abridge the right of citizens to the use of the west and northwesterly shores of Cass Lake. Sec. z. The Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized to proceed with the sale of the merchantable pine timber upon the above-described land outside of said ten sections and said islands and points, in conformity with the provisions of said Act above entitled, and reserving ten per centum of such timber from sale, said ten per centum to be designated by the Forester of the United States Department of Agriculture; and as to the timber upon said ten sections and said 54 ANNUAL REPORT OF islands and points, the said Forester is authorized, under such rules and regula- tions as he may prescribe from time to time, to sell and dispose of so much of the standing timber thereon as he may deem wise and advisable in the conduct of a National Forest: Provided, That a commission of three persons shall at once be appointed, consisting of one person to be designated by the President, one by the Secretary of the Interior, and one by a general council of the Indians of the Winnibigoshish, Cass Lake, Chippewas of the Mississippi Reservation, and Leech Lake Reservation, to be held under the direction of the agent at Leech Lake Indian Agency; and said commissioners shall proceed forthwith to appraise the value of the five per centum of timber heretofore reserved from sale by the provisions of said Act entitled ‘‘An Act to amend an Act entitled ‘An Act for the relief and civilization of the Chippewa Indians in the State of Minnesota,’ ” approved January fourteenth, eighteen hundred and eighty-nine, and the ten per centum hereafter reserved under the provisions of this Act, and the timber upon said ten sections and upon the unappropriated lands on said islands and points, and shall ascertain the acreage of actual land included under the pro- visions of this Act and to the estimated value of said five per centum of timber reserved under the said Act entitled ““An Act to amend an Act entitled ‘An Act for the relief and civilization of the Chippewa Indians in the State of Minne- sota,’’’ approved January fourteenth, eighteen hundred and eighty-nine, and the ten per centum reserved under this Act and the estimated value of timber upon said ten sections and upon the unappropriated lands on said islands and points, to the sum of the values of the timber so estimated shall add an amount equal to one dollar and twenty-five cents for each and every acre of land not otherwise appropriated which they find covered by the provisions of this Act, and shall certify the same to the Secretary of the Interior. The Indians desig- nated in this section, acting through a representative who shall serve without compensation, to be named by them at the time of their appointment of the commissioner herein, shall have sixty days in which to appeal to the President of the United States from the findings of said commissioners, as certified to the Secretary of the Interior. At the end of said sixty days, if no appeal has been taken or if an appeal has been taken, then, upon the determination thereof by the President, the Secretary of the Interior shall certify the amount found by said commissioners, or if modified by the President, the amount determined by him, to the Secretary of the Treasury, who shall thereupon place such amount to the credit of all the Chippewa Indians in the State of Minnesota as a part of the permanent fund of said “All of the Chippewa Indians in the State of Minnesota” provided for in an Act of Congress entitled ‘An Act for the relief and civilization of the Chippewa Indians in the State of Minnesota,” approved January four- teenth, eighteen hundred and eighty-nine, and the Acts supplementary thereto, and the amounts so certified to the Secretary of the Treasury shall draw interest at the rate of five per centum per annum, pursuant to the terms of said Acts. Src. 3. That any Indian having an allotment within the limits of the National Forest created by this Act is hereby authorized to relinquish such allotment and permitted to take another allotment in lieu thereof outside such National Forest, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior; and the allotments of any deceased Indians located within the boundaries of said Nationa] Forest shall not hereafter be disposed of under section seven of the Act of June FORESTRY COMMISSIONER 55 twenty-seventh, nineteen hundred and two (volume thirty-second Statutes at Large, page two hundred and forty-five); but the heirs of said deceased Indians shall have the right, with the consent of the Secretary of the Interior and under such rules as he may prescribe, to relinquish to the United States the lands covered by such allotments and to select surveyed, unappropriated, unreserved land within the limits of any of the ceded Indian lands in the State of Minnesota and outside of the National Forest hereby created in lieu of the land covered by such allotments; and the lands so relinquished by the Indians or their heirs shall there- upon become part of the said National Forest. And the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized on request of the Forester of the Department of Agriculture to purchase such relinquishments from said Indians or their heirs and to pay for the same from any moneys received, after the appraisal of timber herein pro- vided for, on account of the sale of timber from the National Forest hereby created, or from the sale of any other products or the use of any lands or resources thereof. Sec. 4. That all land in any of said reservations, the Winnibigoshish Indian Reservation, Cass Lake Indian Reservation, Chippewas of the Mississippi Reservation, or Leech Lake Indian Reservation, not included in the National Forest hereby created as above described, heretofore classified or designated as agricultural lands, is hereby declared to be open to homestead settlement; and any of said land which has been classified as timber land shall be open to home- stead settlement as soon and as fast as the timber is removed therefrom, in con- formity with the homestead law, except that none of said lands shall be disposed of except on payment of one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. Sec. 5. That all moneys received from the sale of timber from any of the lands set aside by this Act for a National Forest, prior to the appraisal herein provided for, including all moneys received for timber under sales made by the Secretary of the Interior as authorized by existing laws and section two of this Act, shall be placed to the credit of the Chippewa Indians in the State of Minne- sota, as provided for in an Act of Congress entitled ‘An Act for the relief and civilization of the Chippewa Indians in the State of Minnesota,” approved Jan- uary fourteenth, eighteen hundred and eighty-nine; and the Acts supplementary thereto, and shall draw interest at the rate of five per centum per annum, pursuant to the terms of said Acts; and after said appraisal the National Forest hereby created, as above described, shall be subject to all general laws and regulations from time to time governing national forests, so far as said laws and regulations may be applicable thereto. Sec. 6. That the commissioners provided for herein shall receive a com- pensation of ten dollars per day each for each and every day actually spent upon the work herein provided for, which shall be paid out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, and no commissioner shall be paid for more than ten days’ service. Sec. 7. None of the Indian graves now upon any of the islands or points referred to in this Act shall be disturbed, and the Indians shall continue to have the right to bury their dead at such places as they have heretofore used for that purpose, under the rules and regulations to be prescribed by the Forest Service. Sec. 8. That nothing in this Act contained shall in any manner bind the United States to purchase any of the land in said reservations excluded from the 56 ANNUAL REPORT OF reserve created by this Act, or to dispose of said land, except as provided by the Act of January fourteenth, eighteen hundred and eighty-nine, entitled “An Act for the relief and civilization of the Chippewa Indians in the State of Minnesota,”’ and an Act of June twenty-seventh, nineteen hundred and two, entitled “An Act to amend an Act for the relief and civilization of the Chippewa Indians in the State of Minnesota,” or the provisions of this Act; or to guarantee to find purchasers for said lands or any portion thereof, it being the intention of this Act that the United States shall act as trustee for said Indians to dispose of the -said lands and the timber thereon, and to dispose of the proceeds thereof, as provided in said Acts, only when received from the sale of the timber and the lands, as therein provided. LETTER FROM MR. GIFFORD PINCHOT, U. S. FORESTER, IN REGARD TO THE FOREGOING ACT OF CONGRESS. The following letter from Mr. Pinchot, explains the effect of the foregoing Act of Congress : Wasuincton, April 22, 1908. Hon, Moses E, Cuiapp, United States Senate. My dear Senator: The joint letter from you and Senator Nelson of April 10 is received, The boundary as embodied in your bill (S, 4186), as it was amended and passed the Senate on April 15, is satisfactory to this service because the advantages to the Minnesota National Forest carried by your bill are worth more to it than the land it loses. Apparently the bill eliminates 69,380.88 acres. This, however, is offset by the following additions: The Ten Sections, = - 6,400 acres Sugar Point, - 160 me Pine Point, - - - 7,000 me Cooper and other islands in Cass Lake, 1,119.20 ‘ In all, - - 14,679.20 acres In addition to this, the Indian allotments within the boundary established by your bill approximate 50,000 acres, which under the terms of the bill may be relinquished to the Government for other allotments or for a money consideration. It is possible, therefore, that 64,679.20 acres may be added to the forest, as against 69, 380.88 eliminated from it, leaving the forest positively reduced in area by 4,701.68, FORESTRY COMMISSIONER. 57 It seems to me that the essential things in the bill are that the National Forest is created immediately instead of awaiting the cutting of the merchantable timber, as was necessary under the existing law; the Ten Sections, the islands in Cass Lake, Pine Point and Sugar Point are included within the forest, with the merchantable timber thereon uncut; the Indians are paid such amounts as are due them for their lands and for the timber left standing; the percentage of seed trees reserved is increased from five to ten per cent; the forest is consolidated by making possible the relinquishment or purchase of Indian allotments; and the logging on all Indian allotments not relinquished shall be done in such a manner as not to endanger the rest of the forest. I am very glad that Section 7 was added to protect the Indian graves. Iam hoping that some solution of the State swamp land ques- tion will be found which will remove the last difficulty in the way of the successful administration of this National Forest. Very sincerely yours, GIFFORD PINCHOT, ; Forester, THE STATE’S POWER TO REGULATECUTTING OF TREES ON PRIVATE LAND. Although the question in its application to forestry has not been agitated in Minnesota, it is nevertheless a well established principle of law that the State has the consti- tutional power—known as its ‘‘police” power—to regulate the use of private property so as to promote the public welfare. Under this power the State can prohibit the cutting of small trees by a private owner, where such cutting would injuriously affect the maintenance of natural water supply, or otherwise be prejudicial to the public welfare. This principle of law has lately received fresh support by an opinion of the Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, rendered at the request of the Senate of Maine, and as it will prove instructive to all interested in forestry, I quote it in full. 58 ANNUAL REPORT OF The request, dated March 27, 1907, of the Senate of Maine for the opinion was as follows: ORDERED, The Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court are hereby re- quested to give to the senate, according to the provisions of the constitution in this behalf, their opinion on the following questions, to-wit: In order to promote the common welfare of the people of Maine by pre- venting or diminishing injurious droughts and freshets, and by protecting, preserv- ing and maintaining the natural water supply of the springs, streams, ponds and lakes and of the lands, and by preventing or diminishing injurious erosion of the land and the filling up of the rivers, ponds, and lakes, and as an efficient means necessary to this end, has the legislature power under the constitution. 1. By public general law to regulate or restrict the cutting or destruction of small trees growing on wild or uncultivated land by the owner thereof without compensation therefor to such owner; 2. To prohibit, restrict or regulate the wanton, wasteful or unnecessary cutting or destruction of small trees growing on any wild or uncultivated land by the owner thereof, without compensation therefor to such owner, in case such small trees are of equal or greater actual value standing and remaining for their future growth than for immediate cutting, and such trees are not intended or sought to be cut for the purpose of clearing and improving such land for use or occupation in agriculture, mining, quarrying, manufacturing or business or for pleasure purposes or for a building site; or 3- In such manner to regulate or restrict the cutting or destruction of trees growing on wild or uncultivated lands by the owners thereof as to preserve or enhance the value of such lands and trees thereon and protect and promote the interests of such owners and the common welfare of the people; 4. Is such regulation of the control, management or use of private property a taking thereof for public uses for which compensation must be made? OPINION OF THE COURT. To the President of the Senate: The undersigned justices, in obedience to the requirement of the constitution, severally give the following as their advisory opinion upon the questions of law submitted to the justices of the Supreme Judicial Court by the senate order of March 27, 1907: We find that the legislature has by the constitution “full power to make and establish all reasonable laws and regulations for the defense and benefit of the people of this state, not repugnant to this constitution nor that of the United States.” Constitution of Maine, Article IV, Part III, Section 1. It is for the legislature to determine from time to time the occasion and what laws and regula- tions are necessary or expedient for the defense and benefit of the people; and however inconvenienced, restricted or even damaged particular persons and corporations may be, such general laws and regulations are to be held valid unless there can be pointed out some provision in the state or United States Constitution which clearly prohibits them. Those we understand to be universally accepted principles of constitutional law. As to the proposed laws and regulations named in the senate order, the only provision of the United States Constitution having any possible application to FORESTRY COMMISSIONER 59 such legislation by a state would seem to be that in XIV amendment. As to that provision, we think it sufficient to quote the language of the United States Supreme Court in Barbier versus Connolly, 113 United States 27, where, speaking of the XIV amendment, the Court said: ‘But neither the amendment, broad and comprehensive as it is, nor any other amendment was designed to interfere with the power of a state, sometimes termed its ‘police power,’ to prescribe regula- tions to promote the health, peace, morals, education and good order of its people, and to legislate so as to increase the industries of the state, develop its resources and add to its wealth and prosperity.” It may be added that the proposed laws and regulations would not discriminate between persons or corporations but only between things and situations, with a classification not merely arbitrary but based on real differences in the nature, situation and condition of things. We think the only provisions in the state constitution that could be reason- ably invoked against the proposed laws and regulations are the guaranteed right of “acquiring, possessing and defending property,” and the provision that ‘‘private property shall not be taken for public uses without just compensation.’ Dec. of Rights, Section 1 and 21). If, however, the proposed legislation would not conflict with the latter provision, it evidently would not with the former; hence, only the latter one need be considered. The question of what constitutes a “taking” of private property in the constitutional sense of the term has been much considered and variously decided- In the earlier cases and in the older states the provision has been construed strictly. In some states, in later cases, it has been construed more widely to in- clude legislation formerly not considered within the provision. Still more re- cently, however, the tendency seems to go back to the principles enunciated in the earlier cases. In Massachusetts, one of the earliest states to adopt the con- stitutional provision, and in Maine, adopting the same provision in succession, the courts have uniformly considered that it was to be construed strictly as against the police power of the legislature. Commonwealth versus Tewkesbury, 11 Met. 55, decided in 1846, was a case where the legislature prohibited the owners from removing “‘any stones, gravel or sand” from their beaches in Chelsea as necessary for the protection of Boston harbor. The court held that the statute did not operate to ‘“‘take’’ prop- erty within the meaning of the constitution, but was “‘a just and legitimate exercise of the power of legislature to regulate and restrain such particular use of property as would be inconsistent with or injurious to the rights of the public.”” Common- wealth versus Alger, 7 Cush. 53, decided in 1851, was a case where the defendant was prohibited by statute from erecting and maintaining a wharf on his own land (flats) beyond certain fixed lines. The court held that the defendant’s title to the land (flats) was a fee simple, and that but for statute he would have had full right to erect and maintain wharves upon any part where they would not obstruct navigation. It was not claimed that the proposed wharf would obstruct navigation, but rather admitted that it would not. The court further held, however, that the statute was within the legislative power and not forbidden by any clause in the constitution. The question was considered at length in an opinion by Chief Justice Shaw, and the principle stated as follows: “We think it a settled principle, growing out of the nature of well ordered civil society, that every holder of property, however absolute and unqualified 60 ANNUAL REPORT OF may be his title, holds it under the implied liability that his use of it shall be so regulated that it shall not be injurious to the equal enjoyment of others having an equal right to the enjoyment of their property, nor injurious to the rights of the community. All property in this commonwealth, as well as that in the in- terior as that bordering on tide waters, is derived directly or indirectly from the government and held subject to those general regulations which are necessary for the common good and general welfare. Rights of property, like all other social and conventional rights, are subject to such reasonable limitations in their enjoyment as shall prevent them from being injurious, and to such reasonable restraints and regulations established by law as the legislature, under the govern- ing and controlling power vested in them by the constitution, may think necessary and expedient. This is very different from right of eminent domain,” etc. In the case of Wadleigh versus Gilman, 12 Maine 403, decided in 1835, only 15 years after the adoption of our constitution, there was upon the plaintiff’s land a wooden building. A city ordinance was passed by legislative authority prohibiting the erection of wooden buildings within certain limits, which included the plaintiff’s building. After the passage of the ordinance the plaintiff moved his building to another place within the same inhabited limits. The defendant, as city marshal, acting under the ordinance, entered upon the plaintiff’s land, took the building down. The court held the ordinance valid and the defendant protected, and declared as follows: P. 405: “Police regulations may forbid such a use and such modifications of private property as would prove injurious to the citizens generally. This is one of the benefits which men derive from associating in communities. It may sometimes occasion inconvenience to an individual, but he has compensation in participating in the general advantage, Laws of this character are unquestionably within the scope of the legislative power without impairing any constitutional provision. It does not appropriate private property to public uses, but merely regulates its enjoyment.” In Cushman versus Smith, 34 Maine 247, decided 15 years later, in an elaborate opinion by Chief Justice Shepley, the court said of the constitutional provision in question (page 258): ‘“The design appears to have been simply to declare that private property shall not be changed to public property, nor trans- ferred from the owners to others for public use without just compensation.” In Jordan versus Woodward, 40 Maine 317, it was said by the court at page 324: “Strictly speaking, private property can only be said to have been taken for public uses when it has been so appropriated that the public have certain and well defined rights to that use secured, as the right to use the public highway, the turnpike, the ferry, the railroad and the like.” The same doctrine was recog- nized in Preston versus Drew, 33 Maine 558; State versus Gurney, 37 Maine 156; Boston & Maine Railroad Company versus County Commissioners, 79 Maine 386; and as late as 1905 in State versus Robb, roo Maine 180. There are two reasons of great weight for applying this strict construction of the constitutional provision to property in land: First, such property is not the result of productive labor, but is derived solely from the state itself, the original owner; second, the amount of land being incapable of increase, if the owners of large tracts can waste them at will without state restriction, the state and its people may be helplessly impoverished and one great purpose of government defeated. FORESTRY COMMISSIONER 61 Regarding the question submitted, in the light of the doctrine above stated (being that of Maine and Massachusetts at least) we do not think the proposed legislation would operate to “take” private property within the inhibition of the constitution. While it might restrict the owner of wild and uncultivated lands in his use of them, might delay his taking some of the product, might delay his anticipated profits, and even thereby might cause him some loss of profit, it would nevertheless leave him his lands, their product and increase, untouched, and without diminution of title, estate or quantity. He would still have large measure of control and large opportunity to realize values. He might suffer delay, but not deprivation. While the use might be restricted, it would not be appropriated or “taken.” The foregoing considerations lead us to the opinion at present that the proposed legislation for the purposes and with the limitations named in the senate order, would be within the legislative power and would not operate as a taking of private property for which compensation must be made. Respectfully submitted, LUCILIUS A. EMERY, WM. P. WHITEHOUSE, S. C. STROUT, HENRY C. PEABODY, ALBERT M. SPEAR, March to, 1908. LESLIE C. CORNISH. FORESTRY IN BULGARIA. Bulgaria, bordering the west coast of the Black Sea and the south bank of the Danube, was in antiquity a part of Thrace. That, in the drama of ‘‘The Gladiator,’ was the native land of Spartacus. Now a slave and gladiator, he had, he says, in boyhood looked from the “cloud-piercing Hoemus’” upon a fertile country sloping to the mighty Danube, where ‘‘peace was tinkling on the shepherd’s bell and singing with the reapers.” Bulgaria, with a population now of over four million, was for five centuries a province of Turkey, but gained its political independence thirty years ago. It has made rapid progress in recent years, and naturally forestry is one of the things that has received favorable attention from its enlightened government. The total area of the forest in Bulgaria comprises 7,512,000 acres, being 30 per cent of the whole area of the country. Of these, 2,231,000 acres belong to the State, 3,866, 000 acres to parishes, 132,000 acres to schools 62 ANNUAL REPORT OF and 1,283,500 acres to private individuals. Scotch pine and other conifers, including fir (pzcea pectinata) and spruce, are the prevailing kinds of trees. ADMINISTRATION. The administration of the forests is by a bureau in the Ministry of Commerce and Agriculture, and consists of a chief, an inspector general of forests and two assistant chiefs. The budget for forests and forestry for the year 1905 was $150,000. There are six district inspectors, who have received scientific forestry training, 40 foresters who have received forestry training. There isa district inspector for each 1,250,000 acres and a forester for every 190,000 acres. There is a keeper to patrol the forest to every 3,500 acres. There are also many other employes. For the parish forests there is a forester for every 125,000 acres, These facts are taken from an unusually able and fine volume entitled ‘‘Bulgaria of To-day,” issued in 1907 by the Bulgarian Ministry of Commerce and Agriculture, and a copy of which was kindly sent to the Commissioner of Forestry of Minnesota by the British Diplomatic Agent and Consul General at Sofia, Sir G. W. Buchanan. The following are the concluding words of the chapter on forests in said volume: ‘“‘The improvement of our forests demands enormous sacrifices, but on the other hand a time will come when the revenue from the forests will play an important part in the State budget. The Bulgarian Government, fully aware of its duties and its interests, concentrates its efforts to this end; to make our forests, by the simplest means, in the near future a source of riches, which are so sorely needed by the young State for the completion of its organization.” It is an interesting fact that Bulgaria, in territorial extent, is only half as large as Minnesota. ‘dn awiod fa} Jaye SYIOM MA} 8 JO} UNS dy} WO} paydajoid aq JsnUI SBUI[pses uUdIIZIVAyY “AJUNOD ssvd UI 9Adasay AiNgs||ig 34} UO prvog Arjse104 ayeig eJOSIUUIPY 9} jo WO}I9IIP JapuN speu ‘sudaIIS YSniq YIM pasaaod pu UMOS pass WO ‘sdUI[paes aonids AVMION SUIUIeWOD Aiasinu jo WAV ev Surmoys Photo; See his Fourth Annual Report pages 54 and first suggestion that any part of the Chippewa nnesota in August, 1898. 2. ({Nore—The arden of Mi be Fire A F) C) 2 rs 4 G wa u % 6 Fs u 9 a 5 2 v P cal u Ww yu 4 my Q v w ) & a p v s be} i} ) v & 2 & = uo} ry w = tal jul Virgin forest of Norwa’ Wy the Chiel Warden of Minnesota, reserve was FORESTRY EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CHIEF FIRE WARDEN oF MINNESOTA. UNDER THE ACT OF THE LEGISLATURE ENTITLED “AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE PRESERVATION OF FORESTS OF THIS STATE AND FOR THE PREVENTION AND SUPPRESSION OF FOREST AND PRAIRIE FIRES,” APPROVED APRIL 18, 1895, AND AS AMENDED BY THE ACT OF APRIL 21, 1903. FOR THE YEAR 1902. ST. PAUL, MINN.: PRINTED BY THE PIONEER PRESS COMPANY 1903. OFFICE OF CHIEF FIRE WARDEN, StaTE oF MINNESOTA, St. Paut, May 1, 1903. Hon. S. G.. Iverson, State Auditor and Forest Commissioner: Sir: As required by section 3 of the Act for the Preservation of Forests, etc., approved April 18, 1895, amended by the Act of April 21, 1903, I have the honor to submit, herewith, my annual report for the year 1902. Very respectfully, C. C. ANDREWS, Chief Fire Warden, EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CHIEF FIRE WARDEN OF MINNESOTA. Wet weather in the summer and autumn of 1902 was favorable for the prevention of forest fires, and but few occurred. Dry and dangerous weather, however, prevailed in the northern part of the state in April and May, and most of the fires which were reported occurred in those months. The number of forest fires reported—and mostly on brush and cut-over land—was 34; estimated number of acres burned over, 18,285; damage, $3,820. Number of prairie (and field) fires reported, 46; esti- mated number of acres burned over, 31,928; damage, $12, 318. Extracts from the reports of fire wardens, printed below, show that in a number of cases serious damage was prevented by the prompt service of fire wardens and their helpers. I believe it can be truly said that each year shows increased attention on the part of fire wardens to their duties. These officers are town super- visors, elected the second Tuesday of March, and many of them each year are new to the work. ANNUAL REPORT OF SUMMARY OF FOREST AND BRUSH FIRES, 1902. CounTY anp Town. Date. Acres. | Damage. Cause, Anoka County— Bethel icnsnweecwess April 4........ 600 $50 | Unknown. Becker County— Grand Park........ OGty TOsaseaerxs 200 }......44. From White Earth Res. Holmesville........ OCti Ovcwes ees Io 15 | Unknown, Beltrami County— Bear Creek......... Oct. 18.. 640 250 | Unknown, Benton County— Glendorado........ April 7........ 400 200 | Clearing land. Glendorado........ April 25 .neleuele 40 20 | Clearing land, St. George......... Oct. Fires minas 7° 200 | Hunters. Sauk Rapids... ..... Oct. 19:5. 0050s 200 600 | R. R. locomotive. Carlton County— Bainui sie csedcc cee April 9....... 40| Brush Unknown, Cass County— Brush Becker............6 April 18,...... 5,000 { & Weeds Unknown. Chisago County— Branch. gare eas Mar. 27....... 30 40 | R.R. locomotive. Wyoming..... onde |) MAR AZ Tivenatetes 20 195 | R. R. locomotive. Crow Wing County— j} April 25....... 120] None | Clearing land. Hubbard County— INCVIS ice a si acainovecn April 19....... 1,500 roo ; Fishermen. INEVISicics. cavssesscndiordtann Oct. 20........ 5 5 | Unknown, Isanti County— North Branch...... May? 5 vedi 60 10 | Tramp. Oxford, .. caesia seen Mar, 28..... ; 400 | Slight. | Unknown. Stanchfield......... April 18....... 800] Slight. | Clearing land, \ Kanabec County— South Fork......... Mar. 27.ccses 2,400 500 | Clearing land. Marshall County— Excelecisaneaecnnss Octi grosses 800 150| Hunters. Mille Lacs County— QOnaMia’ sa. daiesineee April 20.......} 2,000 None Unknown, Morrison County— Pike Creek......... April 14....... 15 79.60 | Burning meadow. Pine County— Eastern............ April 19, 5| None | Clearing land. Hinckley........... April 14....... 200 150 | Clearing land. Kettle River..... sen | Apriliseccucss 160 200 | Clearing land. St. Louis County— Mesaba..........., April 4........ 80 200 | Unknown. Town. 54-20........| May 18 , 600 15 | Unknown. ALN er, 1902, ivi Fork Ri ig B igh, diameter breast h inches in (By Mr. T ine 20 inc. Mature Norway p: ) - S. Woolsey, Jr. CHIEF FIRE WARDEN. 5 SUMMARY OF FOREST AND BRUSH FIRES, 1902—Continued. CouNTY anD Town. Date. Acres, | Damage. Cause. Stearns County— Melrose. ...2. 000085 Mar. 15........| 300 too | Burning meadow. Todd County— Birch Lake......... Mart 26. sac 200 x50 | Unknown, Fawn Lake......... ADril Fede aescese 1,200 75 | Unknown. DOTA oes venscayerensiavereceincs April 18....... 800 200 | Unknown. Little Sauk......... | April 27....... 20 too | Unknown. Wadena County— Rockwood.......... ADT Si sacease 70 15 | Unknown. Wright County— Clearwater......... April 19...... 300 200 | Unknown. Total acres burned over, 18,285. Damage, $3,820. Classification of causes: Clearing land, 8. Railroad locomotives, 3. Burning meadows, 2. Other causes, 5. Unknown, 16. Report OF FirE WARDENS AND OTHERS OF FOREST FIRES FOR 1902. ANOKA COUNTY. P. W. Jasperson, chairman, town of Bethel, April 12: On the 4th instant, about 12 o'clock, a fire started on land occupied by Joseph Cogger; burned over 600 acres of brush and meadow, and destroyed 20 tons of hay. The fire was stopped by a back-fire. Weather dry and windy; had been for about a week. BECKER COUNTY. Peter O. Dahl, chairman, town of Grand Park, Octo- ber 30: On the 19th instant fire burned over 200 acres of light timber on section 3. It originated in a meadow 6 ANNUAL REPORT OF on the White Earth Indian Reservation on the 17th instant and was brought into this town by hard wind; was extinguished by three men digging and cutting a break through timber and brush. Weather was very dry and windy; had been so about two months. BELTRAMI COUNTY. H. C. Teigland, chairman, town of Bear Creek, Octo- ber 20: On the 18th instant a fire, supposed to have been caused by some railroad employe on section 28, burned over about 640 acres of partly timber and partly meadow land. Fire burned white pine logs to the amount of $200 and hay to the amount of $50. I do not figure damage on standing timber, as it will be cut this winter. The fire was extinguished by Emil Oleson, fire warden, assisted by five men. The weather had been dry for about six weeks, and the 19th was very windy. BENTON COUNTY. Jens P. Anderson, chairman, town of Glendorado, April 22: On the 7th instant, fire which originated on section 22, burned over 400 acres of timber, brush and meadow land; did damage to the amount of ¢200. It was ex- tinguished by back-fires, by digging and using wet sacks. The weather was dry and windy; had been dry for about six weeks. Same, May 1: The latter part of April a fire in the northwestern part of the town burned over 4o acres of brush and meadow and destroyed about 11 cords of wood; damage $20. Weather was dry and windy; had been so for a month. CHIEF FIRE WARDEN. 4 W. J. Stewart, chairman, town of Granite Ledge, Sep- tember 23: About the 18th of September a fire on section 34 started, I suppose, from someone setting an old rotten log on fire. It caught in some other rotten logs and was burning a few places in the ground, and, if it had not been discovered, would after a while have spread and done some damage. It was extinguished by haul- ing water with teams. John Wilson, chairman, town of St. George, October 8: October 7th a fire on section 1 burned over 70 acres of light timber; destroyed 9 tons of hay, a shanty and contents, small stable and some timber. Damage $200. It was extinguished by back-firing, carrying water and wetting grain sacks and slapping the fire out. It is the general opinion that it was caused by hunters, as the woods are full of them. Three hunters came and assisted in extinguishing the fire. Weather dry and windy; had been for two weeks. G. S. Reeder, chairman, town of Sauk Rapids, Octo- ber 21: On the 1oth instant a fire on section 4, which started from the railroad track, or near it, burned over 200 acres of brush and meadow. Damage ¢600. The weather was windy; had been for two days. CARLTON COUNTY. Thomas Spencer, chairman, town of Barnum, April 25: , April oth fire on section 11 burned over about 4o acres of brush and field. It was extinguished by nine persons beating it out. There had been no rain this spring previous to the fire. 8 ANNUAL REPORT OF CASS COUNTY. George Lewis, chairman, town of Becker, April 28: A swamp and brush fire burned over a quarter part of the town, destroying old weeds and brush. Con- trolled by back-firing, plowing and on roads, Everybody assisted. Rain April 22nd stopped the fire. Very dry and windy some of the time; had no rain until now. People here have been clearing land since the middle of March. Have not known anyone to let fire get from their control. A number of fires started on vacant land, but have been stopped without damage, as far as I know. CHISAGO COUNTY. Robert Striker, chairman, town of Branch, April 3: March 27th a fire set by a railroad train on land occupied by C. E. Elmgren, destroyed about 20 cords of cord wood. Damage $40. It was extinguished in six hours with the help of eight persons throwing sand and water. Weather very dry and windy. George Kappler, chairman, town of Wyoming, April 3: On the 27th of March, the weather being dry, with a heavy wind, fire was set in three different places in one mile by the ten o'clock railway train running north. Damage $195. Fire was extinguished in five hours with the help of thirty-one persons using water and wet sacks. CROW WING COUNTY. H. G. Butterfield, Cross Lake, May 12: On the 25th of April fire, which originated on land occupied by Nels Garden, on section 24, town of Eagle Lake, burned over 120 acres of light timber; destroyed nothing but underbrush. Fire was not hot enough to damage the pines. It was whipped out with branches of green brush. Weather was partially dry, with light winds. : CHIEF FIRE WARDEN. 9 HUBBARD COUNTY. James K. Deyo, chairman, town of Nevis, May ro: On the 19th, 20th and 21st of April, a fire which burned over sections 31, 32 and 33, in the town of Nevis, being township 140, range 33, did damage to the amount of ¢1oo. It originated on section 33, being land occupied by Fred White. It started near the bridge on the Crow Wing river at the head of 4th lake. It was extinguished with the help of eight per- sons by plowing, back-firng and whisping same out; weather very dry and windy. It is supposed to have been started by fishermen. For about three weeks in April, while fish are running in between 4th and 5th lakes in Crow Wing river, hundreds of barrels of fish are taken out, salted and taken home by settlers who come from fifty miles around and camp about the river and fish. Wagon loads of fish are taken by net at one haul. Fire was traced to one of the camps, but no one has been able to locate parties who left the fire burn- ing. Now that the fish have stopped running, there will be no more danger until next spring. M. Mikel, Fire Warden, town of Nevis, November 10: On the 20th of October a fire burned over about 5 acres of Jack pine on section 7. Damage $5. It was extinguished by myself. Weather was dry and windy for four weeks. ISANTI COUNTY. A. P. Ledin, chairman, town of North Branch, May 9: On the 5th instant a fire caused by a tramp, as near as can be found out, burned over 60 acres of brush and meadow; destroyed some hay. Damage $10. It was extinguished by back-firing and ditching. C. J. Olson, chairman, town of Oxford, April 3: March 28th a fire originating on section 16 burned over 400 acres of meadow and light timber and 10 ANNUAL REPORT OF destroyed open oak, mostly dead and down. Very little damage done. It was extinguished by eight per- sons by starting cross-fires and using old sacks wet. Weather was dry and windy; had been so about two weeks, Leonard Groth, chairman, town of Stanchfield, April 23: On the 18th of April, about 11 a. m., a fire burned over 800 acres of brush and light timber and destroyed a little fencing; damage amounted to very little. Fire was set by a party burning weeds and other combus- tible material. A strong wind blowing at the time brought the fire into a tamarack swamp overgrown with long grass and it quickly spread to the brush and timber. Weather was very dry and windy, as there has been no rain of note this spring. The fire was extinguished with the help of forty persons by plowing, using wet sacks and back-firing. It had to be watched for three days. The party who caused fire was arrested, plead guilty and paid a fine of $50. ITASCA COUNTY. R. M. Dering, Fire Warden, town of Rippel, on the Big Fork, near Grand Falls, October 19: There have been no fires in this section of the country this season; none anywhere along the northern part of the state. The swamps are wet and there is no danger of fires doing any damage this fall. KANABEC COUNTY. Henry T. Olson, chairman, town of South Fork, April 15: March 27th a fire burned over 2,400 acres of partly meadow, partly brush and partly heavy timber; mostly hard maple. Did damage to the amount of ¢500. As near as I can find out, it was caused by a settler clearing land. It was extinguished by the work of ten ns 3 S 0 ue) is E e = & ay n uv ke iS) 2) et u a a i) v << ve} oe 3 » We ) a rT 4 “ ‘a 3 & a M 7) wn y 4 ) Dn v bw S) i) v a 3 Lal ° t o Ay Minnesota, July, 1902. CHIEF FIRE WARDEN, 11 persons by back-firing around new settlers’ houses and along roads with wet sacks. The weather had been dry for twenty days and a heavy gale was blowing from the southwest. MARSHALL COUNTY. James Roach, chairman, town of Excel, November 12: October 4th a fire, which originated on section 11, being vacant land, and supposed to have been started by some boys or hunters, burned over 800 acres of brush and prairie and destroyed 60 tons of hay; damage $150. Ten persons helped extinguish the fire by plow- ing, using wet sacks and brooms. Weather was dry for about six weeks before the fire, and windy also. MILLE LACS COUNTY. E. W. Cundy, chairman, town of Onamia, April 25: On the 20th day of April a fire which originated on vacant land on section 33, from cause unknown, burned over about 2,000 acres. No damage. Weather dry and windy. The fire was extinguished in forty-eight hours by rain. MORRISON COUNTY. Anton Webber, chairman, town of Pike Creek, April 21: April 14th a fire, caused by burning meadow, burned over 15 acres of meadow and timber on section 7. Damage $79.60. It was extinguished in four hours with the help of nine persons with water and brush. Weather dry and windy. Party admitted setting the fire and was prosecuted. OTTER TAIL COUNTY. Andrew Johnson, chairman, town of Eastern, April 24: On the roth of April a fire on section 12 burned over 4 or 5 acres of brush and stubble. It was extin- guished in an hour by two men before any damage was done. Weather dry and windy. Party causing the fire was prosecuted. 12 ANNUAL REPORT OF ST. LOUIS COUNTY. Frank Remmell, chairman, town of Mesaba, April 7: On the 4th instant a fire caused by unknown parties, possibly by some iron ore prospectors, who are very numerous in this locality at present, burned over 80 acres of light timber and destroyed a small quantity of standing dead timber. Damage $200. It was extin- guished by rain and snow storm on the night of the 5th instant. On Saturday evening I cut down several dry pine trees that were burning, which, together with rain and snow, extinguished the fire. John Hillman, Fire Warden, unorganized town, 54-20, July 2: May 18th a fire on section 19 burned over 600 acres of brush and meadow; destroyed about 40 rods of fence, Damage $15. TODD COUNTY. Paul Oldenburg, chairman, town of Fawn Lake, April 25: April 7th a fire, which originated on section 5 in the town of Turtle Creek, burned over 1,200 acres in the southwest part of Fawn Lake and, destroyed brush, meadow, light timber, 18 tons of hay and 3 cords of wood. Damage #75. It was extinguished by plowing, back-firing and using wet sacks. Weather dry and windy; had been dry for two weeks. On the same day there was a fire on section 17, which destroyed hay to the value of $25. This fire was extinguished in six hours. Edward Paulson, chairman, town of Iona, April 23: April 19th and 20th a fire, which originated on sec- tion 26, burned over 800 acres of timber and meadow; destroyed about 15 tons of hay and some cord wood. Damage $200. Fire was extinguished by plowing and using wet sacks. Weather has been dry all spring, and windy. CHiEF FIRE WARDEN, 13 WADENA COUNTY. J. A. Collins, chairman, town of Rockwood, April 19: April 8th a fire burned over 70 acres of meadow and small timber; destroyed small undergrowth. Damage $15. The cause of the fire is unknown. It was quite a fire. There was a school house and number of hay stacks in great danger, but by the good services of Chris P: Aarnes, fire warden, and his men, they saved $500. They did some very good work back-firing and whipping out fire with wet sacks. Weather very windy and dry. WRIGHT COUNTY. Peter Nelson, chairman, town of Clearwater, May 1: On the roth of April, in the afternoon, a fire, which originated on vacant land on section 25, from cause unknown, burned over 300 acres or more of meadow, heavy and light timber; destroyed hay, wood and stand- ing timber. Damage $200. It was extinguished with the help of six men. The weather was dry; had been dry for weeks—in fact, months. SUMMARY OF PRAIRIE, FIELD AND MEADOW FIRES, 1902. CouUNTY AND Town. Date. Acres. | Damage. Cause. Aitkin County— Hazelton........... DEPt, Ovi ens 40 $200 | Burning brush. Anoka County— Columbus ........- Mar.26) isin. 600 75 | Unknown. Ham Lakewwceis cs. Mar, 20....... 1,000 55 | Burning meadow. Ham Lake.......... | Mar. 29....... 3,000 150 | Burning meadow. Benton County— Langola........ ... Nov 3........ 170 50 | R. R. locomotive. Mayhew............ April r2....... 40 60 | Unknown. Watadiiionscces sacs April2........ 300} None | Burning grass. Carlton County— Barnum,........... April 2........ ) 60 80 | Burning stubble. Clay County— Barnesville....... .. | Sept. 12....... 160 300 | Unknown. Barnesville. ........ Sept. 13....... 1,600 1,000 | R. R. locomotive. Barnesville......... Sept. 28....... 130 300 | Unknown. Felton..... Ete bad ons Sept. 23...... «| 200 105 ! R. R. locomotive. 14 ANNUAL REPORT OF SUMMARY OF PRAIRIE, FIELD AND MEADOW FIRES, 1902—Cont, COUNTY AND Town. Date. Acres. | Damage. Cause. Clay County—Cont. Highland Grove....| Oct. 14..... .. 240 760 | R. R. locomotive. Riverton........... Sept. 18 we.[ 100 120 | Burning hay stack. Viding wiiccsccaceves Nov. 23025665 40 50 | Lighting cigar. Chippewa County— Woods. .......... Oct: TA necees 800 1,500 | Burning stubble, Kittson County— Hill...... satica nadia | OC, Tse saws 2,000 1,200 | Unknown. Lac qui Parle County— ; Manfred........... April 17..... «| 1,380 266 | Unknown. Marshall County— Agda sec ccececiciiccas «| Ost. F7oas2 cans 1,000 rz | Unknown. Comstock,.......... Oct: 18.8464. 2,000 300 | Burning grass. Foldahl............ Octicd ccscnececaiase 250 150 | Hunters. Grand Plain........ OCte: 22.0 acces 400 300 | Hunters, Grand Plain....... a | NOV. Dewce ces 10 125 | Burning hay stack, Moylan............ Oct. 21 . «| 21500 30 | Hunter, Sennott............ Sept. 25....... 160 225 | Burning straw. Morrison County— Pike Creek....... fee | OCR EG re ween sete 200 96 | Unknown. Ottertail County— Bluffton............| Aug. 26....... 6 60 | Boys. Compton........-++ April 27....... 350 150 ; Unknown. Pine County— Rock Creek........ April 20....... 40 35 | Unknown. Polk County— . Helgeland.......... | Oct. 4....+05. 400 too | Burning straw. Kersonville......... | Sept. 24....... 1,200 2,000 | R. R. locomotive. Parnell ¢... cicseness [Sees tierscstcas| onaessleaasameesil| serge aracgigrewe Swift County— Clontarf......... ...| April 18....... 3,000 600 | Unknown, Clontarf..........+- Oct. 12,....... 200 too | R. R. locomotive. Clontarf...cs0e cones OCB i ocassesnavacosnrs 400 70 | R. R. locomotive. Wadena County— ; Meadow..........+- ADEA Ao csiseiesenace 4,000 too | Unknown. Wilkin County— 80 go | Burning stubble. 25 | Unknown. 300 | Burning old hay. 60 | Unknown. 75 | Unknown. . * 50 | Tramps. Mitchell..... saeiciess . | Sept. 27....... 80 250 | Unknown. Roberts.......-+06 .| Oct. 6.... 300 50 | Burning straw. Yellow Medicine Co.— : Florida.. .....s--5- April 18.......] 640 135 | R. R. locomotive. Fortiéf ..+..8004s4< Sept. 28....... 120 500 | Burning straw. Norman .......+.+. | Nov. 21....... 170 50 | Travelers. CHIEF FIRE WARDEN. 15 Total acres burned over, 31,928. Damage, $12,318. Classification of causes: Burning brush, 1. Burning grass or meadow, 4. Burning haystacks, 3. Burning straw, 4. Burning stubble, 3. Hunters, 3. R. R. locomotives, 8. Other causes, 4. Unknown, 16. REPORTS OF FIRE WARDENS OF PRAIRIE, FIELD AND MeEapow FIrEs, 1902. AITKIN COUNTY. F. R. Nichols, chairman, town of Hazelton, Septem- ber 16: On the 6th of September, 3 Pp. M., a fire, caused by burning brush on land occupied by Peter Reither, burned over 40 acres of meadow; did damage to the amount of $200. It is not out yet, but was put under control with the help of seven persons plowing, ditching and hauling water. Weather very dry and windy. ANOKA COUNTY. Frank Hoffman, chairman, town of Columbus, April 15: March 26th, a fire originating on section 16, burned over 600 acres of field, brush and meadow. Damage $75. It was extinguished in six hours with the help of 15 people, and by plowing. Weather was dry and windy; had been dry for a few weeks. Charles J. Lundberg, chairman, town of Ham Lake, April 22: March 2oth, a fire burned over sections 22, 23, 24 and part of 26; destroyed 23 tons of hay, and did damage to the amount of $57. The American Grass Twine Company clears a lot of land and burns the old 16 ANNUAL REPORT OF grass, and perhaps the fire originated in that way. We set back-fire along a public road and ditch. Weather has been dry all spring. BENTON COUNTY. Peter Stodvlka, Fire Warden, town of Langola, Novem- ber 7: On the 3rd instant, a fire set on section 1 by the N. P. train, burned over 170 acres. Damage $50. It was extinguished in four hours by myself, wife and children, by plowing, raking and using wet sacks. The wind was blowing 60 miles an hour, and if the fire had not been extinguished it would have done damage over $6,000. G. Golenbeck, chairman, town of Mayhew Lake, May 21: April 12th, a fire originating on section 22, occupied by Mr. Reimer, burned over 4o acres of meadow and destroyed 20 tons of hay. It went out after reaching the plowed land. Weather had been dry and windy for about three weeks. Nels Campbell, chairman, town of Watab, May 1: April 2d, a fire on section 22, unoccupied, burned over 300 acres of brush and meadow. It burned to the road and plowed fields, and could go no further. It might have burned about 30 tons of hay. Weather had been dry for some time, and very windy. CARLTON COUNTY. Thomas Spencer, chairman, town of Barnum, April 15: On the 4th instant a field fire, caused by burning stubble, burned over several acres and destroyed 16 tons of hay. Damage $80, The weather had been dry since the snow disappeared. ‘zo6r ‘Ainf{ ‘ejosauury yo uapiem PIL 3S3104 JID VY} 10} paydeiZo0joy™ ‘semaddiy) ay} Jo pooiq paxim y “BoNeAINSa YSIYSOSIqIUUIM a4} UO PIO siBah coz PUR Ia}aUIEIP UI SayoUT Of auId“ABMION Jo SUOT}IaS CHIEF FIRE WARDEN. 17 CHIPPEWA COUNTY. J. D. Beninga, chairman, town of Woods, October 15: On the 14th instant a fire, caused by burning stubble with a fire-break of only two furrows and, a strong wind blowing from the southwest, burned over 800 acres of field and prairie; destroyed hay, grain and one building. Damage $1,500. About 20 persons helped control the fire by plowing fire-breaks in fields. CLAY COUNTY. R. Sieber, chairman, town of Barnesville, September 17: On the 13th of September, a fire set on vacant land on section 9, by locomotive of Great Northern Railway Com- pany, burned over 1,600 acres of prairie land, and destoyed a large amount of hay. Damage $1,000. It was extinguished by plowing ahead of fire. Weather dry and windy. Same, October 2: September 12, a fire burned over 160 acres on sections 15 and 16, and destroyed hay stacks. Damage about $300. It was extinguished by using wet sacks. Weather dry and windy. Same, October 2: September 28th, a fire burned over 200 acres on sec- tion 19. Damage $300. Was controlled by plowing. The weather was dry and windy. Thomas Barry, chairman, town of Felton, September 25: September 23d, a fire, caused by a railroad locomotive, burned over 200 acres on section 4, and detroyed 35 tons of hay Damage $105. It was extinguished in six hours by plowing and using wet sacks. Weather had been windy for about four days. C. J. Cederberg, chairman, town of Highland Grove, October 18; ; On the 14th of October, about noon, a fire, caused by sparks from an N. P. railroad locomotive, burned over 18 ANNUAL REPORT OF 240 acres on sections 17 and 21; destroyed 190 tons of hay. Damage $760. The same locomotive set fire four times through our town at the same time. It was extin- guished in five hours with the help of forty persons by plowing, shoveling and whipping with wet sacks. Weather had been dry for three weeks. Edward Weaver, chairman, town of Riverton, Septem- ber 20: September 18th, at 2 Pp. m., a fire, supposed to be set by a man unknown to me, by burning an old hay stack bottom, burned over 100 acres of meadow on section 17; destroyed seven stacks of hay. Damage $120. It was extinguished in four hours by plowing. Weather dry for two weeks; wind south. R. O. Stevenson, chairman, town of Viding, Novem- ber 28: On the 23d of November, a fire, supposed to have been caused by persons lighting cigars, burned over 40 acres of prairie land; destroyed about 10 tons of hay, stacked. Damage $50. Was whipped out with wet sacks by seven persons. KITTSON COUNTY. J. J. Bienek, chairman, town of Hill, October 26: October 19th, in the morning, a fire that came from St. Vincent township, burned over 2,000 acres in the northeastern part of this town; destroyed hay and build- ings. Damage $120. There was quite a crowd fighting the fire, but on account of illness I was not there. Weather has been both dry and windy the whole season. LAC QUI PARLE COUNTY. Charles Roske, chairman, town of Manfred, April 20: On the 17th of April, about 2 Pp. m., a fire, which originated on section 21, being land occupied by Anton Smith, burned over about 1,380 acres of prairie land; destroyed two stacks of hay, three bridges and one barn. CHIEF FIRE WARDEN. 19 Damage $266. Three persons assisted in controlling the fire by plowing and whipping it out. Weather was dry and windy and has been nearly all spring. MARSHALL COUNTY. G. Gunderson, chairman, town of Agder, December 13: October 17th a fire, which originated on section 9, va- cant land, burned over 1,000 acres of meadow. Damage gir. The fire was pounded out with wet rags, eleven persons helping. J. M. Laeslie, chairman, town of Comstock, October 24: October 18th a fire burned over sections 4, 5, 8, 9 and 10. Did damage to the amount of $480. The parties causing fire were prosecuted. The fire was extinguished mostly by plowing. Weather had been dry for four weeks. Otto S. Haug, fire warden, town of Foldahl, October ro: October 4th a fire, supposed to have been caused by chicken hunters, burned over 250 acres in the southwest part of the town; destroyed 6 stacks of hay. Damage $150. It was extinguished by plowing and using brush brooms and water. Weather very dry and windy. Henry Roller, fire warden, town of Grand Plain, No- vember 2: October 22nd a fire caused by hunters burned over 400 acres of prairie; destroyed 4o tons of hay and one house with 40 bushels of grain. Damage $300. It was extin- guished by rain. The weather was dry and windy most of summer. Same, November 2: On the ist instant a fire, caused by burning old hay, spread over 10 acres of field; destroyed one barn and 30 tons of hay. Damage $125. It was extinguished by plowing. 20 ANNUAL REPORT OF A. D. Brown, fire warden, town of Moylan, October 23: October 21st a fire, supposed to have been caused by a boy hunting, burned over 2,500 acres of meadow, prairie and light timber; destroyed 3 or 4 tons of hay and part of corduroy on county road. Damage $30. It was extinguished with the help of thirty persons plowing fire breaks, back-firing and whipping out with brush and wet sacks. Weather dry and windy; had been dry for two months. August Lundin, chairman, town of Sinnott, Sept. 27: On the 25th of September, a fire, caused by burning straw on land occupied by E. Johnson, burned over 100 acres; destroyed a house and barn. Damage $225. It was controlled by plowing. The weather had been dry for three weeks and windy. MORRISON COUNTY. Anton Webber, chairman, town of Pike Creek, Oct. 21: On the 15th instant, a fire which originated on vacant land in section 27, from cause unknown, burned over 200 acres of timber and meadow; destroyed 4 cords of hard wood and 24 tons of hay; damage ¢96. Extin- guished by hauling water and using wet sacks. Weather dry and windy; had been dry for two or three weeks. OTTER TAIL COUNTY. J. C. Johnson, chairman, town of Bluffton, September 4: August 6th, a fire on section 27, land occupied by Mr. Noehle, burned over 6 acres of field and destroyed 200 bushels of oats; damage $60. Controlled in one hour by plowing around it. It looks as if some boys had set the fire. I have inquired, but do not think I can get evidence enough to convict. Weather was very dry but not windy: have not had any rain for two months. Addison Petrie, chairman, town of Compton, May 8: CHIEF FIRE WARDEN. 21 April 27th, a fire which started on section 5, being land occupied by Mr. Newell, burned over 300 to 400 acres of meadow, brush and light timber; destroyed 4 tons of hay. It also burned the grove around J. R. Dennison’s house—he was away. Hired one man to watch house at night. Weather dry and windy although it had rained two days before. PINE COUNTY. F. P. Dey, chairman, town of Rock Creek, April 26: April 2oth, a fire on section 30 burned over 40 acres of meadow and destroyed 50 tons of hay; damage $35. Think it was started by some boys. It was extinguished in twelve hours by the work of fifteen persons plowing, back-firing and with water. Weather dry and windy; had been dry thirty days. POLK COUNTY. Christian Anderson, chairman, town of Helgeland, Octo- ber 13: October 4th, a fire in the northwestern part of the town burned over 500 acres, and destroyed 25 tons of hay in the stack. Damage g100. It was extinguished by fighting with wet rags, and by plowing. Weather dry and windy; had been dry for a week or more. Pierre La Rochelle, chairman, town of Kersonville, Oct. 20: On the 24th of September a fire, which started on sec- tion 31, by an N. P. railroad locomotive, burned over 1,200 acres of prairie and field; destroyed hay and grain. Did damage to the amount of $2,000. It was extin- guished with the help of six persons, by plowing furrows in front of it. Weather dry and windy. John W. Ralston, clerk, town of Parnell, October 24. On the 6th instant, a fire swept the country for several miles around, many farmers losing their hay and grain. Myself and family labored hard in fighting the fire. I 22 ANNUAL REPORT OF suffered loss of about $300. Fire is supposed to have been set by the section men employed by the Great Northern Railway Company. SWIFT COUNTY. M. F. Wagner, chairman, town of Clontarf, April 28: On the 18th of April a fire, which originated on section 11, burned over 3,000 acres of wild meadow, and destroyed 200 tons of wild hay; damage $600. Cause unknown. It was extinguished in five hours by the work of 13 men and two teams. Weather very dry, with strong wind from north. Bert Anderson, chairman, town of Clontarf, February a4, THOR On the 12th of October a fire, originating on section 26, caused by sparks from a railroad locomotive, burned over about 200 acres; destroyed hay and straw stacks. Did damage to the amount of $100. Weather very dry and windy; had been dry for some time. Fire was extinguished by the work of 15 persons—some with teams and plows, others with sacks and shovels, to pound it out. Same, March 5, 1903: In the latter part of October a fire, which started from the east side of the railroad track, just as the train passed by, burned over 400 acres, and destroyed hay and straw stacks to the value of $70. WADENA COUNTY. J. B. Kelly, chairman, town of Aldrich, November 3: On the 30th of October a fire, caused by a railroad train, burned over 12 acres of meadow and brush, but did no damage. Seven persons extinguished it with plows and shovels. Charles Harmes, chairman, town of Meadow, April 12: April 4th, a fire, which started at night and ran the next day, burned over south half of town; destroyed 30 ‘sasodind A1jsai0j 10j BJOSOUUIAL JO 3}83S ay} 0} Aanqsj}id ‘§ UYyoL -aog-xa aze] ay) Aq payeuop AjUNO sseD Ul PUL] UO SayR'T [IND pue ayesy Surmoys yurod ysty Wort MTA CHIEF FIRE WARDEN. 23 tons of hay. It was set by parties unknown; supposed to be set by someone passing along the town line road. The owners of the hay burned would not help put out the fire; said the hay was not worth it, and as the rest of us had all we wanted to do guarding our own, we had to let it burn itself out. It went out after it struck high ground. Weather dry and windy. WILKIN COUNTY. Emil E. Brown, chairman, town of Akron, November 3: Sometime in September, a fire caused by burning stubble on land occupied by Anton Kyone, burned over about 80 acres and did damage to the amount of $50. Weather had been dry about a month. The fire was extinguished by plowing and with wet sacks. Ralph Murphy, chairman, town of Andrea, October 31: October 31st, a fire on section 11 burned over 10 acres of meadow; destroyed one threshing machine belt and damaged separator. The machine was left on said ground at twelve o'clock previous to the fire. It is sup- posed fire was in separator when left. It was extin- guished with the help of three persons by plowing and whipping with wet sacks. Weather was dry but very little wind at the time. Same, November 14: On the oth of November, a fire, originating on section 1 by burning old hay, burned over 800 acres of meadow and destroyed about 15 tons of hay; damage 300. The party was prosecuted for causing the fire and settled for damage. C. Longevin, chairman, town of Kent, October 24: October 20th a fire on section 11 burned over 2 acres of field and did damage to the amount of from $50 to $75. It was whipped out with wet sacks by three persons. 24 ANNUAL REPORT OF L. Lomsdalen, chairman, town of Manston, April 17: April 8th a fire in the evening burned over about a section of land and destroyed a bridge; damage $75. Frank Sorenson, chairman, town of Meadows, October 31: October 19th about four o'clock p. M. a fire, originating on section 33, being land occupied by Geo. Demoret, burned over 1,200 acres wild prairie and destroyed 50 tons of old hay that had been standing in water all sum- mer; damage ¢50. As near as I can find out it was caused by two tramps who were traveling across the prairie smoking. Two threshing crews helped extinguish the fire by plowing furrows and setting back-fires. There was only a little breeze; it had been dry for two days. G. J. Czichotzki, chairman, town of Mitchell, October 20; On the 27th of September between twelve and one (I cannot find out how the fire was caused) a fire burned over 80 acres and destroyed 200 bushels of wheat and about 600 bushels of oats. The fire was extinguished with plows and shovels. Weather still and dry. M. Waybel, chairman, town of Roberts, October 22: October 6th at two p. M. a fire, originating from burn- ing straw stacks on section 1, burned over about 300 acres and destroyed some flax; damage $50. It was extinguished in three hours by eight persons with wet rags and shovels and two men with four horses each on two gang plows. Weather very dry and windy for the last six weeks. YELLOW MEDICINE COUNTY. Chresten Olsen, chairman, town of Florida, April 21: April 18th a fire, caused by sparks from a railroad locomotive, burned over 640 acres of field and prairie land and did damage to the amount of $135. Weather was dry and windy; had been dry for two months. B. H. Melby, chairman, town of Fortier, September 29: -zo6r ‘An ‘uapleM F4TA S910T yew) ay} JO Woday [enuuy 294} Joy poydeisojoya ‘uoyearssay UVIPUL YSTYSOSIqIUULM 3} WO sa10} SUL d piptuajds aouo e ur alg 4q yysnoim winyw CHIEF FIRE WARDEN, 25 September 28th at one p. M. a fire, originating on sec- tion 33, occupied by M. Victor, and caused by burning a straw stack the previous day, spread over 120 acres of stubble and prairie; destroyed 15 stacks of grain. Dam- age $500. The fire was extinguished in two hours by plowing and pounding with sacks. Weather dry for one day. Party who set the fire is willing and able to settle for the whole loss. E. O. Helgemo, chairman, town of Norman, Nov. 24: On the 21st instant a fire on section 7, caused by some party driving in lumber wagon (we have been tracing the track but have not found the party yet) burned over 170 acres of prairie and meadow and destroyed 50 tons of hay; damage 50. It was extinguished in four hours by fifteen persons; by using breaking plow and furrow, where we could, and wet rags. Tue BarsBaRisM OF Forest FIREs. The forest fires that have occurred in this state in the last eight years have generally done more damage by burning hay, and wood that would be valuable for fuel, than in the destruction of timber. Such fires often run for many miles, following meadows, and there have been many cases where all forage of the poor settler has been destroyed, making it necessary for such settler to dispose of his only cow, the means of sustenance for his children through winter. Not unfrequently all the mem- bers of the family have to turn out and work with all their might to save their humble home from the flames. The prevalence of fires, at night especially, are a source of great terror to families in scattered settlements thus exposed. To see a mother flying with her children from such a danger is pathetic. The most dangerous fires are caused by the inexcusably negligent habit of setting fire to clear land in dry and dangerous weather and let- 26 ANNUAL REPORT OF ting the fire run. Every respectable citizen, or man of good conscience, would refrain from setting fire in ex- tremely dry weather; or if he set fire, he would first pile his brush and dig or carefully make a break around it to absolutely prevent the fire from spreading. To set fire and let it run wild and do, nobody knows how much, injury to other people, is a lazy and half-civilized practice. Great forest fires in the Northwest have been caused by just such negligence. In October, 1871, such a fire devastated 400 square miles of territory in Wisconsin by wiping out several vil- lages, including Peshtigo, causing the loss of a thousand lives, the destitution of 3,000 people and damage of $3, 000, 000. Another such fire as that was in the southeastern part of Michigan, September, 1881, which ran over 48 townships, and in which 138 people perished and over $2,000,000 worth of property was destroyed. The Hinckley fire in Minnesota originated about three miles southwest of Brook Park, Pine county, Min- nesota, and was burning slowly for several days before September rst, the day of the great calamity, when 418 people perished. The material loss, but not including timber, which the people sustained, amounted to $750,- ooo. The relief furnished to the sufferers, nearly all from private contributions, amounted to $184,744. It is a striking fact that the present penalty against negligence 1n causing fires, which is now in force, formed a part of the law at the time of the Hinckley fire, but there were no officers specially designated at that time to have it enforced. I believe that if the present fire warden system had been in operation in 1894 the Hinckley fire would not have occurred. Strange as it may seem, there are some people who appear to think that the state should take no precautions for preventing forest fires. Why, the state itself owns CHIEF FIRE WARDEN. 27 neatly 3,000, 000 acres of school and state institution lands, scattered principally in the forest regions, on which is much valuable timber, and for the protection of its own property could afford to spend ten times as much as it now spends for the prevention of forest fires. It is the duty of the state to prevent forest fires, if only to preserve its scenery and landscape. These are things which be- long to the public. The cities and villages in Minnesota spend in the ag- gregate $2,000,000 a year to prevent and control fires. The prevalence of forest fires in the state is an indica- tion of disregard of law, of negligence, of poor adminis- tration and of a low state of morals. They cast a blemish on the state’s reputation for good government and civiliza- tion. They tend to lower its standing before the rest of the country. The taking of precautions to prevent fires, such as the posting of warning notices, the warning of the careless and the prompt prosecution of those who violate the law, also the diffusion of information of the principles of forestry and the value of the forests, will gradually tend to do away with the evil of forest fires and make them of as rare occurrence in this state as they are in the civilized countries of Europe. NEW YORK’S SYSTEM. The State of New York in 1885 made town supervisors fire wardens, and that system was in use for twelve years, when the practice was adopted which is still in force of appointing a fire warden for each town in the sixteen counties containing land belonging to the ‘Forest Pre- serve.” The charge for fire warden service is paid by the town in which the service is rendered. The state then pays one-half. New York has a Chief Fire Warden, also a State Superintendent of Forests. During the dry season of 1899 the number of acres burned over in that state was 79,000, damage $86,893; and the amount paid to fire wardens and and their helpers was $41,659. 28 ANNUAL REPORT OF PENNSYLVANIA'S SYSTEM. In Pennsylvania the constables are made fire wardens. The‘towns there first pay the expense and the state pays one-half. There is a Forestry Commissioner and a For- estry Reservation Commission, of which the Forestry Commissioner is President, that is authorized to purchase any suitable land for forest preservation at not exceeding $5 per acre. Some other states have constituted town supervisors fire wardens, but, not having an official to supervise the work, the systems have been practically in abeyance. MINNESOTA’S SYSTEM. Our Minnesota system makes town supervisors fire war- dens. Such officers are generally men of some influence in their town. They travel through the town on town business, and, although by the annual elections they are frequently changed, yet the system is better than we could expect unless the state paid for fire warden service much more than it now does. Under the present law our fire wardens must post warning notices, take precautions to prevent fires, which naturally includes the warning of people likely to be care- less; when a fire occurs to call help—every able-bodied male eighteen years of age and upward is liable to be called—and extinguish it. Fire wardens are paid $2 a day for services when rendered but for not exceeding fif- teen days in the year. The county commissioners have to audit fire warden accounts. The county pays for the service and the state, by the law as now amended, repays the county two-thirds of the amount. Some counties have heretofore been backward in paying fire wardens for their services, but it is believed it will lead to more certainty of pay for the state to pay two-thirds of the expense. Efficient service cannot be expected where there is no pay. CHIEF FIRE WARDEN, 29 People will turn out without pay to protect their near neighbors’ property, but they will not go off some miles distant to put out a fire which does not threaten present danger. A MORE EFFICIENT SYSTEM. Let anyone assume for a moment that he is going to undertake the work of preventing and controlling forest and prairie fires. What would be his plan? What the most effective and at the same time the most economical system? Would he not think that the best plan would be to find in each town a good, energetic man who would attend to the work in his town? What would he have to pay such a man? Such a man would have to make it for the interest of two or three other good men in distant parts of the town to watch and report to him in dangerous seasons, and he would have to pay them a little. In case citizens were called to help extinguish a fiire, they would be paid as is the case at present. Now, assume that the best plan would be to employ one good, energetic man for the service in each town, how much would we have to pay him a year to secure his faithful service? Would we expect to get him for less than $50 a year? Well, there are six hundred town- ships in this state requiring and receiving fire warden service. The annual expense therefore of employing a good, efficient man in each town at $50 a year would amount to $30,000 annually, without counting the pay of citizens who turn out and help extinguish fires. There is the cost of what one might call an efficient system. Under the present system of making supervisors fire wardens, and which was adopted on grounds of economy, the present cost of fire warden service does not average $10 in each town annually. And here is the point which deserves attention—the present fire wardens receive so little pay that it throws so much the more work upon the 30 ANNUAL REPORT OF chief fire warden to inspire them with interest and zeal and keep them on the alert. DIFFICULTIES THAT ARE MET WITH. Remember the great extent of territory—about 30, 000, - ooo acres—that our fire warden system has to protect; a country containing hundreds of logging camps, thousands of new settlers clearing land, land and timber seekers, mineral prospectors, campers, hunters and tourists, all in large numbers; a country full of activity and attended with great danger in respect to fires. These are facts to be considered when judging of the efficiency of the fire warden system. Remember, too, how many there are in this region who are naturally hostile to any such system, and who them- selves, and by their mouthpieces, slur and belittle it. This class of people embraces those professional hunters who are mean enough, in a dry and dangerous season, to set fires in the woods in order to make pasture for deer; also men who make a living by stealing timber. Such men naturally do not want any agents of the law around. Also, there are multitudes of well-meaning settlers, who, not thinking of the future and of their own best interests, wish an indiscriminate removal of all the woods in their locality. DUTIES OF THE CHIEF FIRE WARDEN. What are the duties of the supervising officer, who, under our system, is entitled the Chief Fire Warden? In the first place, he is practically a Forest Commissioner. He is required by law to investigate the extent of forests in the state, the amounts and variety of timber growing therein, the methods used to promote regrowth of tim- ber, and other important facts relating to forest interests. Such information and his suggestions are to be included in his annual report. He must be a man well informed in the science of forestry. “BJOSSTIUIW JO UapPsBM 21ty yoryD ay JO Woday Jenuuy ay} 103 ‘zo61 ‘AjnL peydeisgojoyg ‘worzeasasaz emoddiyd ystysosiqruutm ay} uo anid Aemion Sunod jO pues oSO[D A] VaPI puke aIng ‘sAIsSaY S210 *S “O 341 UO CHIEF FIRE WARDEN. 81 He has authority to mass the whole fire warden force of the state at any necessary point of danger. He is intrusted with the expenditure of the emergency fund of $5,000 in a dangerous season. An officer with this authority should not be a cheap man. This officer appoints fire wardens in unorganized ter- ritory. He instructs the local fire wardens as to their duties. He must inspire them with interest to perform their duties faithfully. The principal object of the law is prevention—to have precautions taken against fires; and the local fire wardens, during the dangerous sea- sons, must be kept on the alert to guard against fires; otherwise the system would have very little value. The supervising officer is just as responsible for the efficiency of the fire warden service as a colonel is responsible for the behavior of his regiment in action. RESULTS. Since the Minnesota fire warden system went into effect there have been forest fires in each of our neigh- boring states, Michigan, Wisconsin and South Dakota, that have done damage exceeding a million dollars. Of course there have been some fires in this state, but there have been no such fires as occurred in the above men- tioned states. There is a hundred million dollars worth of forest still standing in Minnesota which has not been injured by fire, and besides, many thousand acres of young and growing forest which have not been injured by fire. These facts speak for themselves. Still, the service is not as effective as it ought to be made, for it is a work of educating the public living in the vicinity of woods to the exercise of proper care. Fir—E WarDEN SYSTEM STRENGTHENED BY THE Last LEGISLATURE. The legislature which has just closed strengthened the fire warden law of 1895 by the following twelve 32 ANNUAL REPORT OF amendments, in the act approved April 21, 1903. By these amendments— It is made the duty of each fire warden to patrol his district in a dry season, or, under the direction of the Chief Fire Warden, to employ one or more patrols. To warn against careless use of fire any person he thinks is likely to be negligent therein. Any fire warden who knows or has information of facts and circumstances which he believes can be estab- lished, and which if so proven would show beyond rea- sonable doubt that any person has caused a fire in violation of this act, shall immediately go before a justice of the peace and make complaint thereof. Chairmen of town boards, without delay, to inquire into cause of forest or prairie fires and immediately report same to Chief Fire Warden. Fire wardens shall promptly comply with the instruc- tions of the Chief Fire Warden. Where local authorities neglect to duly prosecute violations of this act, the Chief Fire Warden shall be authorized to ferret out and prosecute such violations, and his expenses therefor, not exceeding one thousand (#1,000) dollars in any one year, shall be paid out of the general revenue on approval of the State Auditor and Attorney General. Use of a team when required in making a break to control or extinguish a fire, may be paid for. Two-thirds of expense by counties for fire protection services to be paid by the state and one-third by the county. Verification of accounts can be made before any officer qualified to administer oaths, or before any fire warden or town clerk. Any account of services under this act which the county commissioners shall fail to audit within ninety days suc- ceeding the second meeting of the board after the same CHIEF FIRE WARDEN. 33 shall have been presented shall be deemed to have been rejected, and the claimant may then appeal to the dis- trict court or to the Chief Fire Warden, and the decision of either shall be final. Helpers to be paid for not exceeding ten days’ service in any one year. The limitations ‘‘five” days posting notices and ‘‘ten” days preventing and extinguishing fires are stricken out; and fire wardens may be paid for fifteen days’ service if rendered. The bill, as introduced, did not change the Chief Fire Warden’s salary, but the committees recom- mended an increase from $1,200 to $1,600, which was agreed to by the House. It was, however, stricken out by the Senate. APPROPRIATION. For each of the first two years that the fire warden law was in operation, the legislature, under the head ‘For Forest Preservation,” appropriated $6,000, which was to cover the one-third of expense the state paid to counties, and the salary, printing and other expenses of the Chief Fire Warden. Since then the appropriation for each year for those purposes has been only $5,000. The legislature appropriated no more for each of the two ensuing fiscal years, although the state will have to pay an additional third of county expenses. It will be nec- essary, therefore, to keep expenses as low as possible. Forest SouTHEAST OF Rep Lake, Three hundred miles northwest of the Twin Cities and in a region covering twenty townships east and southeast of Red Lake is one of the largest and richest forests of original white pine remaining in Minnesota. Starting in the latter part of September last from the village of Black Duck and going east to within about ten miles of the Big Fork river, thence north, I made a circuit of sixty miles through this forest, passing through eight townships and the settlements of Island Lake, Phena, Mizpah and 34 ANNUAL REPORT OF Bridgie. The surface of the country is moderately un- dulating. The pine is mixed with spruce, balsam, white and yellow birch, poplar and maple, with intervening swamps of cedar and tamarack. There are occasional pure stands of white and of Norway (or red) pine, but generally the pine is mixed with large leaved trees. The soil is a black sandy loam with a subsoil of yellow clay and gravel, and will all be good for agriculture and sustain a large population. As indicating the richness of this forest, some quarter sections (160 acres) are known to contain 2,000,000 feet board measure of pine, and worth $12,000. Generally the white pine trees are of medium size, but there are some which singly will yield 5,000 feet of lumber. The United States has parted with its title to practically all of this splendid forest, mostly under the homestead law, partly by sale, under the stone and timber act, at $2.50 per acre, and by the location of scrip. (I have elsewhere discussed these ways in which Congress allows the United States pine lands to be disposed of.) The pine is mostly in the possession of lumber companies and will be cut and removed, if times continue prosperous, within the next eight years. Itis safe tosay that the value of this pine as it stands is $12,000,000. Some of it will be floated down streams into Red Lake, thence into the Red River valley and the Dakotas; but the most of it will reach a market over the Minnesota & International Railway, the rails of which are laid ten miles beyond Black Duck, and which is heading for the Big Falls of the Big Fork river. Branch logging railroads are being built from this road through the forest. Considering the newness of the settlements, it is per- haps surprising that the roads are as good as they are. They can be traveled except in an unusually wet spell, but the stumps and roots left in the roadway make it impossible for a team to go faster than a walk, and there CHIEF FIRE WARDEN. 35. is need of almost constant winding out and around to avoid bad places. Itasca county has lately appropriated $1,500 to be divided equally among five new towns for road building, namely Bartlett, Bridgie, Cormorant, Fair- view and Island Lake. ALONG THE IRON RANGE. In October last I went from Virginia north sixteen miles through hilly forest of principally pine and cedar on the new Duluth, Virginia & Rainy Lake Railroad and within eight miles of the Little Fork river whose valley, like those of the Big Fork and Rat rivers, contains a great deal of public agricultural land that is being rapidly set- tled, and which still affords golden opportunities for actual homestead settlers. This new railroad, which is reaching out about one hun- dred miles to Rainy Lake at Koochiching, and being built by experienced railroad men, will tap eight million dollars worth of standing pine, a good agricultural area beyond, and make a new and important route for wheat from the Winnipeg region to Duluth. It will also increase the value of much land owned by the State of Minnesota. During eight years I have annually or oftener visited some of the mining cities and villages on the Iron Range, of which there are about a dozen, and apparently they never were more prosperous than to-day. I stopped at four of these on this trip, and was impressed by the stead- iness of their growth, their clean streets and the neatness and comfort of the workingmen’s homes. To see these thriving young towns—with their mile or two distant bor- der of autumn colored woods—connected with a network of busy railroads, in some instances with good carriage roads, with fine school houses and swarms of well behaved and handsome children, where but a few years ago was a dense wilderness, impresses one with the greatness of his state. 36 ANNUAL REPORT OF PLATFORM OF THE FRIENDS OF Forestry IN MINNESOTA. Beginning about a century ago the Indians in Min- nesota parted with their possessory title to the pine lands to the United States at a low figure. The United States took no pains to ascertain the location, quantity and value of the timber, but from time to time offered it at public sale, with the regulation that after the public sale had continued for so many days the lands unsold could then be purchased at ‘‘private entry” at $1.25 per acre. This looked well on paper, but as a rule purchasers waited till the public sale was over, and then, at $1.25 per acre, bought lands worth anywhere from $10 to $75 or even more per acre. This system was discontinued about forty years ago, since which time pine lands have been obtained of the United States through the location of scrip; soldiers’ additional homesteads (devised not for the benefit of the soldier, but for the benefit of the timber grabber), the homestead law, and the stone and timber act—all and each of which have been but a system of plunder. The value of the standing pine timber in Minnesota which in the past fifty years has passed from the United’ States into the possession of private parties has proba- bly not been less than $200,000,000. Of this a few million dollars worth, originally granted to the state, was given to railroad companies to aid in the construction of their roads. The records of the U. S. General Land Office, Wash- ington, show that beginning with the year 1849 and up to October, 1897, all that the United States had received for. public lands in Minnesota, timber, agricultural or of whatever character, amounted exactly to $7,286,599. 40. If there are any people who have profited or who in the future hope to profit from plundering the United States of pine lands, or who are the mouthpieces of RASER | OP LS EPLL We a We meee si Proposed lake Superior Forest Reserve. Cook and Lake counties together have 2,228,000 acres of land exclusive of water. The forest reserve will occupy only about one- fifth of this area; and consisting of natural forest and mostly third and fourth rate soil. Drawn and engraved for the Annual Report of the Chief Fire Warden of Minnesota. CHIEF FIRE WARDEN. 37 such people, their influence as opponents of forestry should not have much weight. At the highest figure, there remains standing in the forests of Minnesota, thirty billion feet of merchantable pine timber, and of the value of $120,000,000. The most of it is in the hands of private parties, is mature, and will and should be cut as fast asa good market for it can be found; and which will be accomplished in about fifteen years. The most of it will be shipped out of the state. Mature timber is that which has reached its fiscal age—the age when it has ceased to earn good interest by its growth. On average pine soil a pine tree does its fastest growing the first eighty years of its life, and at the end of that period it should be cut. What is implied then by ‘forest preservation,” in Minnesota, is the protection from fire of the remaining forests, including the young pine, now all the way from two inches to thirty feet in height, and some of which will be merchantable when the original growth shall have disappeared; the reservation and treatment on forestry: principles, either by the United States or by the state- of Minnesota, of the few pine lands yet belonging to the United States and which are better adapted to forestry than to agriculture; and, finally, the acquisition by the state by purchase of any land that is too sandy, too hilly or too rocky for agriculture, and holding and using the same for forestry. [hese three propositions constitute the platform of the friends of forestry in Minnesota. Lake Superior Forest RESERVE. An area of about 500,000 acres in Lake and Cook counties that is believed to be better adapted for forest than for any other purpose has been temporarily with-. drawn from market with a view of being created as a United States forest reserve, if further examination shall show that it is suitable for that purpose. By the 38 ANNUAL REPORT OF law of the United States any mature timber in a United States forest reserve may be sold at its appraised val- ue, but not for shipment out of the state in which it is sit- uated. Any person, under the regulations of the Interior department, can enter a forest reserve for all lawful pur- poses, including that of prospecting, locating and develop- ing the mineral resources thereof; and more than that, can have free use of timber and stone for carrying on his work. Besides, the Interior department may restore to the public domain any public lands in a forest reserve, which, after due personal examination by a competent person, shall be found better for mining or for agricultural purposes than for forest use. The setting apart of lands that are suitable for the purpose as a forest reserve is, therefore, beneficial to the public, though it may not be beneficial to the speculator in timber. Having be- come satisfied that it would be for the best interest of the public that the above mentioned area be set apart as a forest reserve, I, on the 1oth of May last, address- ed the following recommendation to the U. S. Com- missioner of the General Land Office: St. Pau, Minn., May 10, 1902. Hon. Bincer HERMANN, Commissioner General Land Office, Washington, D. C. Dear Sir: I have the honor hereby to recommend that the fol- lowing townships, all public land, situated in Cook and Lake counties, in Minnesota, and comprising (after deducting water sur- face) an area in round numbers of five hundred thousand acres, be set apart by the President as a forest reserve, namely: Township 59, ranges 5, 8 and g west. Township 60, ranges 4 to g west. Township 61, ranges 5 to 11 west, both inclusive. Township 62, ranges 5 to 10 west, both inclusive. Township 63, ranges 5 to 7 west, both inclusive, and south half of township 63, range 8. Ten of these townships are surveyed and all of the lands are practically vacant, with these exceptions: that only half of town- ship 59, range g west, and township 60, range 8 west, are vacant, "BJOSaUIUIW JO DapreM 311.4 3Sa10T Jato G1 Jo wodSew Tenuuy a4} 410} ‘1061 ‘1aquiaydas [12119 ‘a “y Aq'paydeisojoyq ‘*AyUNOD 3ooD jo qied [eayuao Ul ‘YyzIOU Burqoo] ‘UpeyuNOW zsnig worst CHIEF FIRE WARDEN. 39 and that two-thirds of township 60, range g west, and township 61, range 5 west, are vacant, I inclose a map of these lands, with notes showing their charac- ter, compiled from the field notes in the United States Surveyor General’s office of this state. I make this recommendation for the following reasons: 1. The land has a general elevation of about 1,200 feet above Lake Superior, is generally hilly and rocky and more valuable for the production of timber than for agriculture. It is natural timber land, but much of the original timber was killed by fires many years ago. Its soilis only third or fourth rate, and the fact that, although fairly accessible, none of it has been taken by settlers, is of itself evidence that it is undesirable for agricultural purposes. 2. The benefit that will accrue to Minnesota by having this waste and vacant land utilized for forestry purposes. Everyone knows that the supply of pine timber in Minnesota is fast diminishing. Already several kinds of lumber from the Pacific coast are com- peting here with our home products; and, as our home supply decreases, the price of lumber from the coast will be advanced. Dearness of lumber will tend to retard the development of agricultural lands, farmers being among the principal consumers of lumber. On this land proposed to be created a forest reserve, it will require about eighty years for pine timber to grow to mer- chantable size. The population of the United States in eighty years from now, according to the estimate of the most competent judges, based on our past history, will be 320,000,000, Everyone can see that the demand for lumber will then be very much greater than at present, 3. The land in question contains many fine lakes and streams, and will, if administered as a forest reserve, prove valuable also as a fish and game preserve. 4. The educational effect of such a reserve would be useful in promoting forest economy in this state. 5. Ihave been reflecting upon this matter for overa year. I have also seen occasional expressions in the public press favoring a forest reserve to include some of the highlands north of Lake Superior. I have examined the Government plats of all the sur- veyed lands in Minnesota north of Lake Superior, and those here- in contained are about the only lands that are available from being vacant, This is the only opportunity (outside of Indian reservations) of securing a number of townships in a body in this state for a forest reserve. Of course it is understood that the 40 ANNUAL REPORT OF state of Minnesota is entitled to sections 16 and 36 in each town- ship as school lands; also that the state will have a right to any swamp lands there may be in either township, Also, should any of the reserve be found to be good agricultural land, I, for one, would expect that the law would be made to permit, if it does not now permit, the use of such lands for agricultural purposes. I do not expect the reserve to be a wilderness, nor to shut out any necessary means of communication. Very truly yours, C. C. ANnpDREws, Chief (Forest) Fire Warden. Tue ComMIssIONER’S REPLY. Under date of June 30, 1902, the Commissioner of the General Land Office sent me the following favorable re- ply, informing me of the temporary withdrawal of lands substantially in accordance with my recommendation for a reserve, which he has designated as the ‘‘Lake Superior Forest Reserve, Minnesota.” DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, General Land Office, Washington, D. C., June 30, eo PROPOSED LAKE SUPERIOR FOREST RESERVE, MINNESOTA, Mr. C. C, AnpREws, Chief Fire Warden, St. Paul, Minnesota. Sir: Referring to your letter of May 10, 1902, recommending the establishment of a forest reserve, to include certain lands in Lake and Cook counties, Minnesota, I have to advise you that the matter has been favorably reported to the Honorable Secre- tary of the Interior by me, and also by the Director of the United States Geological Survey, and the Honorable Secretary has directed me to make temporary withdrawal of lands substantially in accordance with your recommendation. On account of the extensive adverse holdings thereon, certain portions of the lands mentioned by you may not well be included within the reserve. Very respectfully, BinGER HERMANN, Commissioner, As soon as practicable, the lands in the proposed reserve will be examined by the United States Geological Survev. CHIEF FIRE WARDEN. 41 Forest RECONNAISSANCE OF WISCONSIN. Wisconsin’s Forest Commission, six years ago, em- ployed Mr. Filibert Roth, an able and experienced forest expert, to make a reconnaissance of the northern part of that state, with a view to inaugurating a forest policy. In 27 counties, having an aggregate area of 18,500,000 acres, he found 6,800,000 acres, being 37.2 per cent, of poor land which, he states in his report (published by the Geological and Natural History Survey of Wisconsin), ‘‘is either not at all suited to farming, or only doubtfully so, and should by all means be left to forest.” He says that his classification, when submitted to revision by the best informants, was generally considered a fair estimate. He found that the original stand of pine had comprised about 130 billion feet, of which 86 billion feet had been cut since 1840; that 26 billion feet had probably been wasted, chiefly destroyed by fire, and that 17.4 billion feet re- mained standing, and which was being cut at the rate of 3 billion feet per year. He found many thickets of young pine, in the aggregate 200,000 acres, which had sprung up in the previous 25 years, and which he estimated would within fifty years, yield 5,000 feet per acre of mer- chantable timber. He reports that Wisconsin’s home consumption of lumber is 600 million feet a year; that the industries exploiting her forest resources paid yearly to over 55,000 men the sum of over 15 million dollars in wages; and he states in conclusion, that the failure to protect or restock the denuded waste lands ‘‘causes a continuous and ever growing loss to the commonwealth, which at present amounts to about 800 million feet per year of useful and much needed material.” “To remedy this matter,” he says, ‘‘and stop the great loss, it will be necessary to adopt active measures both to protect and restock.” 42 ANNUAL REPORT OF Minnesota SHOULD TakE THE Lesson Home. As the forest conditions of Minnesota are similar to those of Wisconsin, except that there are in our state probably 25 billion feet of pine still standing, Mr. Roth’s testimony ought to have great value for the people of Minnesota. It isa striking fact that the area originally covered with pine in Minnesota—with, of course, inter- vening stretches of mixed timber, swamps and bare tracts —was just about the same as that of Wisconsin, eighteen million acres. The fact that we have in this state 15,000,000 acres of good agricultural land that is not yet under cultivation and that cheap lumber will promote its development; that our population increases 18 per cent each decade; that the demand for lumber will increase; that its value has risen 25 per cent in the last twenty years; that our home supply of original pine timber will, in a few years, be exhausted; that much lumber is already being brought into this state from the Pacific coast at the rate of 130 car loads per day, and the cost of transportation for which aver- ages $13.50 per 1000 feet, board measure; that centuries of experience of European states instruct and warn us-it is clear beyond any doubt that the sooner we begin in a sys- tematic way to reforest our waste lands the better it will be for the welfare of the state. It requires 80 years for pine to grow to merchantable size on poor, sandy land. Individuals cannot wait so long fora crop. The state must undertake the work. The United States still holds 3,000,000 acres of vacant land in Minnesota, of which probably 1,000,000 acres are refuse land only fit for bearing forest; and as soon as our state shows by actual example its willingness and ability to carry on the work of reforesting such land, very likely our delegation in Congress would be able to procure a grant to our state of all such refuse land, for forestry pur- poses. Photographed by A. B. to Rainy Lake. ing Lake, on road lead 10n Norway pine forest, on rocky non-agricultural land north of Vermill Herrell September, 1901, for the Annaul Report of the Chief Forest Fire Warden of Minnesota. CHIEF FIRE WARDEN. 43 Women’s Ciuss AND ForeEstTRY. Forestry made great strides in Pennsylvania because the women in that state interested themselves in the sub- ject. Women ought todo the same in Minnesota. It is relatively a greater subject in Minnesota than it is in Pennsylvania, because Minnesota has more extensive natural forest resources. Women’s clubs should not be content to study history; they should make history. Forestry in Minnesota is on its hands and knees, and it is a patriotic duty of the women of the state to place it on its feet. FORESTRY EXPLAINED. But before people can intelligently work for a cause they must take the trouble to inform themselves of its principles. While forestry itself is the science of obtaining revenue by raising trees on refuse land, there are a number of things about the forest in which the people as a whole have a sort of ownership and a decided interest. For example, if sandy hills are well wooded, they make the landscape attractive; but if they become denuded and are left a bare waste, as is the practice in the absence of forestry methods, the scenery loses all its beauty. On such land forestry would have a young growth of timber started before removing all the mature trees. So, when fire is allowed to devastate a forest, especially along routes of travel, the public is robbed of beautiful scenery. Where forestry has its rights, fire is prevented from working such evil. The public has an ownership in water- courses, for they not only beautify scenery, but they fer- tilize the soil, furnish water for sanitary purposes, and afford means of water-power and navigation. The forest, holding back, as it does, in its porous soil, much of the rainfall, is a natural reservoir of moisture, feeding num- berless little springs and rivulets and maintaining water supply in rivers. Forestry forbids the total clearing of 44 ANNUAL REPORT OF land at the head waters of streams; and the state, though it has not exercised the power, possesses the constitutional authority, as a police regulation, to prohibit a private owner from cutting trees less than eight inches in diam- eter, breast high, at the sources of our principal streams. Scenery and water! Just for these two things alone the public has reason to concern itself with forestry. Climate is an additional ground for public interest in forestry. Air in the forest is a little warmer in winter and a little cooler in summer than the air of open country. Forest air, like that of the sea, is richer in ozone, and therefore healthier, than the air of open country, and especially than the air of cities. The forest is a barrier to the hot wind from the south and to the cold wind from the north.. The public has rights in the forest for means of recre- ation. Mrs. Browning, the greatest of woman poets in the English language, wrote in a letter from Italy: “In the deep of the pine forests, which have such a strange dialect in the silence they speak with.” It was not for the value of the timber that the state of New York paida million dollars for 250,000 acres in the Adirondacks, but because tired people love to visit the woods for recreation and rest. When woods are managed according to for- estry they are provided with good roads, and are delight- ful resorts. The forest, properly managed, is a covert for useful game. It is largely on account of these collateral benefits from forests that the public is interested and should, wherever possible, demand that they be administered on forestry principles. At present, however, most of the timber lands in this state are the property of private individuals and corporations who will, and for their financial safety must, cut and remove the timber therefrom as rapidly as they can finda good market for it, and without taking any CHIEF FIRE WARDEN. 45 steps for the reproduction of timber on the cleared tracts. The present owners would not be alive when a new crop of pine forest had matured on the tracts now being cleared. Thus it is that the original pine forests in Minnesota are being cut without regard to forestry principles. There are many extensive areas in northern Minnesota where pine timber is found growing in the midst of large leaved or hardwood forest. In all such cases the soil will be found sufficiently fertile to be useful for agriculture after the timber is removed. Such land ought to be used for agriculture, for the reason that it will yield a larger revenue in that way than it would in forest. Buta large part of the pine lands in the state consist of soil that is too light for profitable use in agriculture, and such lands ought to be purchased by the state and administered on forestry principles. LEADING PRINCIPLES. The leading principles of forestry are these: Forest should occupy only non-agricultural land—land that is too hilly, or too rocky, or too sandy for profitable cultiva- tion in field crops. The significance of forestry is that such refuse land used for coniferous forest will yield an average annual net revenue, on the capital it represents, of about three percent. And when one sees, as he surely will in his travels, an abundance of such land lying waste, and even deteriorating year by year, let him call to mind the revenue it would yield if devoted to forest, and how much handsomer the country would be if all such land were so used. Another principle of forestry is that the forest, when young, should be crowded to promote height growth. The elements in the air supply the principal food of the pine. The trees must have air and light. In a crowded state they strive upwards for air and light. They shed their limbs naturally when crowded. The weaker trees die out, and the survivors develop, in course of eighty 46 ANNUAL REPORT OF years, or more, the clear boles for a great height, which yield the best lumber. A pine on open ground produces too many limbs. It may be picturesque, but is not good for timber. Another principle is that the forest must be admin- istered so as to furnish a sustained yield. It must be perpetual. The cutting of mature trees must be done in a way to promote natural regeneration by seed. Last, but not least, forest fires must be prevented; for without this there can be no such thing as forestry. EXAMPLES FROM ABROAD. The principles of forestry are the same everywhere, but the revenue from forests is naturally greater in Europe than it would be in this country, by reason of denser population, cheaper labor and higher value of forest products. For example, Bavaria has 2,150,000 acres of state for- est, 77 per cent of which is coniferous, yielding a net annual revenue of $3,222,145, or $1.50 per acre. France (exclusive of the colonies) has 23,000,000 acres of forest, of which only 2,700,000 acres are state forest. Of the latter, 600,000 acres are ‘‘protective” forests— situated on mountains to prevent land slides, and on the sand dunes of the ocean to prevent the sand from drifting into the interior and submerging good land. The net annual revenue from the 2,100,000 acres of productive state forest is $1.91 per acre. France expends $600,000 a year for scientific forestry in her province of Algeria. It is such things that make a country truly great. There are in the whole kindom of Prussia 21,000,000 acres of forest, of which 6,000,000 acres are state forests yielding a net annual revenue of $9,000,000, being at the rate of $1.50 per acre, and more than the average Ameri- can farmer clears from his field crops. CHIEF FIRE WARDEN. 47 Alsace-Lorraine, with an area of only one-fifteenth that of Minnesota, has 338,500 acres of state forest yielding an annual average net profit of $2.50 per acre. The Duchy of Baden, not as large as Pine county in this state, from its 240,000 acres of state forest, derives a net annual revenue of $667,000, or $2.50 per acre. The Kingdom of Wurtemberg, only a very little larger than our county of St. Louis, derives a net annual revenue of $1,700,000 from its 418,000 acres of state forest, or $4.00 per acre. The Kingdom of Saxony, from its 432,000 acres of state forest, mostly on poor mountainous land, derives a net annual revenue of $1,946,000, being at the rate of $4.50 per acre. The forest profits in all these countries, and especially in Saxony, are owing to the density of population, cheap- ness of labor, high price of lumber and facilities of getting it to market. The forests are not only profitable in a money sense, but they furnish many indirect benefits, including water supply. They are provided with good roads, are well guarded, are delightful resorts, and are no impediment to the cultivation of neighboring agricultural lands. PRoGRESS IN Forestry. In the past ten years the United States government has established sixty million acres of forest reserves, on mostly mountainous land, under a partially equipped force of rangers and guards. A division of forestry, under a forest expert, to administer these reserves, has been created in the Department of the Interior. The bureau of forestry, in the Department of Agriculture, now ex- pends about $50,000 annually in useful work, and last year made forestry investigations, not only in the national reserves, but in as many as twenty different states, at the request of the respective state governments; also made forest working plans for over a million acres. In this 48 ANNUAL REPORT OF work many trained and partly trained young American foresters, including some from this state, who are making a good record, took part. The college of forestry at Cornell University and the school of forestry at Yale University are recent, well en- dowed and notable institutions. A new school of forestry has been provided in the Uni- versity of Michigan, and will commence work next Sep- tember. Its principal professor will be Mr. Filibert Roth, a well known forester, who has served several years in the United States forestry bureau, also as chief of the division of forestry in the Department of the Interior. His duties as professor will be to foster forestry in Michigan by advice and addresses as well as by actual help in the woods; as- sist in the care of state forest lands; manage the univer- sity forest lands; and educate men in forest work. He will be assisted by Mr. Charles A. Davis, who has served as professor of sciences, in Alma College, Alma, Mich., and who has had extensive experience as a woodsman. Of other schools where forestry training is given, that at St. Anthony Park, Minn., and that at Biltmore, N. C., are not the least. Of the different states, two or three have already adopted, and a dozen or more are trying to work out, plans of forest restoration and administration. The State of New York has expended about $2,000,000 in purchas- ing land, in the Adirondack mountains, for forestry pur- poses. She has contributed much to forestry literature. Her constitution, however, prohibits the cutting of any timber in the state forests, and requires them to remain in their natural state. This, the friends of forestry wish abrogated, and, when done, New York will bein the lead, if she is not now, of all the states in forestry. Pennsyl- vania has lately authorized its forest commission to buy any land suitable for forest at not exceeding $5 per acre, and her commissioner states that during the term of the Food for forest fires. Sample of country on the White Earth Chippewa Indian Reservation where the United States Government lumbered for the Indians a few years ago in a splendid forest of Norway pine. Shows a lack of forestry methods. Photographed, April, 1901, for the annual Report of the Chief Fire Warden of Minnesota. i forest of spruce and firin Germany. Light cutting just made of largest trees. A esieinnhorest >" in aT hich the large trees are cut and the smaller ones left to grow. Engraved for the Annual Report of the Chief Fire Warden of Minnesota. CHIEF FIRE WARDEN. 49 present governor, who is much interested in the question, half a million acres will have been acquired for such pur- pose. In Michigan about 200,000 acres of land have been set apart for forestry purposes. The legislature of Minnesota enacted the following law, which was approved April 8, 1903: The Minnesota state forestry board is hereby authorized to acquire by purchase for the state at not exceeding two dollars and fifty cents ($2.50) per acre, and preferably at the sources of rivers, any land in this state that is adapted for forestry, but not to exceed in any one congressional township, one-eighth part of the area of such township, and to take such steps as are necessary to maintain forest thereon according to forestry principles. One- quarter part of the net forest revenue from such lands shall always be paid to the respective towns in which the lands are situated. No money shall be paid by the state for any such land until the attorney general shall certify that the deed thereof conveys a clear title in the state. No appropriation was made to carry this law into effect, and for the reason probably that $20,000 was appropri- ated for the purchase of additional land in the original limits of the Itasca state park. The state now has a thousand acres of cut-over pine land in Cass county, donated by the late ex-governor John S. Pillsbury, and for which a preliminary working plan, after survey, was made last summer. A bulletin on the same was issued by the Forestry Board. Notice of expiration of redemp- tion period has been served in respect of about a thousand acres in Cook county, which the board also expects to obtain for forestry purposes, under chapter 335 of the laws of 1901. If these are but crumbs, they foreshadow better things. One of the results of forestry agitation in Minnesota was the recent act of Congress for opening the Chippewa reservation, creating a forest reserve of 200,000 acres, and which secures to the Indian, for the first time in his history, the true value of his timber. 50 ANNUAL REPORT OF EUROPEAN FORESTRY. No intelligent friend of forestry supposes that the sci- ence of forestry will, for a long time, produce in this country the results which are seen in many of the densely peopled states of Europe, but a knowledge of these splen- did results is very instructive and stimulating, and for that reason I have taken pains to diffuse such information. The science of forestry is the same everywhere, but its application depends upon the conditions which are found in different countries. Let us assume that there is a natural coniferous forest on non-agricultural land in Ger- many in which 75 per cent of the trees are mature and 25 per cent have not reached merchantable size. Accord- ing to scientific forestry the 75 per cent of mature trees will be cut just as soon as the market would justify and the 25 per cent of trees of unmerchantable size would be left to grow till they should be fit to cut. A similar natural forest in this country would be treated in the same way, if treated accord- ing to forestry principles; and some lumbermen, such as those, for example, who hold pine lands in the valley of the St. Croix river or on its tributaries in this state, and who have gone back every fifteen or twenty years to make a second, third or fourth cutting on the same land, are managing their forests in this way. In cases where pine lands are remote from streams of capacity for floating and where the pine is reached by temporary logging railroads, clean cutting is made of both large and small trees; but lumbering of this latter description is in violation of for- estry principles. Ifa trained forester were to commence cutting a mature forest he would not begin on that side of it which is exposed to the prevailing wind, because if Missing Page Photographed, 1900, for the Annual Report of the Chief Fire Warden - Minnesota, Norway pine, on non-agricultural land in Lake County. The timber is used for railroad ties. Photographed, 1900, for the Annual Report of the Chief Fire Warden of Minnesota. A tamarack swamp in Lake County. South shore of Lake Itasca. Place where first sermon was preached in the park, May, 1881. Photographed August, 1898, for the Annual Report of the Chief Fire Warden of Minnesota. EE] Lake Dewey. White pine logs and men working. Photo- graphed May, 1899, for the Annual Report of the Chief Fire Warden of Minnesota, Young Norway pine, one mile south of Lake Dewey. Photo- graphed May, 1899, for the Annual Report of the Chief Fire Warden of Minnesota. Residence of Mr. Oakes, seventeen miles north of Lake Itasca. Photo- graphed August, 1898. *yousyos ‘Vv ‘0 Id Aq ‘e68T ‘tequiejdeg peydeizojo"yq “potorysep yyMmoss BSuncd [TV ‘“}O'V JequUTL WMO PUue pesq 24} fo s}yeusq oy} eand -as 0} AUSDII pouIng ‘AJUNOD HWeIIe_g UI }S010J OUI ABPMION ‘youeyag “iq Ad ‘gst ‘Jequieydeg peydeisoj}oyd “exeT pow pue AeMIOg UseeMj}eq (plo sreeA Og JnNoqe) suTd your a F o Bel a B D a il § A vo 16) 5 ie] 3 n 3 P g S ue) be fe] f a cv) > a e n vo Lal fe) Lal @ & A % a rs a & Bi s forest in the parish of Orsa, province of Dalarne, Sweden, 1891. Natural coniferow Ravages of forest fires near Lake Dewey, St. Louis county, Minnesota. Photographed May 9, 1899, for the Annual Report of the Chief Fire Warden of Minnesota. Campbell Creek, five miles southwest of Buena Vista. Photographed August, 1898, for the Annual Report of the Chief Fire Warden of Minnesota. Loading pine logs on railway cars at Lake Dewey, to take to the Mississippi river via Hibbing and Swan rivers, Photo- graphed May, 1899, for the Annual Re port of the Chief Fire Warden of Minnesota. ‘ Za1odexr YAANOEZ spy woazy po}UyIder pus “BjpOSeUUTYI JO USPIEM SILT JOO ey} JO q10dey [eNUUY 9} 103 ‘REST ‘peudeasojoug ‘eiseM qacekeD = Wet ST he gesio Sujeq 193ye puUe] yoONS ‘surreq yum] JO SABM JUESoId 94} UL *}SdZOJ 0} PodJOASP JI ONUDASI PoUTE}SNS PUB sUIOSpULY B PETA Wed eanj [Nose AOJ JYUN puvy yey} ‘Ajeureu AIjse1oJ Jo o[djoulid Sulpeel S sayerjsN[l] “SulqqiH{ eeu puey peinj[Nowse-uou AyOoI Uo ould 671yM TeAcwyid Jo puyys pIpuetds v ‘yoUeyIS “V ‘OD “IG Aq ‘GEST ‘Aequiajdeg peydessojy0o4g ‘youeyos “VO “Id 4 ‘668T ‘tequiez}deg ‘AYUNOD SINOT ‘jg ‘SUGQIET Iveu jsei0J ould oy [RAC poydeaZoqoud “WUT ‘SUIqqIE 1v0u ‘Suyrequin[ 10jje Ieek YW & Fd i? “BUPOLBD UION Ur ‘F{IqIOpUeA “BUlLOLeO UWON Ur “FIIqIopuvA “AA "M ‘0085 ‘IJ IO e4uyse eLOUTY[IG EY} UO ‘plo sive Ino; ‘ould ‘09D ‘IJ JO 04.V1SE SIOWITI, OY} WO ‘plo SIveA INOF ‘auld ey evIYA UIA ‘ESRI UL Spley pouopueqe uo opeu uoreyUeTg WIM ‘6E68T Ul sinysed peuopuvqe uo epeur UOT eyULIT Ds aS SSeS “BJOSOUTIW, JO USPIEM SILT JOMO Sy} Jo rod ee -oy Tenuuy oY} 10J ‘OOGT ‘Gg OUNL (OPIS OLreqUO aT, WoT) poydeis “OUUTWL JO USPIVM WL JOO 94} JO Juodey [eNUUY 24} 10J ‘OOGT -oyOUd ‘SMATY Aurey pues yIOT Stig ey} Jo souanpUOD ey TV ‘ounr (yeoq wou) poydeisojoyd “sOATY HOT Ziq oy} uo ‘yaodel Y}INOZ SIy ULOAZ poJUpIdel pus-ej}oseuu; Oo uepiIe SILA FOO SCY} JO WROdSewW LfenuUy ou} 103 ‘REBT ‘peuderz0;04a ‘no Jdey ee soiy 31 Sourd Sunos yo dn Supsutids oy £0 a MOTIOS a ouss ore unS JO UWOISSTUIpe fenpess pue Surreejo Tenperip ‘MIABIOABS OTB SOOUBISUINOITO JI ‘SuIpess [einyeUu Aq suId peosdons [TIM SuTd yeu} ‘AUep o[doed pows0jpUISTUL AUeUD yeyM SoyEIISNTT “A} “un0d FuIeI}Jeq UT (Seve1g pe}TU ey} Aq BJOseUUTM JO 37e1g SY} 07 WeATS) WOTOeS [oOyWS B UO SUTd AeEMION eIMyeUL pue SuNOZ i White pine forest on a school section (sec. 16, township 58, range 19), belonging to the State of Mir ‘nesota. Congress gave to Minnesota two sections of land, a mile square each, in each township, oe school purposes. The permanent school fund derived from these lands now amounts to $12,354,000. photo graphed, 1900, for the Annual Report of the Chief Fi ae Che na: Bad : ren aed ’ German working men at dinner in a German forest. The German forests give steady employ- ent to over a million Jaborers. Road in a German forest. There must be an economical way of getting out forest products, and good roads are essential in a permanent forest administered so as to secure a sustained yield. Open country like what is often seen in the forest regions of Minnesota, This sketch is taken on the road bordering Turtle Lake near Buena Vista, Beltrami County. In many instances nature unaided does not completely stock a forest, but leaves frequent. blank spaces. It requires forestry science to utilize all the surface with valuable trees. ee. What forestry science does. This is a German forest of spruce planted «nd mariaged according to forestry science; trees about 86 and 100 years old. Observe how closely the trees stand, Where forestry is applied all the land devoted to forest becomes as well stocked with trees. se Ry ee Upper St. Croix River at point due east from Hinckley, Minnesota, looking down the river Photographed 1907+ Food for Forest Fires. Sample of country on the White Earth§Chippewa Indian Reserva- tion, where the United States Government lumbered for the Indians a few years ago, in a | splendid forest of Norway pine. Shows a lack of forestry methods. Photographed for the annual report of the Forestry Commissioner of Minnesota. Spruce and fir forest near Freudenstadt, Wurttemberg, Germany: age about 130 years. Shows how closely land becomes stocked with trees under scientific forestry management. Also shows under- growth about six inches high. Minnesota’s natural resources are so great that if she would now begin to spend annually $300,000 in forestry, she would in eighty years have 3,000,000 acres of as good forest on land not suited for agriculture, and of the value of $200,000,000 and upwards, — “BJOSSUOIW JO UepleM SILT JoIyD ay} Jo J1Oday [enuuy aq} 103 ‘zo6r ‘A[n[ paydeiZojoyug *A}ANOD wosEzT Pidey pueig je meq Joampiadxy 232} 24} UO puE] autd 1940 ND UO BIEd¥ yaaj ino; pazue[d punoiZas0j 3} UI auId (par) AeMIeN BunoAz a i a ae en ee CHIEF FIRE WARDEN. 63 ings, paying a rent equal to one-half of the additional pay above mentioned. PRIVATE FORESTS. At the close of 1895 the entire forest area of Austria was 23,993,442 acres. Deducting from this figure the area of the state and fund forests, aggregating 3,782,369 acres (out of which 862,236 were unproductive area), there remain 20,211,072 acres, which are composed of communal forests to the extent of 3,456,782 acres, and private forests to the extent of 16,754,290 acres. There are treated according to forestry principles proper: In the case of communal forests, 14.5 per cent, equal to 500,818 acres; in the case of private forests, 38.4 per cent, equal to 6,434,070 acres. In these forests all work is done according to working plans, periodically made by officers of a training equal to that of the government for- estry officers. In 85.6 per cent of the communal forests (2,955,964 acres) and in 61.6 per cent of the private for- ests (10, 320,220 acres) no working plans exist. The work is done without reference to scientific forestry, more or less at haphazard after empirical rules. The price of private forests depends on the quality of the soil, the age of the forest, and on the locality, viz., on the market conditions and on the industrial develop- ment of the section in which the forest is situated. Thus it is impossible to give even an approximately correct fig- ure representing the value of private forests. Forest land has been sold actually at prices ranging between $5 and $340. The annual net revenue drawn from forestry varies just as much as the value of the forest itself. It is impossible to give any exact figure showing the annual net revenue from private or communal forests. A net revenue of equal to two or three per cent of the capital invested in forestry may represent a fair average. 64 ANNUAL REPORT OF The annual production of timber and fuel in the Aus- trian forests has somewhat declined of late. Savings are made everywhere to make good former over-cutting. Be- sides, the regulations of the forest laws are now being enforced, and under these enforced laws the utilization of forest produce had to be diminished. In the year 1890 the total harvest of timber and fuel from 24,173,333 acres of forest aggregated 29,341,590 cubic meters, or’ 1,035,758,127 cubic feet. In the year 1895, on the other hand, there were cut from 23,993,442 acres only 27,523,- 241 cubic meters, or 971, 570,407.3 cubic feet. It may be stated that the smaller figures, representing the area of the forest in 1895, are explained by the fact that the political authorities, whenever they think it fit, after consulting the foresters in charge, approve of a change of forest land into agricultural or pasture land. Besides, the diminished area is partly. explained by mis- takes made formerly in the survey of the forests. DUCHY OF BADEN. STATE FORESTS. The aggregate extent of the state forests of Baden is 240, 304 acres, located in the Black Forest and the upper valley of the Rhine. The prevailing kind of trees is co- niferous. The beech, however, covers the largest sur- face; next follows the fir, then the silver fir and the Scotch fir. The average estimated value per acre, taking the average of the ten years, 1886-1895, is $98.55. The annual aggregate expense of administration is $568,078. The annual aggregate revenue amounts to $1,235,332, and the net revenue is $667,244. Number of acres an- nually sown to forest is 222, and the number of acres planted is 823. Reforesting is effected by seed from standing trees; also by planting trees; in some rare cases Along the first sixteen miles of the Duluth, Virginia & Rainy Lake R. R., taken Sept. 24,1902. Non-agricultural land, but will produce timber. Land better adapted for forest than for agriculture. i ton Duluth, Virginia & Rainy Lake R.R., ten miles north of Virginia. Bde ores ala Bim'Snap shot Sept. 24, 190%. e Young and mature red (Norway) pine four miles from Cutfoot, on the Winnibigoshish Reservation. Photographed for the Chief Forest Fire Warden of Minnesota, July, 1902. Sample of Cleared and open country on the Winnibigosnish Reservation. Photographed July, 1902, for the Annual Report of the Chief Forest Fire Warden of Minnesota. “BJOSSTULY JO UIPIVAM SILT JSIYD 3y} Jo Woday yenauy ot} 10;F ‘Zogi ‘Ayn peyderz0joyg “MOlBAIaSay YSIYSoSIqruurm 94} BO XNOlg JOOHND JO JsaMYJAIOU sajim € anid Aemion Bunod pure sinzpew ¥ ~ barcesit tia baa nant 7 bt aap staan ranaiieti the U. S. Forest Reserve, southeast shore of Pike Bay. Young white pine on Photographed July, 1902, for the Annual Report of the Chief Forest Fire Warden of Minnesota. *ZO61 ‘nt BIOSSUNI JO WapPIVAA BINT jSa10q JatyD aq} Jo j1oday jenuuy ay} 107 poyderZoj0yg ‘sAlasey ysoiog eaoddnjd uo aug youl Sunodé pus APMI0N ire woe Ah esitf ToC te ton t, . B, Herrell for the Annual Report of the Chief Forest F: ta July, Igo2. A. C. Wedge, Albert Lea. (Ex-officio as Horticulturist State University.) VOLUME TABLES FOR WHITE SPRUCE AND OTHER TREES. BY T. L. DUNCAN. Settlers and others in Northern Minnesota have found con- siderable difficulty in securing accurate estimates of the standing timber on their lands. This is due mainly to the inexperience of most persons in making ocular estimates, and much to their lack of knowledge of simple mathematical methods of approxi- mating the merchantable contents of standing trees. They have been compelled, to their disadvantage, to rely on the “guess” of professional estimators who are oftentimes influenced as buyer or locator to lend color to the estimates to their own benefit. Foresters, recognizing the volume table of mathematical con- struction as a necessary adjunct in the pursuit of their profession, have devised various forms of it for practical use and various ways for their preparation, and to the inexperienced person such tables should render some assistance. Where great accuracy is desired special tables should be pre- pared for each species of tree and for each quality of locality, but general tables for each species of a district may be prepared that will readily, and more accurately, take the place of the eye of 2 the professional estimator. As preliminary to the construction of such tables the contents, in board measure (B. M.), of a great many felled trees should be determined by actual measurement, and classified according to some dimension of the tree. The vol- ume of a tree varies with its diameter and height, and where ex- treme accuracy is desired, volume tables are made to show con- tents of trees of different heights, as well as of different diam- eters; but a classification on the basis of diameter at breast height from the ground will be found most convenient and quite practicable for ordinary purposes in estimating stands of timber. Breast height is uniformly taken to be four and one-half feet from the ground, and the diameter at that point is measured with a pair of tree calipers in inches outside the bark of the standing tree. Transactions for the sale of stumpage are made for the merchantable volume, and that varies with the diameter inside the bark and the length of the salable material in the tree. Scrib- ner’s Rule, the legal standard in Minnesota for the measurement of log contents, gives the volumes of logs in board measure ac- cording to the length in feet and the diameter in inches inside the bark at the small end. Now to get a working table we must have one that will give the contents of the standing tree in feet board measure for each diameter size taken outside the bark at breast height (Dbh), and as trees of the same diameter vary greatly in volume we must obtain measurements of as many as possible of each diameter and enter only the average size in the volume table. To secure reliable results in the use of the volume tables all the trees in the stand which is to be estimated must be calipered, classified and volumes for each class computed by aid of the table. On account of the time required for the work objection is raised to this method, but experience has shown that the bet- ter results obtained will pay for the additional expense of the estimate. However, an estimator, after some practice with the calipers, will be able to classify the trees on his tally sheet in inch diameter sizes without the aid of the instrument sufficiently accurate for most occasions where time is an essential. With the idea of preparing a practical working table for one species I selected the white spruce as being the most important commercial tree in this vicinity and on the particular tract of land for which I wanted an estimate, and proceeded to obtain all measurements possible under the circumstances attending my 3 work. In connection with the spruce, and on the same ground, I gathered data from a fewer number of trees for tables on white pine, balsam fir and tamarack. The white spruce, Picea canadensis, is a very common tree in the northern part of Itasca county, and ranks third or fourth in abundance among the trees of this part of the state. It grows in mixture with all other species, and flourishes to the best ad- vantage on slopes leading to lakes, streams and swamps, reach- ing 100 feet in height and 30 inches in diameter. The stem of the spruce is very straight with small branches, of which the dead ones on the lower part of the trunk are a very conspicuous feature of the tree on account of their persistent habit. The crown occupies from a third to a half of the length of the tree, and is of a dense, compact, and neatly conical form. A straight, undivided stem renders the spruce capable of eco- nomical conversion to commercial purposes. The limbs contain no present value here, but the trunk may be utilized to a small size—the lower portion for saw timber and the upper length for pulp wood. In developing a volume table for spruce I have considered this utility and scaled the logs down to five inches at the top. One might go even farther and take them down to three inches inside the bark, but the top tapers off so rapidly that little length of value remains below five inches, and I have thought it better to underestimate the volume of a tree than to run short in the cut. A volume table for any tree, as has been suggested, should embrace the measurement of as large a number of trees as it is practicable to get, and where the conditions of growth vary, a fair percentage of trees under each condition must be taken if the intention is to group them together for general application. This volume table for spruce was constructed from the measurements of 654 felled trees on the right of way of the Minnesota and Inter- national Railway, the Northome Townsite, and in the vicinity. The configuration of the country is rolling, but the conditions of growth vary only slightly from point to point, and the clearing of the Minnesota & International Railway in a direct line gave me opportunity to secure measurements of a sufficient number of trees in various situations, up and down hill, to insure reliable average results. This table, which was primarily prepared for use on a particular tract of forest land, and is properly applicable to this immediate vicinity only, and to stands of timber as now 4 found here, may still be used throughout Northern Minnesota in the mixed woods. Each tree was measured as it lay on the ground where cut, the measurements taken being the diameter of the tree at breast height when standing, the length of each log and its diameter inside the bark at the small end; and the volume of all the logs in each tree was determined from Scribner’s Rule. The trees were then classified according to the diameter breast high, and the volume of the average sized tree in each class obtained by dividing the total volume of that class by the number of trees. These average volumes were then plotted in curves for each spe- cies, and irregularities eliminated and deficiencies supplied in the following tables made from the curves. The tables are not per- fect—a perfect one is an impossibility, for the accidents of life are more numerous and varied than the definite conditions of growth—but the practicability of even approximate tables is evi- dent. It was not convenient to measure the height of each tree, as citen they were cut down by the workmen, trimmed, sawed into logs, and the slash and tops thrown into heaps for burning before I could get around to make the measurements. A table made to show merchantable contents in relation to both diameter and height of tree would have been valuable and interesting, but my figures will apply to average trees, and a few feet more or less in the length of the tree would not vary the top diameter an inch, nor move the five-inch limit up or down more than a foot or two. The table for pine may be found suitable for the scattered timber growing in mixture with other trees here, but may not be applicable to the pine in groves of pure stand where the trees grow tall and straight with well-formed stems. For such pine a special table should be prepared. VOLUME TABLES. Diameter White Spruce. White Pine. Balsam Fir. . Tamarack. In inches. (B. M, in Feet.) (B. M. in Feet.) (B. M. in Feet.) (B. M. in Feet.) B Weegis oaewale S lige veexen Bass eee wale 4 see avees a4% 4 O> Heianvetacd ears EO |e ceusaaas £0 |leaeaeeeagse £0 | wieeause «ax 12 oo Nees gees UB Wosinecnat 12 lsecneecuas TEV oocngaeeeaeas ae 8 leseessias QE Nessie. ae cirete % TB eelavcc ow tese iY, Me Pe eee A 34 @ |eevesdess AD Newac seems QOs | vest ceasre Syaecas a4. | exugacee sass 46 | eer eee A lao vnen eae $0 |xcscssacnas BA asex ppag exes 58 TE: | Wecanceyecrs FM Netanece tala apis BO: Nsteaee x's: aes 58 aes henvea sds 72 5 Sa | ar 05 tt Gane wraae 68 Pe ree 73. \\ we ateewee ses 88 13 5 TIG eee ay sins 85 Mise vee ze s Oil sind ee eta 104 LQ) ladies ws yietiee 138 ewes gaa es TOF lesan te Hawes TOS | tes? abi 122 PS lewsancess LOO baci ned as D2 8 o iiieoc ad Sonne 120 I ocaw seen cence’ 142 TO fee 4uenws TSH. sss vecn oe TAS Naan se dup tuauen’ TAS | cts. tensteediercens 162 LZ) ativan dots ZIG casino DIZ. Mista sds cavats TPE dsciecs sida sala 186 TGS) lcaaGuecaseese BAS Nacsreieearacer’ OG, |lacicx siece gras 195) acenind eye ae 212 TO lewd vaio 280) cantar fees ZAO |ivscaaeves 200 | esata ens ease 240 i eee Seacuule's oe BOO Vick eine va 6 2A8 | wae ee ckaan 270 BU Menenieece yds 370: sane aoe 325) liens eo QUO NM siecsierd se aoe aars 302 22" unas ageteere A383. |sceavew 37S: |e seasmine cies 2 Gasser sell GaeGeuceld cleat ox 334 25 levewa ex ne S96 Now aus fone BE ccna 2 vik S os eal ae Mes ee Vee 368 BA | siraneew eae 655 : ABO *|!o ine seshisiece ere Mia Will Menge Reis a ieideaats 4a DS acaaitivn BS 790: bascustea eas SAO. pia, aur silaterag ake ts ll aitntencceenioaes win ae Os: | evavaresene sie 78 SC er O05) Mernasss- snare ee ebael li Wines were eh dar ees QT? Wx esiianbsasir’ LjO8O. besinnie ss e's O72: | seuss <2 oe a eal AER EES DRE BBE | cave drcceds staclgie-njedicdun ane TAO: Nakeseth: eid 0H Ses ell eatasidece desea. peeks oe 25 lnedsees he eaaaus OKewae Kes BEF [scwmawaaesay vec waren Waveicaass 90. lekhngwedavesbard namie Gees 8954 lactis gue cee Gace ll) daieeatavie soos SL dibs aeetiin Adasen | seadeioness OOO! | eid read ele niee ll Ging we seoeleee 5 G2). Weccsiseerenstaadiaig tee-acs| om wunete nas EsOAO) || Sep aranesosaye'gy oe states a aleliateietele wai b 66 BB. ‘Wa Goke theresa teas He saenalentes TiT4O) | arcade ane ga) wweee kde weaken BY. Mv tvs qateeine 9.< 4 leaps T2580! | scrseeee ns oy 2 wade [vse cungnil 88 aie aece BG. comes sone qateninksielg? vwaves £5370: |i arama O00 44 |\Sieremaraceeue cd da ace 30: |icaadaseweasay dle sa ctonarew Di SOG: | sceraceneniete sp nlecavaoale | ve dostenns ca henna, dass To illustrate the use of volume tables we will take a specific case. The S. E. % Sec. 13, Twp. 150, R. 29, is covered with a heavy stand of mixed woods, and to determine the volume of pine, spruce, fir and tamarack I calipered all the trees five inches and upwards in diameter. I had one assistant, Benjamin Tone of Bridgie, who tallied the sizes and species on paper as I called them to him. Part of the work was done in the early spring before the snow left the ground, and part during the summer. Where snow lies on the ground no trees need be marked, as the trail in the sncw will indicate which trees have been measured, but during the summer when finishing the task we worked in narrow strips, and I blazed the outer trees of the strip as a guide for the return trip across the tract. 6 « My tallyman held a course along the blazed line while I calipered over a fresh strip. The measurements were made and classified in inch diameter sizes for each species. The total number of trees of each diam- ter was then counted up and multiplied by the corresponding average volume obtained from the volume table, thus giving the number of feet, board measure, in each diameter class, and the sum of these vclumes gives the total stand. The computation is shown in the following table: COMPUTATION OF GROWING STOCK. 3 WHITE SPRUCE. WHITE PINE. BALSAM FIR. TAMARACK. ee mo. 7 ji ‘ ; . : all 4 o a o 6 rH ¢ Q pa ry oe o vf ° ve a uf gRl a | & Si Volume e | ge volt Ay Be volume || & gh Volume E| g ce .M. g o4 B.M. s oa B. M. g ce B. M. 5|/t.456 5 7,280]| 18 8 144 ||1,005 4) 4,020 || 465 4| 1,860 6]|1,343/ 10] 13,430!| 6) tI0 60 923] 0) 9,230 ]| 408} 12] 4,896 7|| 948) 18] 17,064] 13) 13 169 || 709] 15] 10,635 || 525] 22] 11,550 3,747|.. 37:774|| 37|-.--- 373 ||2,637| ...-| 23,885 |/1,398] ....| 18,306 g||z,033] 27] 27,891]] 22) x18 396 || 679) 24! 16,296]} 517) 34] 17,578 g|| 862} 40) 34,480] 20] 26 520 || 665) 34] 22,610] 457] 46] 21,022 10|| 685) 54] 36,990]/ 20; 39 780 || 474] 44 20,836 || 348) 58) 20,184 x1|| 533} 74] 39:442|/ 25} 53] 1.325 || 388) 58) 22,504 || 190] 72) 13,680 t2|| 466] 95] 44,270]| 77] 68] 1,156]| 284] 73) 20,732 || 210} 88] 18,480 13|| 352| 116} 40,832]| 13) 85} 1,105 |) 278} 90] 25,020 || 118] 104! 12,272 xq4|| 253) 138] 34,914]) 22} 1o7| 2,354 || 203 108] 21,924 80] 122} 9,760 15|| 173| 160] 27,680/] 16) 128} 2,048 || 126) 126) 15,876 36} 142] 5,112 16|| 138} 185] 25,530]] 29] 148] 4,292 67] 148} 9,916 20| 162! 3,240 17|| 64) 216] 13,824/| 22) 172) 3,784]/ 43) 171) 7,353 ro] 186] 1,860 18 47| 248] 10,656]| 21) 205 41305 I7| 195 3.315 II} 212 2,332 19 27| 280 7,560|| 16] 240} 3,840 6} 2r9Q} 1,314 4| 240 960 20 Ir} 318 3,498] 28] 280] 7,840 7| 248) 1,736 2| 270 540 21 II} 370 4,070]| 26) 325} 8,450 5) 278 1,390 I] 302 302 22 6} 438 2,628]| 21] 378] 7,938 sitaewieyse I) 334 334 23 8} 530] 4,240]] 20] 425] 8,500]|.....].....].... 000 I} 368 368 24 1] 655 6551| 14] 480] 6,720 ]]....f.. cele eee eee eT eee eee 25][ eee siuviae| teaie Sree 10] 540] 5,400 Se ree oo Ree eee es 26 2| 940 1,880]| 12} 605] 7,260]|.....].....] 0... oe [fee ’ o 27 1|1,080 1,080]| 8) 672! 5,376 ||....-)....)....05 S| listiciasaa)| vee: sl eacsice Cae QE ise ai. | ietont: |swielioweaes 6} 740) 4,440 ]].....)....6)..... 08 : Pye) | Ee ne Cee QO} BIsl PST ele cose smnettban oe ollllew sdhesiical tones oes 30]| - lee disc ve strna 2| 895 1,790 Deer asie I lessesoesl ee alias x odes 31||- wa Neceea ease 4' 960! 3,840]].....6 .. « |lewWaled eeehaeeae ws C7) | eee ene Coca I/1I,040) Ey OAOi | ace ie'e] scecieieis |g ew 8 eee fa || (Gectcecas) sereree] Frere ee ers 36||- a laeoeevaviereiseds pdb oy 10c0) me 2 (ele | PP Dn | etal a4 oes 362,120 «-| 103,316 se... .-| 190,822 sees] 128,024 7 In this table it will be noted that I have separated the vol- umes of 5, 6 and 7 inch trees from those 8 inches and upwards in diameter. The smaller trees were not considered merchant- able, except in spruce, where they may be added in for pulp wood. In addition an estimate was made of 8,o00 feet of red pine (Norway) and too feet of jack pine, which do not appear in this table. The volumes obtained on section 13 and elsewhere were thrown together and the average-sized trees of merchantable timber 8 inches and up were determined for this locality as fol- lows: White pine, average diameter 19.3 inches, volume 252 feet, B. M. Spruce, average diameter 11.3 inches, volume 80 feet, B. M. Balsam fir, average diameter 10.5 inches, volume 51 feet, B. M. Tamarack, average diameter 10.5 inches, volume 65 feet, B. M. These figures may be used roughly to determine a stand of timber. Thus, count all the trees of merchantable size, keeping each species separate and multiply by these average volumes. This will give lower results than the more accurate method de- scribed, but will be a safe standard for rough work. If the cut takes trees down to 12 or Io inches only, then the volume of the average tree would be greater. In applying a volume table it is well to remember that it is only an approximation, and results accurate to the thousand, especially in these virgin woods that have grown up without care, are disputable, so all figures less than a thousand may be raised or lowered to the nearest thousand. Lumbermen are inclined to throw discredit on estimates giving unit thousands, but, nevertheless, even in an approximation where the unit thou- sands are expressed, we are the more certain to which ten thou- sand it approaches the nearest. T. L. DUNCAN, Northome, Itasca County, Minn. October 14, 1903. SHORT SPECIAL REPORT ON Forest Fires in Minnesota 1908 OFFICE OF FORESTRY COMMISSIONER, St. Paut, Dec. 28, 1908. Hon. S. G. Iverson, State Auditor: Sir: I have the honor to submit, herewith, a short STATE OF MINNESOTA, | special report on forest fires in Minnesota the present year. Very respectfully, C. C. ANDREWS, Forestry Commissioner. REPORT OF THE FORESTRY COMMISSIONER OF MINNESOTA FOREST FIRES, 1908. Since the Hinckley forest fire of 1894, in which 418 persons perished, there have been several very dry seasons in Minnesota, but none so dangerous as during 1908. April and May of this year were very dry in the northwestern part of the state, and many forest fires occurred in the counties of Cass, Crow Wing, Becker, Beltrami, Hubbard, Morison, Ottertail, Todd and Wa- dena. A more protracted period of dry and windy weather, however, prevailed during August and Septem- ber in the extensive territory of about 6,000,000 acres, comprising the counties of Cook, Lake, St. Louis, Itasca, Carlton and Pine. Practically all of the inhabitants of the north shore of Lake Superior were occupied for weeks in fighting forest fires. Their situation was one of distress and terror. DAMAGE BY ForREST FIRES, 1908. From all reports received, the damage done by forest fires in Minnesota in 1908, exclusive of the destruction of the village of Chisholm, was $503,633. Including the loss at Chisholm, which according to popular rumor was $1,500,000, the total loss by forest fires was $2,003,633. The number of acres, mostly cut-over land, burned over or partly burned over, was 405,748. The cause of many of the fires was as follows: Burn- ing brush, 15; burning meadow, 9; campers, 11; clearing land, 47; fishermen and hunters, 16; from adjoining town, 17; railroad locomotives, 29; other causes, 6; unknown, 180. The number of persons who fought fire was 5,277. NorTH SHORE. An urgent appeal for help in fighting fires having been © received by me from the village of Hovland, about thirty miles east of Grand Marais, Cook county, at my request Mr. J. T. Black, chief engineer of the fire department of Duluth, promptly organized a crew of forty men, who, with proper supplies and under the charge of Captain C. W. Wil- son, left Duluth on a steamboat September 13th and were gone a full week. Finding they were not needed at Hovland, they stopped at Lutsen, a point about twenty miles west of Grand Marais, where they rendered effect- ive service day and night. At the same time Adjutant General Wood, on the U. S. Steamer Gopher, with a detachment of Minnesota naval militia, was doing every- thing possible for the relief of the settlers. Grand Marais was one of the places most afflicted. The principal damage to standing timber by all the fires was on the Pigeon River Indian reservation, com- prising the eastern portion of Cook county, and which is separated from Ontario by the Pigeon river. Mr. L. W. Ayer, of Belle Prairie, an experienced and _ reliable cruiser, who was employed by this office to visit the burned regions and investigate the origin of the fires and amount of damage done, reports that the total timber loss by fire on the north shore, including the Indian reservation, was $325,000. Further west, hundreds of people were engaged successive days in fighting fire on the outskirts of Bovey, Nashwauk, Hibbing and Virginia, which places, on ac- count of high wind, were considered in danger. Part of the tract of about twenty acres in the village limits of Chisholm, which was covered with tops and refuse (slashings), September 4, 1908, and which made the destruction of the village by fire possible. The valuable timber throughout that locality was cut several years ago. Photographed for the Forestry Commissioner of Minnesota, October 2, 1908. Iron Mines. . Pillsbury. . Glen. Clark. Pearce. Chisholm. . Laura. Day. Tr 59 Te 58 Te 57 Map made for the Forestry Commissioner of Minnesota, showing the starting point and track of the forest fire which, on September 4, 1908, destroyed most of the village of Chisholm, St. Louis County, Minnesota. £ 20 POW © Hy : RS 2 3 s ° POWERS-SIMPSON CO HEADQUARTERS 1 ERS- S'MPSON GGING ar CULUTHY - mm Aer “a 20 Meneses NORTHERN il SE el Mona tourteen iron mines indicated on the map by numbers were in operation at the time of the fire. fewetté Som RY. 538 57 The 8. 9- 10. II. I2. 13. 14. Iron Mines. Bart. Monroe. Mahoning. Hull Rush. Latonia. Cyprus. Stevenson. CHISHOLM FIRE. The only actual catastrophe, however, occurred at Chisholm, late on the afternoon of Saturday, the 4th of September. The mining village of Chisholm (which is being rapidly rebuilt) was credited with a population of 3,000; but its area extended over a mile, and included on the east three mining plants with their own little villages, and which escaped injury by fire. Also the new Central schoolhouse and many other buildings were uninjured. The Chisholm fire originated at a lake about ten miles northwest, in the unorganized township 59, range 21, containing only a dozen settlers, and had been set by fishermen from Chisholm who had frequented the lo- cality Saturdays and Sundays several weeks previously. They had been driven out of two of their camping places by fire caused by their negligence. Their fire had been burning and smouldering for a week or more until the 4th of September, when a gale from the northwest drove the spreading flames directly towards Chisholm, over undulating country covered with slashings and scattering young growth, and which a few years previously was a heavy forest of pine and hardwood. SLASHINGS CAUSED CHISHOLM’S DESTRUCTION. I visited Chisholm October 1st and saw that an area of twenty or more acres in the village limits and close to buildings on its west side had, up to the time of the fire, been covered with slashings left from logging a few years ago. Had these slashings been previously burned, the fire would have stopped before reaching any building in the village. Had this office been notified by the local authorities of the existence of these slashings, they would have been burned in calm weather at the State’s expense, just as was done a few years ago at Blackduck, and this catastrophe, I feel satisfied, would not have occurred. Mr. J. P. Neal, of Duluth, representing this office and writing from Hibbing under date of September 8th, says: “T went to Chisholm with Mayor Weirick, of Hibbing, this P. M.,.and we looked over the situation together. From many sources I learn that fires have been in progress back in the woods for at least six weeks. These were not looked after at all; the townspeople seem to have felt perfectly secure, because there were no woods near the town. Even at four o’clock on Saturday the Chisholm people considered that the town was not in danger and at that time, even, made no effort to check the fire. In an hour the town was doomed, fire leaping across acres of open clearing in clutch of the gale and set the wooden houses on fire. The water- works plant was among the first buildings to be destroyed, leaving the people helpless. It seems to me that the neglect of the small forest fires was, to say the least, imprudent, but it is true that such fires are most difficult to quench entirely. They keep spring- ing up after they are seemingly put out.” It was Mr. L. W. Ayer who ascertained the origin of the Chisholm fire. Writing to this office under date of Duluth, September 30th, he says: “T came into Duluth last evening from Chisholm and vicinity. Sent you a telegram this morning, ‘Chisholm fire located,’ etc. Thinking of it after sending, it occurred to me you might understand I had traced it to the party responsible therefor. This I did not accomplish. In fact, it is practically impossible to identify the guilty parties, but I have without question located the exact spot where the fire originated. Was caused by carelessness of fishing party from Chisholm. Referring to the map, you will find a chain of small lakes in the southwest corner of township §9, range 21. Fishing parties from Chisholm have been out to these lakes every Saturday and Sunday through the summer. Their principal rendezvous was on Hobson and Hahn lakes, as they were nearer the road and thus more accessible. But at each of these places they burnt themselves out, and had to move to adjacent lakes to find camping ground. Their favorite camping place was on an island in Hahn lake. A week before the Chisholm fire started the island was burnt over. Then, the next, they went up to a small lake in secs. 32 and 33, township 59, range 21, and started the fire that destroyed Chisholm. This smouldered around the lake nearly a week, burning very slowly, as vegetation was comparatively green around the lake; but the high wind of the 4th and sth, reach- ing a velocity of between 30 and 4o miles an hour, drove the flames straight for Chisholm. After crossing the Sturgeon Lake County road, it reached the doomed town, a distance of ten or eleven miles, in an hour and a half, and in less than an hour thereafter the village was in ashes.” Mr. Dillon Tierney, of Farmington, graduate of the forestry school, and who had rendered field service a year or more for the Cloquet Lumber Company, was employed by this office to go to International Falls via Bemidji and return through the Ash Lake country. He reported that the important pine forests there had not been injured by fire. DEFICIENCY APPROPRIATION. The standing appropriation of $5,000 a year provided by Section 1784, Revised Laws of Minnesota, 1905, to cover the expense of preventing and suppresing forest or prairie fires ‘in any season of unusual drought,” was ex- hausted in October, and there are unpaid claims for fight- ing forest fires amounting to $12,500, due for the most part to poor people, who in many instances worked day and night and who deserve their pay at the earliest possible moment. These accounts are on file in my ‘office and I respectfully recommend that a deficiency appropriation be made by the legislature for their payment at an early day. DuTIEs OF FIRE WARDENS. The law making supervisors of towns, mayors of cities, and presidents of village councils, fire wardens, 5 : *goOr ‘ze 19qG0}9Q ‘E}OSaUUI o Jauols “SUTWOD A1ysa10,y ay} Joy peydvsBojoyg “gobs ‘P raquaydag ‘a1y ay) jo ouIY 94) Je SBUIYSEIS YIM paraaod sem yLYT 4% ers Sarit vi pundis has been in operation fourteen years. Just as soon after the March elections as the address of these officers can be obtained, a printed copy of the law, with in- structions, is each year sent them, and they know their duties. The law says: ‘‘They shall patrol their dis- tricts in dry seasons, and with the approval of the com- missioner, may employ patrols to guard against careless- ness in use of fire. It is true,a warden is paid only $2.00 a day for actual service, and for not more than fifteen days in a year, unless with the approval of the commis- sioner. But this would not prevent a vigilant warden, where the situation is dangerous, from going or sending out ten or twenty miles, if need be, to seasonably prevent or suppress fires. How Our System Can Br STRENGTHENED. Although there have been several very dry and dangerous seasons during the thirteen years previous to this that our fire warden system has been in operation, yet the average damage from forest fires per year during this period has been only $30,000. The public takes little note of fires that are prevented or of property saved. The spring of 1900 was said by some people to have been as dry as the fall of 1894. June 22, 1900, the village of Moose: Lake, Carlton county, was saved by the prompt suppression of a forest fire two and a half miles south- west of that place by the fire warden service. In April of the same year, the village of Cass Lake was saved from destruction by the fire warden service. The same can be said in respect to the villages of Blackduck and Ten- strike in May, 1904. The majority of people are careful and law-abiding. But we must remember that the forest region of Minne- sota is very extensive and contains the refuse of sixty years of logging. The activities of mining, logging, new settlements, new railroads, increase of population, and thousands of campers, tourists, hunters and pros- pectors, have increased the danger of fires since the present system went into effect. Fourteen years ago the country around Chisholm was a silent forest solitude. To-day, within a radius of ten miles of Chisholm, is an active population of 12,000. In striving for improvement of our present system, PREVENTION is the thing to be mainly kept in view. 1. St tasHincs. A law should be enacted requiring every one who cuts and fells timber or wood for com- mercial purposes to pile and burn the slashings—branches, tops and refuse—at the time of cutting. This is being done successfully by the United States forest service in the Minnesota national forest and with the cordial support of the lumbermen. Such a bill was agreed to by the forestry officials of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota at a conference recently held at Madison, Wis. So far as I know, the Minnesota lumbermen will support such a measure. I endeavored to have such a bill enacted six years ago, and if it had passed, I feel sure the Chisholm calamity would not have occurred. 2. Rancers. In dry and dangerous seasons there should be an energetic and reliable man to speedily visit localities where fires are liable to occur and inspect, assist or compel the activity of local wardens. Ontario has for many years employed rangers; and they are used successfully in the U. S. forest service and in the State of Washington. In a dry season forty or more rangers could be employed in Minnesota, and to secure the right kind of men their compensation for the comparatively short time they would be employed should be about $5.00 a day and their expenses. 3. SEVERER PEenatty. In the Game Warden Law the minimum penalty a justice of the peace can impose is $50.00, but there is no minimum penalty in the Fire Warden Law. Ina dozen prosecutions under the Fire Warden Law the present year, the highest fine imposed was $50.00, but in some cases the fine was as low as $5.00 and $1.00. The law should be amended so that the minimum penalty shall be $50.00. A severer penalty than at present will arouse attention and make people more careful. A respectable citizen can be careless about fire, and it is very difficult to get a prosecution started against such men. Nevertheless, a rigorous enforcement of the law against forest fires is the truest kindness. 4. More Pay ror LocaL WARDENS AND HELPERS. At present the local warden is paid only $2.00 a day for time actually employed, and for only fifteen days in a year. Can we expect a busy farmer to take his team and drive off ten miles about a fire at that pay? I think it would stimulate his interest in his duties to pay him twenty-five cents an hour for actual service and his neces- sary expenses, and repeal the limitation of fifteen days. At present those who are pressed into the service to fight fire are paid only $1.50 per day. It was found necessary this year to pay $2.00 a day for such service. I recom- mend they be paid twenty cents an hour. 5. More Money. The standing annual appro- priation now, as an emergency fund to be used by the forestry commissioner in preventing and spupressing forest and prairie fires in a region of about 30,000,000 acres, is only $5,000. The mere statement of this shows its absurdity. There is an additional $1,000 for prose- cutions. Then the general appropriation bill passed each session carries $5,000 for each fiscal year for ‘Forest Preservation” (erroneously headed in the last bill ‘‘For- estry Board’’), out of which is paid the salary and office expenses of the forestry commissioner, the printing and free distribution of 4,000 copies of his annual report, and in an ordinary year, one-half of all the expense of local fire warden service—the counties in which such local service occurs paying the other half. This makes $11,000, and not a dollar more, that the State of Minnesota appro- priates for Forest Preservation and its service of pre- venting and suppressing forest and prairie fires. In place of the standing annual appropriation of $6,000, I think $30,000 is as little as can safely be appropriated; and the item in the general appropriation bill for ‘“‘Forest Preservation’? should be increased to $10,000. The State of Maine has a standing appropriation of $20,o00 a year for the prevention and suppression of forest fires in unorganized townships. The organized townships take care of themselves. In 1904 the State of New York appropriated $93,000 for its share of the expense of fighting forest fires the spring of 1903. On- tario expends $100,000 annually and the lumbermen $60,000 in addition for preventing and suppressing forest fires. , The State of Minnesota itself owns 3,000,000 acres of school and swamp land, estimated to contain $15,000,000 worth of timber, which increases by growth at least 2 per cent, or $300,000 a year. Up to August ist the State had received and turned into its permanent school fund $6,506,952 for timber cut on its own land. The appro- priations I recommend are a very small amount for the State to pay for protecting its own timber from fire. The standing timber in the northern forests in Minne- sota to-day is worth $100,000,000. On an average $8,000,000 worth of this as it stands is being cut every year. SUMMARY OF FOREST FiRES, 1908, ~ No.Fire Country anp Town Date Acres Damage | Fight- Cause ers Aitkin County— Aitkin.............|April 20... 200 $260 2|Unknown. Balsam........... April 18... 300 50| None|/Unknown. Balsam........... April 19... 300} None] None]Unknown. Beaver. is aweca oe Sept. 7.... 3 100 5|Unknown. Clark, soxue tees Oct. 13.... 80 None 3|Clearing land. TAUB ss tet sas Oct. 16.... 100 150 33|R. R. locomotive. McGregor........ April 15... 20 100 8/Clearing land. McGregor........ Oct. PZ ..05 130 210 TI/R. R. locomotive. Millward......... Sept. 19... 60 250 7|Unknown. seen 44- 220 10|OCty TAs a+ ISo 200 4|Burning brush. Pliney.. .../Sept. 19... 209 5° 25|Clearing land. Wagner. ee re April 18... 409 500 6]Unknown. Wagner.......... Sept. 25... 130 600 22|Unknown. Wagner.......... Oct. BS iiss 1,209 4,000 71|Unknown. Anoka County— Bethel.............]April 13... 200 200 7|Unknown. Bethel .0.. 5606055 April 16... 200 150 7\Clearing land. Becker County— | ‘ Burlington........./April 19...| 4,000 20,000 21|Unknown. Green Valley......./April 19... 300 5° 17)Unknown. Height of Land...../April 18... 75 600 15}Unknown. Holmesville....... April a1... 150 None 10|/From town 139-40 Runeberg........../April 18... 1,400 1,800 40/Clearing land. Runeberg..........JApril 23... 60 None 9|Unknown. Toad Lake....... April 19... 20 10 4|From adj. town. Two Inlets.........jApril 21... 1,200 700 35|From Indian res. Two Inlets.........]April 24... 640 oie 13|From t’wn of Osage Beltrami County— Buzzle........... April 18 80 ee 8/Burning brush. Buzzle........... April 23 200 25 ro] Unknown. Buzzles i ciscavaa as ay 5..-- 2,000 200 20|Fishermen. Buazless. i. sie ccc Sept. 2t..-| 2,500 41,500 16|/Fm. Clearwater Co. Corment...........]April 19... 200 150 1]Unknown. Corment,........../April 22... 400 500 ....|Unknown. Corment...........|/May 7..... 20}. AGG 6|Camp fire. Corment......-... May to.... 600 1,000 11)Unknown. Corment...........|Sept. 11... 200 500 16/Unknown. Durand. «6s 6.04 April 21... Biss sips 15|Clearing land. Durand.......... April 21... 40 500 5|Unknown. Eckles -|April 21... 240 1,000 25|Clearing land. Frohr. seis case May 8.... 200 1,000 14|Unknown. Grant Valley. . May 8..... 120 200 31|R. R. locomotive. Grant Valley.. .|July 12 50 100 21/R. R. locomotive. JONES. cbs ceca res April 21 4,000 3,000 20|Campers. Kelliher.......... May 15 80 500 1]Unknown. Lammers......... April 20 5,000 slight 30] Unknown. Lammers......... May 9.... 1,000 800 11{|Unknown. Langor........... April 21 250 1,500 4/Clearing land. Maple Ridge.......|July 8..... 80 None 14|Unknown. SUMMARY OF FOREST FIRES, 1908—Continued. No.Fire County ann Town Date Acres Damage | Fight- Cause ers Beltrami Cou’ty—Cont. { Nebish............ April 20... 3,160 6,000 18|Unknown. Northern.........-. April 22 400 2,000 17|Unknown. Port Hope......... May 7..... 700 2,500 21|Unknown. Port Hope......... Sept. 11 200 500 16|Unknown. Port Hope......... Sept.. 21 500 1,000 14|Clearing land. Summit.......-... April 21 60 100 5|Camp fire. Taylor, wie eisearecs April 22 400 400 22|Unknown. Turtle Lake......../April 19 1,500 I,000 7|R. R. locomotive.. Turtle Lake......../April 21 600 300 2|/Unknown. Turtle Lake........|May 8..... 500 200 7\Clearing land. Benton County— Gilmanton,........{April 19... 240 75 .- Unknown. Granite Ledge...... April 12... 100 75 4|Unknown. Carlton County— Atkinson.........- Sept. 3... 15 500 19|Unknown. Atkinson.......... Sept. 5... 40 50 7|Clearing land. Atkinson.......... Sept. 3... 60 250 9|Unknown. Barnum........... Sept. 8... 1,000 200 25/R. R. locomotive. Barnum........... Sept. 15.. 300 slight 15/Clearing land. Barnum........... Sept. 16.. 500 200 40|Unknown. Barnum..........- Oct. 14... 600 T20 8|Burning meadow. Barnum..........- Oct. 15 300 20 4|Clearing land. Blackhoof......... Sept. 4 4,000 2,000 25|Unknown. Eagle, s sa2sciwei ss April 20 40 95 2|Clearing land. Kaglé.cases cee yee May 10 120 300 4|Burning meadow. Eagle,............ Sept. 8 160 800 1|R. R. locomotive. Holyoke........... April 18 500 IOO}.....- Clearing land. Holyoke........... April 21 100 slight 3}Clearing land. Holyoke........... April 22 60 100 ...|Clearing land. Holyoke........... Sept. 32 600 300 13|Camp fire. Holyoke........... Sept. 7 1,300 500 9|Unknown. Holyoke........... Oct. 15 2,000 600 22|From Pine county. Knife Falls........ Sept. 11 5 slight 65|Unknown. Knife Falls........ Sept. 11 30 150} 100/Clearing land. Lake View........./May9..... 700 300 16)Burning meadow. Lake View........./Oct. 14 30 600 3/R. R. locomotive. Red Clover........ Sept. 10 200 slight 4|Clearing land. Skelton....... Sept. 5 200 300 23}/Unknown. Skelton............ Oct. 16 400 200 19|Clearing land. Split Rock......... Oct. 13 200 500 13|Unknown. Twin Lakes,.......|Sept. 20 20 100 7\|Unknown. Wrenshall......... Sept. 1 6,000 9,000] 150/Burning R. R. right of way. Cass County— Ansel i eas cavneins April 12... 1,000 75 1o|Unknown. Birch Lake........ April rg... 500, I,000]...... Unknown. Deerfield.......... April 23... 1,500 None 19|Unknown. Hiram......--...../April 19...| 2,000 500 11/Unknown. Mayisacngecs ose th April 11... 500 200 1)Unknown. May: cei wanaca eens Oct. 12.... 2 I2 8|Traction engine. Mayiscc ivan tat oe ne Oct. 13...- 160 160 2|R. R. locomotive. SUMMARY OF FOREST FIRES, 1908—Continued. Grand Marais alee een No.Fire County anp Town Date Acres Damage | Fight- Cause ers Cass County—Cont. Meadow Brook..... April 10...) 3,000 1,000 20|Burning brush. Meadow Brook..... April 12.... 600 30 2|Unknown. Meadow Brook..... April 20... 400 280 ..{Unknown. Moose Lake....... April 20... 4,000 400 20] Unknown. Pillager............JApril 17... 500 300 30|Unknown. Pine River,......../April 18... 160 slight 2|Unknown. Pine River,........JApril 19... goo 1,000 14|Unknown. Pine River.........JApril 21... 300 100 6}Unknown. Pine River........./April 21... 2 80 25|Unknown. POWETSissa se auenes April 19... 800 200 8|Fishermen. Township 143-26.../April 12... 500 200 ../Clearing land. Township 134-30...|April 14...| 4,000 500 1o| Unknown. Township 145-30...|April 10... 25 75 36|Burning brush. Township 145-31...|May ro.... 50 150 7|Unknown. Says 145- ae .|Sept. 21... 200 500] 1o0o/Unknown. Walden.. ...fApril 18... 300 100 25|/R. R. locomotive. Chisago oe Branch; .j¢0 0 02 op (OCH. T8328 5 None|...... Clearing land. Clearwater County— Bear Creek........ April 21 300 25 14|Unknown. Bear Creek........ May 9....- 640 100 8|Burning meadow. Copley............ April 23. . 6,000] —600( ?) 30|Unknown. Coplé yrs wiiscecss cctis Sept. 18.. 80 100 5|Unknown. Copley... css caves Sept. 22.. 250 500 40/R. R. locomotive. Copleys ci csiswacnes Oct. ro... 160 125 7|R. R. locomotive. Dudley. ces escsvcies Sept. 22.. 400 200 3|Hunters. Dudle yews 2s veges Sept. 23.. 1,500 500 14|Unknown. Holst. April 22.. 600 150 12|Clearing land. Ttasea)... i see seas April 21 500 800 20/Unknown. Tt aS Ca wsos: 2 cciision oe ianies April 21 640 200( ?) 13|From adj. town. TtasCaiinacarininsacas May 10 200 100 11/Unknown. Township 143-36...{April 20. 4,000|10,000 ( ?) 14/Unknown. Township 143-36...)April 20. 2,500/25,000 ( ?) 19|Unknown. DeON rasa gece s sues May ro.. 500 150 1o/Unknown. Noraiisan ex ane vas 6 Sept. 1o.. 640 500 5|Burning meadow. Shevlin. iss sce April 19... 300 200 9|Unknown. Shevlin............ April 21... 200 300 8)Unknown. Shevlin ../April 21... 600 1,000 15|Unknown. Shevlin .. [May 7..... 300 50 4|Unknown. Shevlin. . ../Sept. ro... 120 500 7{Unknown. Shevlin............/Sept. 22... 700 1,000 20|Fm. town of Copley Shevlin............/Sept. 22... 500 1,000 8 |Unknown. Shevlin............]Sept. 22... 120 slight 201R. R. locomotive. Cook County— Colville...........-|Sept. 2.. 5,000 10,000 22/Unknown. Colville............jSept. 9.. 700 300].....-/Unknown. Grand Marais......|Sept. 3.. 3 None 8/Clearing land. Grand Marais......|Sept. 9.. 30 None 1/Unknown. Fous 500 3,000 120/Unknown. SUMMARY OF FOREST FIRES, 1908—Continued. No.Fire County anp Town Date Acres Damage | Fight- Cause ers Cook County—Cont. : : Grand Marais......|/Sept. 6 1,600 2,000 12/Clearing land. Hovland.........../Aug. 28 800 3,000 42/Clearing land. Hovland...........|Sept. 4 6,000 25,000 27|Unknown. Hovland.........../Sept. 4 4 100 19|Campers. Hovland.........../Sept. 5 400 4,000]......|/Clearing land. Lutsen: <5.'aes ves es Aug. 8..... 640 slight}...... ‘Burning brush. Dutsens 230% o24 24 Aug. To 30 60} ...--}/Unknown. Lutsens.acensse0 Sept. 12 2,000 10,000 30|Burning brush. Maple Hill.........,Aug. 26 2 25 8|}Unknown. Maple Hill.........|Sept. 3 10 None 7|Camp fire. Maple Hill.........|Sept. 7 8,000 3,000 70|Fm. t’n of Rosebush Rosebush.......... Aug. 2 10;000 20,000 60/Unknown. Totte cécvayawawaas July 13 15 150 24|Clearing land. Toftewsvcctaacne s Sept. 3 1,200 2,500]! 34{Unknown. Crow Wing County— AlleMieiege send tts ages April 20 12,400 30,000 20|/Hunters. Baxter secs gauss wed April 12 I,200 1,000 2|Unknown. Baxter sis cicsias can April 20 100 150 2/R. R. locomotive. Baxtet:messecws 206 May 9..... 1,000 750 6|Clearing land. Deerwood......... April 22 300 100 18/R. R. locomotive. Idealsc exsisecwe ses April 19 320 320], 8/Unknown. Jenkins............]April 12 500 84o].....- Unknown. Jenkins............/April 18 600 200 15|Unknown. Jenkins............{April 19 3,000 200 25|Unknown. Klondike.......... April 19 2,000 T,500]...-.. Campers. Lake Edwards..... April 20 800 600 21{Unknown. Lake Edwards..... April 24 500 100 6|Unknown. Long Lake.........fApril r2 2,000 200] (?) |Unknown. Pelican, si2s-ccecac April 18 3,000 5,000 20|Clearing land. Pelican..... April 21 300 slight 12]Unknown. Roosevelt.......... April 10 Bi800| enc be § 3|From adj. town. Sibleyig <26sc03 eae aie April 19 1,400 1,000 35|R. R. locomotive. Hubbard County— Akeley. ssiacexcaas April 19 5,000 7,000] __150|From adj. town. ATagOs. 260 yar yua 5 April 14 200 10] None]Unknown. Arar6 «0 bee m cee April 21 160 BOOMs a0 Unknown. Badoura ...{April 12 30 25 9|From adj. town. Badoura.........../May 7.... 800 600 ro/Clearing land. Crow Wing........ April 16 600 600 5|Unknown. Crow Wing........ April 18 60 None 8}Unknown. Crow Wing........ April 23 80 50 12/Unknown. Crow Wing........ May 10 300 200 r7|Burning fire-break Guthriein cs scisies April 20 6,000 5,000 20/Clearing land. Helga. es iccaven May 13 5 100 3|Unknown. Hel gaieaiienc es aes ou Sept. ro 500 600 15|Unknown. Hendrickson....... April 22 4,500 500 12|/Unknown. Hendrickson....... Sept. 20 30 150 7|Threshing engine. Henrietta.......... April x1 600 100 6;Unknown. Henrietta.......... April 27 300 300 5|R. R. locomotive. Lake George......./April 17. . 25,000 1,200 15|Unknown. Lake Hettie........{April 21... 1,000 300 9|Unknown. “9061 'z 13401909 ‘vjosouUITT JO JBUOIsSWWOD AIJSI10J JY} 10J paydesB0}0yg - puv o8n savas [eraaas yno Useq pry Jaquiry afqenjea ayy *goor ‘F SSULYSEIS YIM pasaroo 39] punoizs ay) Toquiaydas ‘wyoystyD jo Jsamyjziou Saji xis AjIPRI0 [® qv ‘ary Jse1oy wyoysiyy jo yiwg SUMMARY OF FOREST FIRES, 1908—Continued. No.Fire Counry anp Town Date Acres Damage | Fight- Cause ers Hubbard Cou’ty—Cont. Laport........... April 21... 740 200 4|Unknown. Laport..........- April 18... 800 1,200 1o0]R. R. locomotive. NEVIS), (6s ene ores April 2.... 600 1,000 13|Unknown. Rockwood........ April 19...| 3,000 3,000 8|Unknown. Schoolcraft.........|April2r...| 4,500 5,000 21/Burning brush. Straight River......|April 23... 700 700 40]R. R. locomotive. Straight River..... May 9..... 600 600 8/Clearing R. R. right of way. White Oak.........|April 19...} 4,000 8,000 30|Unknown. White Oak.........JApril 22... 600 FOOl ates stews se Hew ee Isanti County— Dalbo............ Oct. 12.... 7 None 4|Unknown. Itasca ae Balsam.. Sept. 9 50 200} 5 220 Unknown. Balsam.. Sept. 23 2,000 ale 5|Unknown. Township 57- ox Sept. 23 100 200). 000% Tobacco pipe. Town. 59-2 -22 & E age Sept. 15 2,000 400 6)Unknown. Bearville.. May 10 40 50 4|Unknown. Bearville.. June 5..... 200 LjOOO]s« <4 as Unknown. Bearville..... -.e....([Sept. 10 2,000 1,400 6/Unknown. Deer River........./Sept. 9 70 50 13|Unknown. Deer River.. Oct. 12 80 100 4|Hunters. Feeley. oe May 8..... 700 1,000 15/Unknown. Grand Rapids... April 12 15 None 3|Clearing land. Grand Rapids.. Sept. 11 600 300 12{Unknown. Grattan... ....... July 8 60 250 2|Campers. Iron Range....... Sept. 5 1,600 1,000] 200/R. R. locomotive. Lake Jessie....... July 11 1,000 2,000 16/Unknown. Lake Jessie....... Sept. 12 500 100 9|Unknown. Marcell............/April 18 700 4,000 30|Burning brush. Marcell............]Oct. 11 500 slight}...... Unknown. Nashwauk.........|Sept. 8 3,000 1,000 25|Unknown. Third River........|May9..... 200 200 4|Unknown. Township 53-22....}April 19 300 None].....- Unknown. Township 53-22....|Mayg..... I 94 9|R. R. locomotive. Township 54-26..../April 18... 2,000 2,500 6/Unknown. Township 56-26..../April 14... 700 300 7|Unknown. Kanabec County— Brunswick........ April 18... goo 45550 g!Clearing land. Peace............ May to.... 40 125 4|Campers. Koochiching County— Evergreen........ July 13.... 20 75 2|Unknown. Koochiching...... Aug. Io.... 60 300 20|Unknown. Koochiching...... Sept. 12... 300 200 10|Unknown. Satiltisean copucede 4 July r0.... 600 1,000 35|Clearing land. Township 151-29.../Sept. 20... 5 50 4|Unknown. Township 151-29. ..|/Sept. 29... 2 100 12|Hunters. SUMMARY OF FOREST FIRES, 1908—Continued. No.Fire County anp Town Date Acres Damage | Fight- Cause ers Lake County— Beaver Bay....... July 1 600 Too 4|Unknown. Beaver Bay.......- Sept. 3 1,800 paieelasnds's R. R. locomotive. Beaver Bay....... Sept. 8 4,000 15,000 25|R. R. locomotive. Crystal Bay........|Sept. — 20 100 6)Unknown. Silver Creek........|Sept. 8.. 10,000] 25,000 8/Unknown. Silver Creek........|Sept.9.. 500 500 9|Unknown. Silver Creek........|Sept.9.. 2,500 7,500 12|R. R. locomotive. Two Harbors..... Sept. 9.. 80 150 5|Unknown. Two Harbors..... Sept. 9.. 50 300 y2|Clearing land. Two Harbors..... Sept. 17. 250 2,000 4|Unknown. Two Harbors..... Sept. 13 20 150 9!Unknown. Two Harbors..... Sept. 23 80 300 4|R. R. locomotive. Two Harbors..... Sept. 20 120 slight 15|Unknown. Two Harbors..... Oct. 9 35 200 5 do) Two Harbors..... Oct. 13 10 slight 5|Clearing land. Mille Lacs County— Borgholm,.......--/Oct: § I 35 5|Hunters. East Side......... April 7 300 SOO} si sane Campers. East Side......... Oct. 14.... 400 200 45|Clearing land. Isle Harbor....... Sept. 22... 600 200 6|Unknown. Kaitho........... April 20... 700 400 5\Indian campers. Morrison County— Clough........... April 11... 500 200]....-. Unknown. Caldrum --- Oct. 16.... 40 50 15|Clearing land. Cushing.......... April 15... 800 200 5|Unknown. Cushing.......... April 18... 300 150 25/R. R. locomotive. Hellman -|April 15... 200 300]...... Unknown. Parker..........- April 14... 640 200 8/Clearing land. Parker, cance veces April 18... 5,000 1,000 25|From adj. town. Parker........... May to.... 300 40 2|Unknown. Parke’ y ieaiueg ans Sept. 20... 15 60 7\Unknown. Platte... ccccnaee eee April 13... 2,000 1,200 6)Unknown. Richardson . -|April 18...} 1,000 230 6|/From adj. town. Ripley --JApril rr... 3,000 3,000 20|/Unknown. Ripley -|Sept. 21... 60 40 z12|Unknown. Rosing........-.. April 19...| 4,480 1,295 ro|Unknown. Scandia Valley.....|April 18...| 5,000 1,000 20/Burning meadow. Swan River....... April 13... 200 300 15|Hunter. Swan River....... April 18... 100 250 10] Unknown. Norman Sagas ae : Fossum.. ‘ May 8..... 30 20 9|Unknown. Fossum.. May 8..... 175 1,500 zo/Unknown. Ottertail cee Bluffton... »++-/April 13... 100 50 4|Unknown. Fastern.. (Sept. ar... I 3 7|Hunters. Girard........... April 18... 240 50 30|Burning meadow. Gorman........-- April 18... 100 100 7/Unknown. Maine............ April 20... 300 100 6|Burning brush. SUMMARY OF FOREST FIRES, 1908—Continued. ad No.Fire County anp Town Date Acres Damage | Fight- Cause ers Ottertail Cou’ty—Cont. Paddock........... April 21...| 1,600 65 21/Unknown. Rush Lake.........|April 21... 500 300 11|/Unknown. Star Lake..........JApril 18... 80 Too 7\Burning brush. Pine County— Birch Creek........]/Oct. 15.... 300 200 37|Unknown. Bremen..........- April 20... 60 200 3|Unknown. Bremen...........- Oct. g..... 70 5 2|Unknown. Bremen........... Oct. 11.... 560 700 36/Clearing land. Bremen.........-- Oct. 15....] 9,000 1,500 66/From adj. town. Bree ihe. a:a.cuy owes Oct. 15. 40 None 4|Unknown. Bruno April 20 3,000 500 3|Unknown. Bruno April 23 500 200 4|Unknown. Bruno Oct. 15 7,000 800]...... Unknown. Bruno Oct. 15 1,000 slight 50|Unknown. Clover............./Oct. 17 1,600 300 4)/Hunters, Danforth.......... Oct. 12 3,000 35300 70|From town. 41-18. Dell Grove.........|May 8..... 40 100 3|Clearing land. Fleming........... Oct. 12 6,400 200 12|Unknown. Kettle River....... Sept. 7 25 51 5|Unknown. Nickerson......... May g..... 4,000 300 35|R. R. locomotive. Nickerson......... Oct. 13 500 200 28|Unknown. Norman.........../May 20 160 800 6)Unknown. Partridge.......... Oct. 10 600 200 20|R. R. locomotive. Pine Lake......... Sept. 21 40 20 8|Burning brush. Pine Lake......... Oct. 9 160 None 16|/Burning brush. Pine Lake......... Oct. 14 320 150 30] Unknown. Sandstone......... Sept. 9 400 roo 14|Unknown. Sandstone......... Sept. 16 30 6 8|Unknown. Sandstone......... Oct. 12 4,000 80 70|Unknown. Sturgeon Lake..... May 9..... 65 300 6|R. R. locomotive. Sturgeon Lake..... Oct. 14 800 200 37|Unknown. Wagner........... Sept. 23 200 100 ...|Clearing land. St. Louis County— Canosiay svc sae Sept. 6 400 slight 12|Unknown. Costine Sept. 8 300 paps 30|Unknown. Coltona. cai ceis ins April 18 60 125 3) Unknown. 210) | 0) « a ee July 15 2 15 4] Unknown. Colton............ Oct. 13 2 5 1o|Burning brush. Colton............ April 20 160 15 18/Unknown. Culver. ic ca caw cewa Oct. 21 40 128 8)Unknown. Duluth. 0. ices es Sept. 5 4,000 20,000 30,Clearing land. Duluth: vs s rae . E holm, ‘ ? E Forestry Commissioner of Minnesota, October 2, 1908. s . September 4, 1908. Photographed for the SUMMARY OF PRAIRIE FIRES, 1908. No.Fire| County anpb Town Date Acres Damage | Fight- Cause ers Aitkin County— Jevne (field fire)... ./Oct. 12.... 40 300 40|R. R. locomotive. Benton County— Langola............JApril 12... 200 80 5|Fishermen. Clay County— Elkton........... April 16... 30 100 2|Unknown. Elkton, .......... April 18...| 2,000 250 10|/From adj. town. Elkton........... April 21... 200 160 10}R. R. locomotive. Elkton........... May 7..... 200 500 3|/R. R. locomotive. Felton............ May 4q..... 250 600 6/R. R. locomotive. Flowing.......... April 16 40 None 5|R. R. locomotive. Flowing.......... April 19 500 400 8)Burning meadow. Flowing.......... April 23 160 100 8|R. R. locomotive. Flowing.......... ay 5...-5 300 300 3| Unknown. Flowing.......... Sept. 7 300 200 50]R. R. locomotive. Flowing.......... Sept. 21 350 60 g|R. R. locomotive. Hawley April 18 3400 1,000 14/Unknown. Hawley Sept. 24 40 5° 2|Hunters. Moland.......... May 5..... 120 75|....--|Clearing land. Moland.......... May 4 350 None 20/R. R. locomotive. Moland.......... Sept. 7 200 1,200 19/R. R. locomotive. Moland.......... Oct. 12 100 700 g|Steam plow. Morken.......... Oct. 12.... 600 800 6|Steam plow. Riverton ...++-/April 18...] 5,000 1,000 22|Tobacco pipe. Skreeisceaiesaa es April 20 500 3,500 25/Fm. t’n of Riverton. Clearwater County— Winsor........... Nov. 3..... 300 500 ro|Burning grass. Kittson County— Cannon.......... April 21... ~200 150 6| Unknown. Caribou.......... April 10,..| 2,000 400 5/Burning meadow. Hazelton......... April 21... 2,700 65 23/Unknown. Hazelton......... May to.... 200 None 8)Unknown. Jupiter........... April 21... 600 25 20|From adj. town. Norway.......--- April 23... 2,000 400 6|From adj. town. PelaN . os cance sci ears April 23... 800 150}....../Unknown. SkonG asec cna ages April 18... 90 2O| ssi eoese R. R. locomotive. Skonew. os vas seas April 20... 80 None]....../R. R. locomotive. Skone...........- April 23... 80 35] - .|R. R. locomotive. Skone...........- April 23... 10 LOO). ss Burning stubble. Marshall County— Comstock..........]April 21...] 1,800 750 12|Unknown. Comstock..........|Nov. 3..... 1,000 None .|Unknown. Excel vies 33s an ears April 21... 200 800]...... Unknown. Norman County— Grand Meadow... .|May to.... goo None 13|Burning pasture. Hegen. . ...+./Nov. 18.... 400 g20]....-- From adj. town. Mary.......00-.. Nov. 18.... 200 rise kad ae Burning pasture. SUMMARY OF PRAIRIE FIRES, 1908—Continued. No.Fire| County AND TowN Date Acres “Damage | Fight- Cause = ers Polk County— Helgeland......... Nov. 3..... 1,300 100 3|}Unknown. Red Lake County— Black River........j/Aug. 16.... 6 35 7|Unknown. Brayicc cceanasineceriuacss April 21...| 1,800 None ...{Unknown. Mayfield ... {April 19... 500 2s5o]......|/Burning grass. Sanders........... April 23... 2,500 550 8|/Unknown. Wyandott..........j/April 20... 300 sie) 4|Unknown. Roseau County— Pohlit2.. 202 swam May ro.... 30 54 6|Burning fire-break. Soler, .ccaacgeunens Nov. 5..... 2,000 65 23|Unknown. Stevens County— Everglade..........|Nov. 17.... 800 None 17|Unknown. Swift County— Clontarf.........../April 13...] 2,500 1,500 14|R. R. locomotive. Wilkin County— ANOTEa = seca ase ges May 8..... 4,000 1,000|......]Travellers. Prairie View....... April 23... 600].........]....10/R. R. locomotive. Yellow Medicine Co.— Florida, .......-... April 4.... 100 500 25|R. R. locomotive. Florida.........--. April 14... 350 1,500 23|/Burning slough. OTHE Ries svecsnerscesandeva April 22... goo 250 34|/Unknown. Total acres burned over, 44,276. Damage, $19,724. Classification of causes: Burning grass or meadow, Fishermen or hunters, 2. From adjoining town, 5. Railroad locomotives, 16. Other causes, 7. Unknown, 18. 8. REPORT oF ‘4 THE MINNESOTA STATE FORESTRY BOARD. TO THE LEGISLATURE OF MINNESOTA. The law of 1899 creating the State Forestry Board requires that it shall report its doings and recommendations to the Legislature at each session. The Forestry Board has been desirous of undertaking forestry work in a way commensurate with the needs of the forestry situa- tion, but has been handicapped by lack of means, and we feel that the exigencies of the hour demand, and public sentiment will sup- port, the coming Legislature in making sufficient appropriations to put the work of this Board upon an effective basis. By act of the Legislature of 1907, Itasca Park was Itasca Park. made a forest reserve and placed under the care of the Forestry Board. This is a beautiful tract of 35 sec- tions of land, located about Itasca Lake, the head of the Mississippi River, and should be carefully preserved, so that future generations may see in it a sample of the kind of forest vegetation that originally covered a large portion of the State. It should also be made a great demonstration forest and become an important game preserve. The State’s principal building in the park, known as Douglas Lodge, overlooking Lake Itasca and in the midst of beautiful pine forest, is built of logs in rustic style, contains a large sitting room with open fireplace, and in all respects is well adapted to the enter- tainment of visitors or guests. Soon after Itasca Park was made a forest reserve, Land Purchase. the Forestry Board undertook to acquire by pur- chase certain private holdings, but being unable to agree with the owners, was compelled to resort to condemnation proceedings to secure 497 acres, with the timber thereon, for which it had to pay $41,322.55. It also purchased at private sale 40 acres, with 60,000 feet of timber growing thereon, for $450, making a total of $41,772.55 expended for land and timber. The land purchased is estimated to contain a total of over 4,000,000 feet of standing timber, mostly large, thrifty Norway pine, situated along the lake shores and drives, where it is conspicuous and especially desirable. There still remain about 5,500 acres of private holdings within the Park limits which the State should acquire as soon as ‘may be. Of this land the Pine Tree Lumber Company of Little Falls owns 3,300 acres, which it has offered to donate to the State, together with all hardwoods growing thereon, and all the cone bearing trees under eight inches in diameter, provided that the said Company can have ten years, free from taxes on the timber, in which to re- move it. At the appraiser’s price for land and timber in Itasca Park, it is estimated by experts that this is equivalent to a gift of at least $33,000 to the State. The taxes exempted would probably be less than $10,000 if held for ten years. As it is desirable to hold this forest cover on the land for a considerable time, in order to secure good seedage of the ground, we recommend that the Legis- lature provide for the acceptance of this offer of the Pine Tree Lumber Company. This Company will also permit the Forestry Board to buy such groves of trees skirting the lake shores as may seem most necessary for the best development of the Park. This is a very important concession, as it is extremely improbable that the State will purchase all of the standing timber within this area. The Board has already arranged to purchase about one million feet of standing timber in this way. The following is a financial statement of the total cost and the present value of the State holdings within the Park: Dr. Amount paid to commissioners to Nov. 1, 1908....... $8,058.30 For purchase of lands to Nov. 13, 1908.............. 101,336.89 Buildings in 1895-6....... ccc cee cece eee eee 1,000.00 House (Douglas Lodge) 1904-6.............2.00000 11,646.35 Improvements, including outlay, Douglas Lodge..... 6,175.68 Platiorims siccsce eel iamsese ete ges ase easiness 280.00 Tree: Planting 42.55 hinbangaes ies oan Saciesneiws 202.50 Fire Protection 2.0... ... ss cscs cece cece een eee e ees 432.31 Mary Creek. nncia pu iaawaneies as aan eeesaenneenre es 177.75 Birebreaks:cciucucmdue natin edna veow sande eee dese 1,980.18 $131,289.96 3 Value of land acquired for Park purposes exclusive of School Sections: Cr. 135220 Acres ab O5:00 da surriaies duu scnima ermal $66,100.00 25,000,000 feet of standing timber valued at $10 per M. 250,000.00 Donation from Pine Tree Lumber Company of 3,300 acres of land, together with all the hardwood timber and all other timber under 8 inches in diameter, valued at $10 per acre........ eee eee eee 33,000.00 Received from sales of timber..........0.0ccee eens 7,039.09 $356,739.09 Less cost of Park to State................0. 131,289.96 Showing approximate profit to State of........... $225,549.13 The Board regards fire protection for Itasca Park Fire Protection. as most important, for the safety of all of the trees and many of the improvements within the park. The present annual appropriation for maintenance of the Park is $1,500, which has been carefully expended; but it has been inade- quate to the pressing needs of the Park, though it has maintained in fairly good condition the stage route of about nine miles through the Park, and cut firebreaks, roads and trails to the extent of twenty miles, and now has a road completely around the Park, not what it should be, yet provides opportunity for fighting fires and to protect from trespass. The Board has co-operated with adjoining towns and with Clearwater County to secure public highways on the border line of Itasca Park for firebreaks. The Forestry Board in codperation with the State Forest School. University established a forest school in the Park, which has been very successful, and did much towards the forestry education of young men which the State must have to take care of its great forest wealth. The work done in the Park by these students was necessary for its preservation, was in- telligently performed, without detracting from the wild natural beauty of the Park, and at much less expense than if ordinary un- skilled labor had been employed. Means should be provided where- by these forestry students may be employed in improving the State forests at a small wage; for without such experience, the University 4 Forestry School cannot supply the trained men that the State needs, thus missing an opportunity of developing at a minimum expense the most important forestry school in America. In the winter of 1907-8, the Forestry Board had Sales of Timber dead and down timber cut in Itasca Park to the in Itasca Park. amount of 800,960 feet, the net proceeds from which, amounting to $4,112.53, were turned into the State treasury. It is probable that nearly as much timber can be sold from the Park each year. Under the appropriation of $2,500 made by the act Tree Planting. of April 23, 1907, the Board planted 600,000 ever- green seedlings of pine and spruce, but principally spruce, in 1907 and 1908, on the Pillsbury reserve (Cass County), and has planted in all 205 acres net on that reserve. There is a balance left of that appropriation amounting to $292, and deducting amounts expended for setting iron stakes around the reserve and for making firelanes, the cost of planting has been only a little over $6.00 per acre, less than one-half cent for each tree planted. The reserve is about twenty miles from the railroad. In addition to Itasca Park and the 1,000 acres of Burntside Forest. the Pillsbury reserve, the State holds 20,000 acres known as the Burntside forest, situated about ten miles west of Ely, and which was granted to the State on the initia- tive of the Forestry Board, by Act of Congress, April 28, 1904. Not a dollar has been appropriated thus far for the care and develop- ment of that forest. It is accessible only by boat and trail. The nearest road to it is the Duluth and Iron Range Railroad, which, at Robinson Station, passes within about seven miles from its south- ern boundary. The law of 1903, authorized the Forestry Board to purchase for forest reserves, at not exceeding $2.50 per acre, land adapted for forestry, but no money has been appropriated to carry the law into effect. The Board recommends such appropriation as the Legisla- ture deems expedient to make this law effective. The prevention of forest fires will not only assist natural forest regeneration, but will promote that feeling of safety and security among new settlers which is essential for the development of the 5 vacant agricultural lands in the forest regions. It is therefore for the interest of all our people that ample means be provided for the prevention and suppression of forest fires. Minnesota has great natural advantages for reforestation. Its future prosperity depends much upon the prompt adoption of suit- able measures in that regard. To carry on forestry work by this Board, even in a moderate way, we would recommend that the following items be included in the General Appropriation Bill for each fiscal year: For land purchase in Itasca Park............c.0e eee ees $10,000 For construction of necessary roads and trails in Burnt- side forest and for care and improvement of said forest. 10,000 For continuing tree planting on Pillsbury reserve........ 2,500 For improvements in Itasca Park................0 0000 5,000 For repairs on Douglas Lodge............ 00 ce ee eens 500 For contingent expenses of Forestry Board............. 2,000 S. M. Owen, Pres., Minneapolis. C. C. ANDREwsS, Sec., St. Paul. (Ex-Officio, as Forestry Commissioner.) Tuos. J. Davis, Duluth. SaMvuEL B. GREEN, St. Anthony Park. (Ex-Officio, as Horticulturist State University.) Joun Linp, Minneapolis. W. H. Tomuinson, Le Sueur. A. C, Wepcx, Albert Lea. F. WEYERHAEUSER, St. Paul. M. M. Witu1aMs, Little Falls. December 15, 1908. STATE OF MICHIGAN “J eee MICHIGAN FORESTRY. COMMISSION FOR THE YEARS 1903-4 - UNDER THE ACT OF THE LEGISLATURE, ENTITLED “AN ACT TO PROVIDE A || ‘ PERMANENT FORESTRY COMMISSION FOR THE STATE. OF MICHIGAN, TO DEFINE ITS POWERS. AND DUTIES, AND. PROVIDE FOR ITS EXPENSES.” _ : _ APPROVED JAN. 7. 1899. BY AUTHORITY LANSING, MICHIGAN WYNKOOP HALLENBECK CRAWFORD CO,, STATE PRINTERS * 1905 . - STATE OF MICHIGAN REPORT OF THE MICHIGAN FORESTRY COMMISSION FOR THE YEARS 1903-4 UNDER THE ACT OF THE LEGISLATURE, ENTITLED “AN ACT TO PROVIDE A PERMANENT FORESTRY COMMISSION FOR THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, TO DEFINE ITS POWERS AND DUTIES, AND PROVIDE FOR ITS EXPENSES,” APPROVED JAN. 7. 1899. BY AUTHORITY LANSING, MICHIGAN WYNKOOP HALLENBECK CRAWFORD CO., STATE PRINTERS 1905 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. Lansing, Mich., October 31, 1904. Hon. Aaron T. Bliss, Governor of Michigan: Sir—In accordance with legal requisition, I submit herewith the report of the Michigan Forestry Commission for the years 1903-4, with accom- panying papers. Yours respectfully, CHAS. W. GARFIELD, President Michigan Forestry Commission. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Hon SpieCekxidaic cecannepenrdamacear, gears Letter of Transmittal........-.. 2. 2.2. 2-5 | ae wie : Lable Of CONES ane sceaarienwod owEs vs ad LEIS BEES Sees SEs: geeans PrefatOry WOtes. ics ccouiid ee a4 ware oatecrandle anand s P Ades “Wad “Os BOE ERA VaaMEIOR cee e SF Official Report to the Governor........ 0... ce eee eee ee ao nade eS Bae es ier ds cake Byated Yearly Report of Forest Warden, Filibert Roth.... ...... 0.0.02. The Greatest. Enemy—Fire, Arthur (Hills sc cavcsas as caw en Chea e saw a he RE aa Oe Forests Conserve Water Power, Secretary E. A. Wildey Woodlot Forestry, Dr. Judson F. Clark The Farm Woodlot, a Factor in Our Forestry Plan, I. H. Butterfield.................. A Plea for the Farmer’s Woodlot, C. D. Lawton......... 0.0. cece eee cee cece een ee ae Two. Lessons: i, Foréstity, Dr, W. d~ Beals. oi weevcsves.cus & oe adncacieed Fe a deo bccn ain done os Forestry in Michigan from a Business Man’s Point of View, John H. Bissell.............. Object Lessons from the Roadside, James Satterlee Aesthetic Value of Wooded Areas, O. C. Simonds.............. Immediate Action of State in Forestry Matters, Filibert Roth Quick Returns from Forest Plantations, Chas. A. Davis........... 0.000. e cece cect eee Object Lesson in Growing Fire Wood, L. A. Lilly............ A Rational View of Reforestation in Michigan, E. W. Barber The Argument of the Telegraph and Telephone Poles, Joseph B. Ware................. Forestry in. Germany,. Hd. Ay (Stein. ici o.scs taenew a 5 6 604 See eauiaee etd Sa aemedeer ad aoe as Growing Mining Timber—An Object Lesson, F. W. Ball...............00 020 cece ee eee A Campaign of BdiCationncsitas ncaa naa cette eae ahs lo pRea aay 2oh ARO REPRE Interest of Scientists in Forestry, Dr. W. J. Beal... 2... ee ce eee Educational Methods and Forestry Progress, C. W. Garfield. ......... 0.0.00. 0 cece eee The Fence Post Argument for Reforestation, H. B. Cannon...................222-0008 A Sand Blow in Newaygo County, E. E. Bogue......................000- op es eens es Laws of Michigan Concerning Forests and Forest Fires...........0. 0.0.00 cee eee eee eee Forest -Reserve- -Manualwascnacictite siege acta weetinahes weinaniaa pw sde a einalaiEat ieee is Waar “AAUASAU LSAYOA : NOWNOODSOU ‘SHAUL TO NOLLISOd MOHSTX LY SLOdS NAdO ‘F061 AO DNIUdS AHL NI GULNWId GYAM SHAUL 0001S ANA AL ps A cond i 4 cs Seeiee ead ‘ or ONCE A MAGNIFICENT FOREST, NOW CUT AND BURNED-OVER LANDS, WITH LESS’ THAN 10 PER CENT WOODS, AND LESS THAN 1 PER CENT OF IMPROVED LAND, ROSCOMMON COUNTY. JACK PINE PLAINS, LEVEL STRETCHES OF SANDY PINERY LANDS WITH PATCHES OF JACK PINE ALTERNATING WITH PRAIRIE-LIKE OPENINGS. THERE IS EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE THE CONDITION OF THESE PLAINS AS BEING DUE TO FIR™* ; PREPATORY NOTI:. The Michigan Forestry Commission, in compiling this volume, is mind- ful of the fact that, although issued in a small edition, it is the perma- nent history of the initial movement which promises important results in the future development of our State. In our endeavor to stay the ruthless destruction of timber and awaken an interest in tree-planting as a commercial venture for the State, we are entering upon a new era of statecraft. In the rapid elision of our magnificent forest growth, we have not been entirely wasieful, for many grand purposes have been subserved through the commercial use of the products of Michigan forests. We have, in this process, however, been drawing heavily upon our capital without any plan of restoration or without the creation of anything allied to a sinking fund to care for exigencies of the future. Our commission has set itself about the work of impressing people with the importance of growing timber as an accessory to our agriculture, and one which shall, if well carried out, furnish a regular and continuous product from the soil, of great and increasing value. In doing this, the grower of timber will serve his State by supporting numberless commercial enterprises which use for raw material the products of the forest. In accomplishing this purpose, any effort of the State expressed in well defined methods will reap a reward not second to any other effort along the lines of production. The statistical matter furnished in many of the papers which are con- tributed to this volume furnish an unanswerable argument in favor of holding permanently in the State large areas of land to be kept as forest reserve lands. There must be some legislation carefully thought out in connection with this change of policy on the part of the State, if it shall be adopted. In formulating this legislation, we are not traversing new ground. Other countries and other states have made advancement, and from their ex- perience we ought certainly to evolve a plan which shall, in its application to our conditions, be of incalculable value to the future of our common- wealth. “We have a small forest reserve which is little more than an object les- son. The greater question and the solution of the greater problem are matters which have received the careful thought of the State Forestry Commission, and in its recommendations for legislation, there is the single purpose in view of maintaining the resources of our State so as to contribute in the highest measure to the welfare of its increasing popula- tion. Our recommendations are based upon the principles which influence the mind of a well-equipped business man in the management of his af- 2 10 STATE OF MICHIGAN. fairs. In advocating the plan that our State shall become thoroughly acquainted with the comparative values of its land holdings and handle them with reference to the long future, and having in mind the peculiar capabilities of the varying soils and conditicns, we are simply carrying out a movement based upon the best business principles. The State cannot afford to handle its land holdings in the interest of speculators or local newspapers or political aspirants, or for the purpose of furnishing em- pJoyment to an army of clerks, If it were possible for those who formulate the laws of our State to go over the ground and make the notes which have been made by the Forestry Commission, there would be no question as to perfect unanimity of action in moving for an improved plan of handling the State tax lands, and immediate support for measures which shall protect these lands from the sweep of forest fires. The friends of progressive forestry who- have supported the commission, and whose contributions are found in this volume, are actuated by the highest motives of public spirit, and their words should have great weight ia connection with the modfication of our land methods and in the pro- motion of a reasonable plan of reforestation. The press of the State and the rural organizations have been zealous in their support of our com- mission, and we have utilized to the best of our ability these means of spreading facts which shall influence the views of the people. We can see as a result a greater interest in reforestation. People are interested in acquiring information, and the campaign of education is each year pro- ducing results that strengthen the general forward movement. The members of the commission, in acknowledging the cordial support which we have received, desire to express our gratitude to all those who have shown their interest in our work by assisting in the propagation of our faith. In presenting this third volume of transactions and supplementary papers, we do it with courage and hopefulness. OUR CONTRIBUTORS. As a matter of interest and satisfaction to the reader of this volume. a word concerning the gentlemen who have so generously contributed to its pages may not only be permissible, but desirable. Aside from the mem- bers of the Michigan Forestry Commission, Prof. Filibert Roth has given, in attractive form, some of the most practical counsel‘ concerning the future forest management in our State. Prof. Roth is a German, who in his boyhood learned from practical contact, the details of the most ap- proved forest management in Germany. For years he had the experience of the practical worker in the lumber woods of Wisconsin, and in various capacities served the great lumber companies which successfully prose- cuted their work in the State of Wisconsin. He had opportunities for wide observation upon the plains and mountains of the West before taking up a course of study in the Michigan University. After graduation, he became identified at once with the Bureau of Forestry at Washington, and afterward became an attache of the Department of the Interior, in charge of the Western Forest Reserves. In connection with Prof. Fer- now, he was occupied for a time in the organization and development of the forest school] in Cornell University. He has written quite exten- sively for the press upon forestry problems, and is the author of a most FORESTRY COMMISSION. 11 attractive little volume upon forestry, written for beginners. Upon. the organization of the School of Forestry in the Michigan University, he was calied by the Board of Regents to organize it and be responsible for its development. The Michigan Forestry Commission, in naming its first Forest Warden, called Prof. Roth to the work, and it relies upon him, more than any one else, for the prosecution of the progressive measures which shall be adopted by the State. Dr. Judson F. Clark is a Canadian by birth, and completed his course oi study, with post-graduate work in forestry, at Cornell University. He was for some time assistant to Dr. Fernow in the Forest School at Cornell, and from there became an attache of the Bureau of Forestry at Wash- ington. In furtherance of the work here in Michigan, and upon applica- tion of our Forestry Commission to the Bureau of Forestry for special work along the lines of wood lot development, he was assigned to work in cur State, and his report in this volume is an epitome of his accomplish- wnents here. He is now connected with the Department of Forestry in the Dominion, having been recently called to the important position of State Forester. Hon, J. H. Butterfield is a pioneer in the forestry movement in this State. He is an enthusiastic lover of the woods, and during his long connection with the State Agricultural Society, as member of its execu- tive committee and as secretary, he has been constant in his endeavor to awaken an interest in the preservation of woodland areas in Michigan. He was for years on the managing board of the Agricultural College, and became its secretary. For years he was the agricultural editor of the Detroit Tribune, and during the initial stages of forest legislation in our State, he performed a great service by putting into shape the text which was presented in the form of a bill, and, with some modifications, enacted into the first law providing for a Forestry Commission. Dr. W. J. Beal, of the Michigan State Agricultural College, from his boyhood has been a great lover of trees. During his early life he was in ile midst of the rich and varied forest growth of Lenawee coonty. While his specialty in the educational field has been botany, he has given large attention to matters of forestry, and, more than any other man, has con- tinued the agitation of forestry subjects in this State, looking toward the preservation of woodland areas through the agricultural regions, and a rational system of lumbering in that part of our State which has been devoted to the lumbering interests. In the meetings of the State Horti- cultural Society he presented papers in the early history of that society upon forest preservation, and as a result of this agitation the Legislature provided for the organization of a Forestry Commission, consisting of the Board of Agriculture. Dr. Beal was appointed by the board as one of the men to carry out the provisions of the act, and in this capacity he made the first bulletin upon forestry subjects which was published in this State. Since the enactment of the more recent legislation, he has been of great help to the present commission. The writer of this word is under the greatest obligations for inspiration and assistance, and when Michi- gan forestry shall have attained the measure of success which is worthy of the cause and which is bound to come, Dr. Beal’s name will occupy the greatest historical prominence. Prof. James Satterlee is a graduate of the Michigan State Agricultural College, and afterward becaine professor of horticulture in that institu- 12 STATE OF MICHIGAN. tion. He is the best type of a broad-spirited, enjoyable Michigan farmer. He has traveled widely, and has been a keen observer of Nature. He enjoys proximity to wild things and watches with interest the different phases of natural beauty as they develop with the season, as well as the movements and habits of bird, animal and insect life. He gets real com- fort out of a farm environment, and knows all the attractive viewpoints in the vicinity of his farm home at Greenville, Michigan. Ossian C. Simonds is a landscape gardener, whose home is in Chicago, but who has a very warm place in his heart for everything connected with the Peninsular State. Grand Rapids was his birthplace, and his school education was obtained entirely in Michigan. He is a graduate from the Michigan University. He prepared for engineering work, and expected to follow it or architecture, but as a result of circumstances, switched off to the landscape gardening, and has made his business a great success because he loves it. The field of his labor is from the Atlantic coast to the Great Divide, and from the lakes to the Gulf. His constant entertain- ing study is connected with Nature in her varying moods, and as a result he has adapted to his art the most beautiful pictures found in Nature’s landscape. He has an unusually prophetic eye in his creations and a method of inducting into his plans his own conceptions of his art. Prof. Charles A. Davis, of the Michigan University, is assistant pro- fessor of forestry, and is a co-worker with Prof. Roth in the Forest School established there. He was called from the natural history chair in Alma College to this work in the university because of his great interest in the work of reforestation in Michigan. He has traveled quite widely over the State and has been such a keen observer of conditions that his counsel with reference to the broad questions of reforesting Michigan is of the very best. He is prominent in scientific circles, and takes a deep interest in the work of the Michigan Academy of Science. Lyman emvel ys were ow Serer ef ef 8 8 0 it cred sili Mae Sete gahds it wh ads Gants Sucks MCh oat aaa le, fos AEBS GE PaCse tes Sas He ves Swe Gee e Seal Bale Bes ss [eltoywM JO pred eq 07 aot4g JOT CRETE rE DEN MEE DRDS ROHS Re Soe Re eee ee 20 a Birk laleante and ane ahs Jo'L 7288 tte aes a, 8 © ©“ eereneeeoenciones WN L ; 644 Reha dees qoog frrcrt rrr eeteees WN L ‘Telreyeu Jo woryeaory ia £04 GR EPA HELO BS GNI RRE Os Ge ORT OG BO Ayunog nn tr tn tere en ern teen ree tenn tne trees Z Sioa sa heh ged le) endef Selah Se ae W Oo Bae oS there S Barer ® UMOL a EE EET CREE re Lee ee eee eee ee ee eee ee [elieyVU Jo JNoUy Z Ce a ee ee a ee a | [e197] eu jo UOl}B00'T Led Ee RRTRORG DRS E NS Sie OO Sa Ee RR ORe EAT Oe APE ew CeO RENS eLeyeu Jo pursy saMad CONE ab he NES Hee ee [elsey"M jo JWNoWY Pau AORLOY Say e* Ue re Ge OOOO AN etlousieh ak ale dah almadaute fault arid age AOR Guha leas Mat ARS eee Be UMOL Ul SaALIISIY S9AIOY 91819 9} JO spuvl oq} Abbe H wig Be Hall eam ose ation a oe ee Teliayeu Jo puly WOT QAOWIOI PUG WD OP teen tee neces 0 J p y 7 Bf 7 yyWoW 3O a1eq we aTalhh AIS Racate ge RNR we eGR ink sotdan is onelanrdeates artbvg den mreessateanel aaa 0} payuerg Aqoroy st Wwe alaaane pe bid Galbiwn dias eususe ieareneey og Sct “Yor ‘Sursuey nn nee ene tee erect ete eee amen “TINY A 3 ‘SHAUASHU AULSHUOH NVOIHOIN = ‘ans °G ‘ON ULIO 182 APPENDIX. Conditions of Permit. Applicant agrees to obey all laws and rules concerning Forestry Reserves. Commit and encourage no trespass. Assist Forest Officers in protecting Reserve. Pay for any damages due to occupancy of Reserve by applicant. Also to: 1. Use the material only for the purpose and at the place stated above. 2. Cut no timber until it is assigned to him. 3. Cut no timber outside of the area assigned to him. 4. Cut only timber properly marked by the Forest Officer. 5. Conduct the cutting and removal of the material in a careful manner, and to injure as little as possible any of the remaining timber and young growth. 6. Leave no trees ‘lodged,’ and leave no logs or other material on the cutting area, 7. Leave stumps no higher than................ inches. 8. Use the shaft of the:trees down to.............. inches diameter. 9. Work up cordwood down.............. inches diameter. 10. Drag out the tops into openings ready for burning or.............-.0.2eea ee 12. Do no hewing except at skidways or assigned spots. 13. Cub: Only: tee esas eis seks os Re EE aS material, and to cut all sound dead material, both standing and down. Z 14. Pile all material ready for measurement. 15. Remove no material before it is measured and stamped. 16. Cut and remove the material before......... 0.0... c cece eee eens day of Die PHOS DaK Sie has Seer doe dees oka s , when this permit shall terminate. Violation of Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 15 of the above rules will render the applicant liable to suit for trespass, and the violation of any of the rules will be liable to deprive him of further ‘free use” privileges. APPENDIX. 183 Form No. 6. MICHIGAN STATE FORESTRY RESERVES. APPLICATION FOR GRAZING. Name of applicants u\sduiicecheveade cyng ha secede be arge gen di decaadewes wean diner AGOYOSS: 5c gets oe Ged Sue Nit SSR RAY BW Wied) ded wa eee Bey SON Ce RSs Ngee BO MONS Be Mae is T'o the Michigan Forestry Commission: J, the undersigned respectfully request the permit to graze on the lands of the Michigan State Forestry Reserves in Section.................., ND age te thesrauaenaasnceeane ‘ ARE a5 de Beam eh aimee eee yA POE OE oss ei ew ae ows neces HA aS OG eR REA GE OR > PODS WE cc eccad ios tees ae eee eRal aan eee , the following stock: Catt G44 co isc Sadie ans eusssaeutan eee ae Ne ie MOLES OS std are ah 'n gual hee Seen eile eee ae ; sheep OF BOAUS s i965 Gas ca ders Sos Gee Sas becay eo ears This stock to graze from..............0000 cece eeee CO Chee bathe un wees hole eee dicots anlani av aayp ttek sade ss DAA eho! of the season of 190.., and to graze..... 2... ccc ee i RR Ege 1G RGN Sse eR Ae wigs Be are" Ge He aM Sea ee a A on the lands of the Reserve. (Entirely or part of time.) For this privilege I offer to pay the sum of $....... 0... ccc ese eee nent e eee or ne Miedo alee He a Pied per head for this one season. If permit is issued to me I promise to obey all rules governing the State Forest Reserve; to assist myself, and through my agents, free of charge, as far as is reasonably compatible with my other duties and affairs, in protecting the forest cover against all injury, and especially to help the Forest Officers in preventing and fighting fires. STSTNC Gs csviccater soancousite Stent cane wean aha lana achat gingaee Sie teuaeans I do approve this application. I do approve this application. Forester. APPENDIX. 184 ‘WOISSTWWLOD ‘AIN(UL [[@ JSULVSS 1dA0D }S9IOJ 9Y} SUL}O9}OId UI aSIVY) [[@ JO soIJ ISISSe 0} ‘SMOT}E[NSe1 pue sopna [ye Aeqo 0} sestuloid AT[Vloedse oY DIY Ul ‘WUIIEed sty} OJ ysenber sty Ur yURoT[dde oy} Aq 01 pesise SMOT}IPUOD oY} UO PUBS P RSS Mees oe wee Seine Ss ¢ JO JUSTIA JO UOT}BIOp]suOD UI ponss! St WuIed STULL Srl eiteasseananse ot auaguaeet gnats Op tiitcrtrettesss sess qrogy + '9BT JO Uosees oy} SuyANp huis Sea wee Meet cease £yun09 Tago Petar AT ONE ees L Ul ‘saAdasoy AIjse10g UeSIYOI oy} JO spUe] 94} UO MA PEGS Dade Rh GA aoe Sab GAAS baie Ra RNS OS RRR EF OBE a eee yee ge See tices 0} pensst Aqartey SI JIL. or “yor ‘Sursuery “LINGAd ONIZVAD ‘SHAUUSHU AULSHYUOA NVOIHOIN ‘) (ON W104 peey ON parddy APPENDIX. 185 Form No. 8. MICHIGAN STATE FORESTRY RESERVES. DESCRIPTION AND ESTIMATE OF TIMBER. (Used in all cases where value greater than $10.00.) GOUnLY cai ng. pal haw okie e de Sai emma eos Oehae eacame a ea ape Dates csi cas yacee yen we eegakaes Meares 190 1. Loeation. of timber applied for: Tacs. ence renee ccuens ING Rawasacht case and SiGe cdc awas swe caw ead oh £ LG can pede aw aweas4 & Gate OF SUPVOY. onside ce necens eas 2. Character of land, typography, soil drainage............ cece eee eee 3. Number of acres covered by application........ 0... 0... c eee eee ee eee 4. Character of forest, species, proportion of those, density, age, thrift, reproduc- #08, CRG. 5 4 64-5 891 FREE REN AEN EGS OU BRE Oe ROA Ve OD EG Oe Oe Res Oe HS r 5. *Additional information concerning the forest cover, methods to be followed in logging, likelihood of damage to forest, means to restock, etC.,.......0-0-0 eee eee ESTIMATE OF TIMBER. Method of SUVey WEE Gns vii ose os tee 64 MS CN 0d POE FEES ARES toe ee OS Proportion of area covered by SUIVEY..... 2... ccc ce ete ene Diameters Kinds of timber. Keep green and dry tim- bk R, ber separate, also trees making only cordwood. ee mmr Rn) aes Hard. Soft. Condition (Detects. ets) © said wa dio ena uee aie Hele eG Riad BR eS Re Sh ae See a eas ele Bees FLOGAUS 2 OS schaceciancthie acs cnt ts Srey ated osanibinb laud lav eee aee dae dahsduedela oe usp boot paende eave gadaass Logs MioftsD I candies vosdeuwideteayewaa es Baye Se aed Snes ee Eee ee BAECS COTds a tsaiesaasi bd a ctiaets visa caveats aioe eS, Siiceaargrese, Sibreccie mais Sac ginin Se cavalia.s Whe vis Maka pane wee POVES segepsvistznn dvSiie Saagure cafigamsnyg ele late co ty Races pence Gi ANAS. Bacerated Sue eater ov anenastce arabica wee S *If more space is required use back of page. 24 186 APPENDIX. [LUG DICER $V REA ORE RS Re HAR eee eRe eae emai aes POMS éé }eeeeenrees saree saa Ole nee neh ae 4 ORE E68 Se hee ES eee awe ake ““Value of this timber at railway ar landing..........-......sscessseeeeeeeeeees Probable cost of getting this timber: 1. Cut 2. Skidded 3: THatled (oh Falway OF IGMGIG Eo o.c ee ecw dood oe eee ENE He See ed E aC OU ERE EON HAS Further remarks The above is a true statement to the best of my belief and knowledge and is based on an actual and careful survey of the forest of the tract herein named. MICHIGAN STATE FORESTRY RESERVE. SCALE REPORT. INES OF PUPCHSSOl sc s.. 5 c oes Shee Leeda Ob ban eee iw eda Forester. Form No. 9. The following amount of timber was scaled or measured by me in connection with this case during the................ week ending............. 190.. APPENDIX. 187 1. Has all material been measured and stamped before removal from the lands? 2. Has all material been marked before cutting according to ‘instructions? 3. Is the purchaser doing clean work as he proceeds or is he picking over the land. Waving Spots NMG, CRT ics civ icaneewe des eucee deen sie a hens Dems eae es The above is a true statement to the best of my knowledge and based on personal examination. Forest Officer. Examined by: Forester. Form No. 10. MICHIGAN STATE FORESTRY RESERVES. REPORT OF TIMBER TRESPASS. COUULY OF ca u56 a0 bane ¥Ao4 Be $004 BOE Oy Ewe ese x poe Ee eee BOS » LOO A DATS OT: TEBSTIOSNEE is enh ee ene hada Se Has Eee mde SATE RSE EOEOE DOS be FA HEee EERE 2, AGOTESS: OF ‘(TESPASS 61: iin iced Wa Swe ect wke deen Aare Rie ea Ades, bh ae, Be a ELIS OCCUPALIO MI —5:c5si's..2 bshatsealevans a Gags Apes eae Ap ee nsledg cinb-e dea aee gaat a oe ne Ss Se IE ee wa 4. Has trespasser timber on his own land or claim? ...........-. 00 eee eee eee 5. Location of trespass: T.......... eS Digs vaca dun eae S- Mon uk aye ake ak WOtis. 25 Seu sk dctase 6. Kind of trespass: Did trespasser Simly cut fimber?ls.scca vee cca vee tes oenes ene cen ewede ee Did he Cut wid TEMOVe MEL? bac koa cane cee ee decd ea cns marae eee eaGe ‘Did he merely mutilate or destroy timber?................00 0 eee eee ee eee ae nee 83 KANG Of MALEIAL CUl. os cede s ddd Geel ed » Mone say HARES MA SARA ode e eae etc. If hearsay, let it be so stated.) TEs Who did: the Cutting? cise saad aie eee ates ha ank Bed BAe a a ORD sied Ripe Rea 188 APPENDIX. 15. Where was it sawed or further manufactured? ........ 00... cece eee eee Se ee ee ee eee ee ee ee Te Te ree ee ee er ee eee “ad ‘Was any of ‘the ‘material cut in trespass found at other places, along road, at bank, at railway, at saw mill? If so, where and how much? ............---..+-+- 23. Did the purchaser make this purchase innocently or with knowledge of the APSR DOSS? cocked eck AAA Ves Rede te ee ED REM RE Hae ORS e RSNA EEE CR PONE hE wed Re Give reasons for your StALGMeRE: c..5.ccerda ceadacnrereneee oes ca Pee Ree Rede 24. What is the value of the material? @, Of» tHE SOUND... cece ee ae oes hee Re ARSE EA ARS EOE PREE POd Red OE EW aes 8 ee oe B, Atter Weis Cul, WEWN, UC. oc caw ee power ede made sea RUS See ae hae SEAR TS OP ES 27. Was trespass wilful or unintentional? State carefully all reasons for think- Se 1 Wa Or OE 5 one ok ov es od ee 29k BREA O04 DO gad Ba he Owe Re ee Be Fee 28. Is trespasser financially responsible? ..............0.ssccsecsseseseseeeees 20, Has: be ottere: (o Gee? aes cages oo eek eee Cees PRE ELT’ Os SHE eG EES ERE RY 30. Action recommended by Forest Officer ......... eee ee ce cee eee tenes and what was their approximate Size? ...... cece ec ene eee eeeneneee TSMC: ssc sous eae. Site b.c5y aaa Gdae bag Goble na Oa Forest Officer. Examined by: Forester. APPENDIX. 189 Form No. 11. MICHIGAN STATE FORESTRY RESERVES. REPORT OF RANGER. Submitted weekly: The following is a true statement of the work performed by me and the obser- vations made by me during the week ending .................. 0-20 eee eee , 190... Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday: Saturday: Forest Ranger. 190 APPENDIX. Form No, 12. MICHIGAN STATE FORESTRY RESERVES. REPORT ON FIRES, COUDLY Giese ecient ew ede eee ee Boag. . a ashes ee ee eee si ee ee e LO0ses (Note.—Every fire is reported separately on this form.) Fires are divided into three classes: Class 1. Small fires, such as abandoned camp fires, etc., covering but a few rods of ground. Class 2. Small fires, covering not over five acres of land, and checked by Forest Officer without extra help or expense. Class 3. All larger fires, and especially all fires requiring extra help and expense. Ts Date of Tre: 22.4 sme ee dss coos Se vse dang sek Wed koe DES Eat we Nea ge eee aes 5 190% as 2. Location of fire: Lots ............ b> "“SOGSi. aici fs teats ane DO Needs Gaseiack elas N; Re agen tk PASM R TG ORG Hal EDS AAR She AANA Gee td ERAE RE Ae nee ha a ale Raiaceaen he kines Os HATE. WAS! Of CLASS: cascccctis ane col asso cgi gs we aeved ares jecgiseha alg oe BSE face Wunders ge techie Wi ahies Seabeeecm rae me aMitpe 4. Minnber of eeres Wirmed OVEr a4 co kee reed 4a Beene ee) oe REE eR hee eae Ses 5. Number of acres of real forest burned over ........... 00. cee eee ee ee ee eee eee ‘ — ce poe pleat diced tua shasta haya ds: gh ayatee dca ia cpten aed acd las eudbat date Sameas ene diaeacs a. Probable number of trees killed having a diameter b. h. of: 4 INCHES OV LOSS <2. Satna Sea ea duees eAR OOS ROME ES HAS ee whey HRN 423: INCHES. di dee. ops eae ews SEERA MOS HOARE TEENS Ma eee ae Eke oS SAU: TM CIOS: gn 4 sisssa wudiw-soned. Seater g ayes dca i eae dy (ead Medes gdguands Bead Restle eee layiba) are ww Over 12: INCHES! sai. neled ti chien OGG Hors, aE Ree NarS GoW Gs SE ee Rae b. Merchantable material destroyed: : Feet bi My 08 i acsonaeeieeaeet ease eee we aedawacsenaid diewineeilc ft. Cs CORDS-Of TUCT WOOG) excoe cessels a gsi d ave pais nbd ai bee See ek ee ee Ok BESS POS. OL. .3 Pease won nnd ee Biake " (Beeeutest se tia Coewn reeds pieces. POStS) OF ses iRce Geb atasat Mee arse ash «© “Saya DAatsanaeadla Ree reual wines ade pieces. WhO ANS OPO IMS. <5 c5 lope. alae aseyat bTeueee eine auselawa cu. ae tbe tebates au ate dees sh poe ape anaes eu utara ts 8. The: fire ‘was. discovered ‘bY xsi. nsdae ced Raye sew Sex gee Med Meee e oe au eee acie poe CE ee re CeCe Te Tee Tae OM <5 sag tenis Mic siarliosavaracdan Dai Seen ha ieee LGOw as 9. The fire was brought to the notice of the Forest Officer, date .............. 10; Kighting. the Mire “was: DeSUN: siscs cass ou gadlnce dale os ROEM MOS OSE Redes Ra EES Jie Work “was? finished 3 syse'ssy mess a5. seanies 3 ed. os Getta odd Meni ob ane hdd deinen Gal avbenba 12. Number of extra men uS@d ......... 0... cece cee cee cece nee eeeneuntneeuns 13. Cost of fire: Extra; Help: isa cx swine. anc naieabwend nw aiein kd we days work, $.............. Material, provisions, ete. 14. REMArKS: saaarnsiawosylan dy site. S wncminn Bewihed au aeaeloccis- dae aA AG lke ec How RA MER Forester. APPENDIX. MICHIGAN STATE FOREST RESERVES. REPORT OF FORESTER, CUES dae keh de adake oats To the Warden of Forest Reserves: 191 Form No. 13. The following is a true statement and report of the affairs of my district for TWO WHEL CUCING ch dey dui wah eh BSE CA ESS HOE EET OK EROS ORL TEA eR RSE ee , 190.. Day’s Work. ; Expense CLASS OF WORK. (Excluding Men. Teams. Board): Reforestation: Plantations................. nA Ga RANG th ee aa Nee ee PDE Nursety Worl: 6 csws snake fea 8 Oke eee ees eed sels cNeseuyt Maine Gil apr eaRed e caksing: Siete ha wietke Gams Protection, (including fires and excluding Forest Othcers)) <5.: cure veh ad iesae- oben ss Ses ace Mateos Ca cee hate age Se Goat ecto s Augen eal seas Survey of Lands....... Sneha boners RRL E ena Aaen Improvements ............002..0 00000 cee Che eaiee na DA 8 ais dente | tekee hea e hed Forester. “WOPIe A erggp ct ees Leama ees SI ‘oer ee. Be ee ee ee ee uspie MA Aq pesaoiddy Fee o cea ee ee ne ee Alas ec, a, SERRE RETR RENN ae SET EEE PD as oa ie ce eae Fda oe Re api Santos NAR nee ded AGIs arte emia adie sala es Ay Fee ee asl eed osssaue, tn ccs munca ee RP ree he men eee ee Swe eeu ieee Vey tate dee eae ae Dads 655,904.66 The number of acres of all classes of lands disposed of, the amounts for which the same were sold, the amounts paid and the amounts unpaid there- on during the vear were as follows: . Amount Amount + Class of land. Acres, sold for. paid, Agricultural Gallet se 400.00 $620 00 $620 00 Primary School.. 2,675.99 4,847 00 4,847 00 Swamp land.......... ‘ 3,587.81 7,592 31 7,592 81 Swamp land patented to settlers........... _ 80:00 bssensnase sacl eseeee xs aaewe Tax homestead lands, including village lots..............0.ceeeee eee e eee 173,978 .27 369,113 42 369,113 42 Tax homestead land deeded to actual settlers.. 16, BDO sk cccune csesfosuaa sve senor GGUS icons ns os det nape war rcudybaroreharess ot eames ainieles vateoese 197,242.21 | $382,172 73 $382,172 73 No lands of any class were sold on partial payments and no lands here- tofore sold on part payments were forfeited to the State during the year. The amount of money collected on account of trespass on State lands during the year has been $5,623.99, which amount was divided as follows: Agricultural College land............0.0.. 0005 cece eee eee $30.00 Primary School land....... 2... ce eee eee 112.77 State tax land.a: ddcccus waa tte ceca Vin dae ably beeen ts 1,323.78 Swamp land................... eae Grane slats oncbdiae tists Atta 139.64 Tax Homestead land............. 00: ccc eee cece cence ens 4,017.80 COMMISSIONER OF THE STATE LAND OFFICE. ( A comparative statement of the number of acres of State land disposed of, and the amount sold for during the past five years: Agricultu- | Salt Tax | Primary school ral College} spring Swamp Asylum | University; homestead Total. Years. land, land. land. land. land. land. land. Amount sold for. Acres Acres. Acres, Acres, Acres Acres. Acres, Acres. - 1904..} 5,129.81 | 3,605.72 19,925 .33 40,00 | cisco ics sae 150,750.57 | 179,451.43 | $296,018 67 1905...) 5,252.80 280.00 6,832.48 200.00 jscsaca esse 142,782.75 | 177,118.15 | 184,655 79 1906..} 11,868.58 | 1,008.25 4,397.41 ee een 231,894.05 | 249,208.29 | 268,119 65 1907..| 8,095.42 720.00 WOTAL BY |oece oven cae 68.75 | 235,133.74 | 254,759.78 | 250,076 75 1908..| 2,675.99 400.00 BPOBT BM loisce vicious scare |laverive aerrnenas 178,978.27 | 180,842.07 | 382,172 73 The receipts of the State Land Office on account of lands sold during the year and for principal, interest and penalty received on sales made in former years, and from other sources, have been as follows: Primary school land: PRNCIPAl. a ruee eyes ea See hake ee Ee ees Iit6restiot-sip shi ce deweeeeeseeee University land: Principal.............. INTERESb a ..0 en wash aloe ear ten oead eae ane aes PeHaltVinstcact tog eer te tapannaeeee lk Agricultural College land: Principal, 20.26% 2% ees Interest... .. ee Penalty.............. Salt Spring land: Principal.............. INLOLES tists ut eos Rawr ree aor ower bas eo ores Penalty... Swamp land: ee Moe we Pret pale escsveeegeee nde town gasey teed Witerestyies etek Mae se se cGikme ee Penalty............. ig Asylum land: Printipalsrectsiuecg havc neanem Gee ee beady Interest.......... Pénaltyoeisnr eee sa aeds Normal School land: Principal -cuens es Gorse ene pias ee ine aces TN GOT ES beac ced sada Bb Woe own ees Gos ona weee ees by 277.20 $6,267 .27 259.52 10.19 $239.00 60.46 $15,737.49 637.20 4,361.56 26.60 6,536. 98 302.61 48 . 80: 8 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Dewey asset land: Principal cscs padw reese nreekeiae. 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Me, v' (ie mal PIONS L SS SbrEes Int iy 10 eo) sey xlgaa vel 4A et ISD Griunnas woewnsy TOC OP Agta T= NOt I tar augS MW MICHIGAN EXPERIMENT STATION 5 A SKETCH OF THE ORIGINAL DISTRIBUTION OF WHITE PINE IN THE LOWER PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN. C. F. WHEELER. In the lower peninsula of Michigan, the white pine (Pinus strobus) was originally found scattered throughout the part of the state north of the 43rd parallel of north latitude. The actual southern limit of lumbering operations, that is, where the pines grew in numbers sufficient to be lum- bered, is shown in the accompanying map, on page 6, by a dark line extending across the state,.from Port Huron on the east to Covert, in Van Buren county, on the west. South of this line were a few straggling white pines in Oakland, Shiawassee, Livingston and Ingham counties, while along the Lake Michigan shore they were found southward to the Indiana line. The actual distribution of the white pine in this extensive region was due, to a large extent, to the quality and condition of the surface soil. This most valuable tree delights in sandy ridges in the neighborhood of streams, rivers and lakes and seldom grows in large, solid tracts away from these water courses. Where gravels and clays and various mixtures of these soils are found, numerous broad leaved trees struggled for suprem- acy forming tracts of mixed hardwood and pine forest. In the counties of Bay, Arenac, Presque Isle, Cheboygan, Otsego, Antrim, Kalkaska and all of Leelenau were found fine forests of hardwood containing more or less white pine intermixed. In the counties of Iosco, Oscoda, Crawford, Roscommon, Missaukee, Clare, Grand Traverse, Lake, Mason and Newaygo, occurred the so-called “barrens” or “plains,” where the soil is sterile and more or less covered with Jack pines (Pinus divari- cata) and little white pine is to be found. The largest and best pines were scattered among hardwood trees, tower- ing above them, relics, probably, of the time before the hardwood existed. The geological conditions of the great northern lobe of the lower penin- sula, north of the Grand-Saginaw valleys, due to the large extent of the very friable Marshali sandstone found there, furnish the sands and gravels that the pine tree delights in. The rainfall of this region, combined with evaporation from the surrounding great lakes was the chief remaining factor in the problem of the orginal distribution of white pine in Michigan. Estimates of the total amount of white pine growing in our state have been made at various times. In 1835 the standing white pine was put down as one hundred and fifty billion feet, an estimate probably much too low. The census report for 1880 puts the amount of merchantable timber (white pine) remaining in the lower peninsula at twenty-nine billion feet. The total cut for that census year was estimated at a little over four and one-half billion feet. The latest estimates of the amount of standing white pine remaining in Michigan were made in the year 1896-97 by Hon. Chas. H. Morse, the State Commissioner of Labor. These estimates appear in the 14th annual report of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Schedules were sent to super- visors of townships and from the returns received the figures on the accom- panying map are compiled. It was shown that there were approximately 775,208 acres of white pine still standing in the forests of Michigan at that date. The distribution of the pine, hardwood, “Jack pine plains,” and swamp lands is shown on the map. The first set of figures in each county denotes the acres of hardwood in that county; the next set of figures the acres of pine; the third the acres of hemlock; the fourth the acres of “plains” land, and fifth the acres of swamp land. C. F. WHEELER, : Consultine Bota nist ( 6 FORESTRY BULLETIN \ Hows AC! AGR'L COLLEGE LAXOS MA P; = BEES, ase e AGE PS. PRIMARY SCHOOL. 0" age OF STATE LANOS IN LOWER S. STATE Swamp a SSO PENINSULA OF U UNIVERSITY SS. SALT SPRING 7 THTAX HOMESTEAD f T STATE Tax ‘ Noce:;-T denotes num-y ber of Descriptions of ’ land held by the State Yor diinguent Taxes; the descriptions ‘ vary from '@ wileg tas tan enaibe \ Sectéon, sn ered, ICHIGARN ape eh rasee Ss : i a , AE 3030_F| ex PoBe aa MEP TAR] Gears O CE MAW ‘ PS CES R. AE, 6 480 PS,172.2,69 : j ips PS, BIBN MEH 40ST Pe or aay IAC. + ree) ost Keven S.2538197 T2OB3 306203 |S-a8i 7 Oo af, Tr /o2 PReScON MON Wibade THR CG 7. x RPS Pee. 4 To #29864 CO PSY274278\T. 113, ah SS Fprbo TA C1708) 7) 4008 PS, 186,00 Fay 18) i £7 al = = a iv [oO HS clio ul K ~ MICHIGAN EXPERIMENT STATION 7 ‘PRESENT CONDITION OF MICHIGAN FORESTS AND STUMP LANDS WITH SUGGESTIONS AS TO THEIR CARE. F, E. SKEELS. The map upon the opposite page is intended to convey some idea of the ‘class, location and area of the lands of the lower peninsula of Michigan, which might be available for forestry purposes. These are classed as Tax Homestead, State Tax, Agricultural College and Primary School lands. The Tax Homestead lands are those which have for the most part been stripped of the original timber and forfeited back to the state for non- _payment of taxes by the lumber men who had no use for the land, and in ‘most instances would, under favorable conditions, produce another forest. These lands have been deeded by the Auditor General to the State of Michigan and are now under the control of the Comissioner of the State Land Office and can be located by bona fide residents for ten cents per acre. The State Tax lands have become the property of the state for the non-payment of taxes, and if not redeemed by the original owners, or by some speculator who sees enough timber upon certain tracts to warrant the payment of back taxes, will in time become Tax Homestead lands. The figures upon the map at the letter T denote the number of descrip- tions in each county, held by the state, as tax lands and although the ‘descriptions vary in areo from the village lot to entire sections of land it is safe to estimate that in the northern counties each description will mean at least 80 acres. The Agricultural College and Primary School lands are lands from which no timber has been removed and are for the most part too valuable for farming purposes to be used as forestry reserves, especially as there is so much other available territory which ‘seemingly is not wanted for any other purpose. A glance at the map will suffice to show that nearly all of our northern river systems have their source or sources in an area which has an abun- ‘dance of Tax Homestead and State Tax lands. Thus the Muskegon river rises in Roscommon and Missaukee counties. The Manistee and Au Sable rivers, although the former discharges its waters into Lake Michigan on ‘the west side of the state and the latter into Lake Huron on the east side, rise in Crawford and Otsego counties and the source of the one is but a mile or two from that of the other. The Sturgeon, Pigeon, Black and ‘Thunder Bay rivers rise in this same locality and in these counties and those through which these streams flow we find the greater portion of these available forestry lands. Thus in Missaukee we have 12,385 acres of Tax Homestead, and an esti- ‘mated area of 113,000 acres of State Tax land, or in round numbers 125,000 -acres or over five entire townships. In Roscommon county we have an -aggregate of about 250,000 acres or over ten townships in these two classes of abandoned lands. Crawford county has 185,000 acres, Otsego has 90,000 acres, Mont- morency 240,000 acres, Oscoda, Ogemaw, Alcona and Iosco each over 250,- 000 acres; Alpena and Presque Isle nearly 300,000 acres each. This entire territory is abundantly watered with beautiful lakes and streams abound- 8 : FORESTRY BULLETIN ing in trout, grayling and other fish that attest to the purity of the water, and the deer and other wild animals of the lower peninsula are almost en- tirely confined to this locality. This region then, because of its area, water and excellent topography, is the place upon which to rear up a new forest and in fact there is no other location in the lower peninsula where the state can contro] an area of land sufficient in extent for that purpose. The present condition of the original forests of Michigan is the same as that of any other property that has passed into the hands of an owner, who sees in it only the dollars and cents which the article will return when put upon the market. Fully ninety per cent of all the wooded lands in our state are owned by parties who will convert the timber into merchantable forms as fast as the market will receive it. This assertion can be verified by an inspection of the offices of the numerous lumbermen who still operate in this State, and who display maps showing lots, sections and in many instances, whole townships be- longing to the company controlling the same. The forest lands so held are doomed, and the length of time they will remain in their present con- dition is dependent entirely upon the caprice of the owner and no great amount of good can come from any discussion of these lands. Nor is this eendition to be entirely deplored. Much of the timber in these forests is already past its prime; especially is this true of the larger tracts of white pine and the crop should be harvested before many years pass by. Yet if we could interest some of these large owners, men who have be- come millionaires by handling Michigan timber, to use some care in the cutting of these forests, we should accomplish much. There is always a good strong undergrowth in these wooded tracts, among which are many seedlings of the better sorts of timber, and if these could be preserved the undergrowth around them would shade and pro- tect until they would finally take care of themselves. It is not necessary to remove the old tops and pieces of tree trunks that are always left as debris after cleaning off for timber, no person who is familiar with the woods and the conditions attending the lumbering of a tract of land, would ever advocate the removal of this refuse in order to burn it in some other location, and as a matter of fact, it is much better to let it lie and decay, helping to retain moisture and produce shade and protection for the remaining timber growth. But here we furnish fuel for the forest fire and upon the proper control of this one element almost entirely depends the future of Michigan forestry. Wherever we find stump lands that have not been burned and burned over again, we there find that Nature has done and is still doing her best to restore the conditions which ex- isted before lumbering commenced. Our government surveyors in the original surveys of the State some sixty years ago, noted numerous windfalls. The small mounds of earth fallen from the roots of the trees which went down before the great tornadoes still mark the route taken, but the valuable growth of timber which has since sprung up is a more substantial tracing. Sections three, four and nine of Town 23 N., R. 18 W., in Manistee county are good examples. The United States Survey in the early forties noted an extensive windfall “grown up to brush.” We find the early settlers avoiding this tract, because of the light timber growth, which to- MICHIGAN EXPERIMENT STATION 9 day is coverea with a fine forest of young basswood, white ash and maple and was recently sold at a good price to a Michigan manufacturing con- cern. Had this tract been burned over repeatedly just as the seedlings were in their young growth, we should now find the area covered with an inferior growth of worthless stuff, if indeed there were humus enough to support any vegetation at all. The 10 per cent of the timbered lands still remaining in the hands of the commonwealth is subject to the same management as is the 90 per cent in the hands of large owners. Most of these public lands are well timbered and would have been purchased long ago except for the fact that ‘they are for the most part isolated and too far away from transportation facilities to become of use to manufacturers. They are fast passing from the control of the State, however, and it will not be many years before Michigan as a state will have very little timber to dispose of. Much of the timber belonging to the public is ripe and should be harvested. If there were some manner in which the public could authorize selected agents to pick out and sell off this timber which is ready to cut, and thereby retain the title in the state, we might consider the plan, but past legislatures have not taken kindly to this idea and always look with sus- picion upon any plan which has for its object the disposition of the timber upon public lands, even though the trees are blown or burned down, and fast spoiling in decay. This is to be regretted as a considerable income might have been derived from a saving made along this line—enough to have paid competent wardens for looking after these tracts of woodland. Until some such system of legislation can be had, the maintenance of the present forest areas must be at a loss of much of the valuable timber now standing, as the only method by which the value can be saved is by selling to parties who will cut it. The maintenance of our present forests has two foes to combat, viz:—timber thieves and forest fires, and destructive as the latter may be and have been, they must bow in insignificance to the pirates who have preyed upon the forests of Michigan ever since there was sale for any of the products. It may seem a broad assertion, but it is a fact, that more than double the amount of timber is stolen from State lands annually - than is destroyed by fire. The reason for this lies in the policy pursued in the settlement of trespass committed by these vandals. The State has a good law which should be enforced against this class of people, yet we find that in the hundreds of cases of trespass upon public lands none of the trespassers have ever been prosecuted. Whyis this? If one of these people were to go upon the grounds of any of the State institutions and eut down and take away a tree, or commit any other felony, he would be at once punished as any thief should be. Yet the same person can tres- pass upon the forest lands of the State and run no fear of prosecution whatever. If caught, he will be called upon to pay the stumpage value, which really means that he is buying timber and paying no taxes. One reason why prosecutions have not been had, is the fact that the Attorneys General who have held office from time to time, hold that only the prose- cuting attorneys of the county wherein the offence is committed, can com- mence suit against trespassers upon public lands (yet we find the same Attorneys General flying to the aid of the Game Warden whenever he has occasion to request their services. We assume that it would be quite as reasonable to protect the forests, which will surely become extinct under the present system, as without the forests we can have no game). This 2 10 FORESTRY BULLETIN protection can never be effectual through township or county officials, as- they are too often implicated in the trespassing, or not competent to con- duct the prosecutions if made. Few people in the southern portions of our State fully understand the conditions of this problem. First, it is almost impossible to impanel a jury in the northern counties, the majority of whose members have not themselves some day trespassed upon public lands. Second, in sparsely settled counties, the legal talent available for prosecuting attorney is limited to one or two persons, who are wholly un- able to successfully cope with the attorneys which the trespasser will al- ways employ, and the State is the loser thereby. Third, the trespassers. and generally the representatives from these northern districts raise the. plea that these timber thieves are poor men of family, who are starving and are forced to enter upon these lands and steal to support their fami- lies. We challenge this statement, for in an investigation which has ex- tended over the last four years, we have noted that in nearly every in- stance the trespasser was a man who had a good bank account, and was. not forced to steal for a living, but finding it a lucrative business with no. risks or taxes, kept at it. He is still at it and still will be until more stringent measures are taken to stop this business, or until the grand old State of Michigan has not a tree left for him to steal. Our suggestions then, as to the maintenance of our present forest areas are entirely along the lines of legislation. We can do nothing with public property without laws governing the same—laws which are so plain and concise that there: can be no quibbling or doubt as to their meaning. These laws should cover, first the matter of trespassers upon State lands, and by trespassers we mean malicious trespassers. There are always. some few who by mistaken lines or corners get over the true lines, but these are usually willing to settle and are already well provided for, but we want in addition to the good law we now have for malicious tres- passers, a clause compelling the Attorney General of the State to prose- cute in arrests made by the authority of the Commissioner of the State Land Office, or a clause authorizing the Land Commissioner to procure: competent attorneys to so prosecute without the sanction of the Attorney General. Second, legislation to prevent the destruction of our present forests by fire. It seems to us that the only solution of this matter is by the se- lection and appointment of efficient wardens by the State for the pur- pose. No system which depends upon the township or county officers for its execution, will ever be successful. These wardens must have the sov- ereign power of the State back of them and in their pockets, and must be entirely removed from political influences. Game Wardens, Fire Wardens and Trespass Agents should all be State agents with full power to make arrests and to prosecute in justice courts as the Game Wardens now do. There is no Game Warden but that knows of trespass upon public lands, and there is no Trespass Agent but that often sees flagrant violations of the game laws, and these men should all be vested with as strong authority to do anything to prevent the destruction of our forests and game as can be given them by any law that can be devised. The duties of the wardens should be to prevent the use of fires wherever. there is danger of damage resulting to the surrounding territory, whether owned in private or by the State. We all know the difficulties. which attend the fighting of fires in our cities where we have all modern. appliances for their subjection, but none of these fires can compare with, MICHIGAN EXPERIMENT STATION 11 the genuine forest fire where great blazing brands go whirling, whizzing, hissing, ten, twenty, and in high winds, even forty-rods through the air, spreading fire so swiftly that no human power can stop it. The only place to stamp it out is before the match is lighted. Proper legislation along these lines will, we believe, do more to maintain our forest areas than any other method. If our land owners in both the southern and n rthern portions of Michigan would plant the sides of gulleys, hills, and rough, stony and unusually valueless ground for agricultural purposes, to forest seedlings, we would soon have an abundance of growing timber and to bring this about, the State should furnish seedlings or seeds of the ash, basswood, butternut, elms, maples, oaks, pines, walnuts and other valuable timbers to those who will use them, and also set aside similar places in its own holdings which are yet covered with forest or which have been denuded of forest by lumbermen or fires, and plant forests and properly care for them. This brings us to the consideration of the stump lands, and by the stump lands we mean those lands which, within the memory of man, have been covered with timber, but which now are divested of everything of value and are patiently waiting for something to make them again valu- able. We do not in any sense include the Jack pine plains. The e are, however, oases in every desert, and we find them on the plains wherever the clay subsoil comes near enough the surface to retain the moisture, and we usually find here standing the Norway pine, or traces of its having been here; but there are hundreds of thousands of acres of good, fertile stump lands that will have ample time to grow another forest before they are wanted for agricultural purposes, and let us put our efforts here where we can show results. It is possible that the time may come when these plains may be utilized for other than grazing purposes, but it will be when our population has increased to such an extent that proper fertiliza- tion and irrigation can be brought with the people and not until then. The legislation suggested for the maintenance of the present forest areas is also applicable to the stump lands in every feature, but there is need of more study and more clearly defined legislation along this line than the former. Most of these stump lands are or were at one time owned by some one of the wealthy lumber firms which have helped to build our State. In so far as possible, these men and firms should be induced to deed back to the State the lands for which they have no further use, and upon which most of them have ceased to pay taxes, thus again placing the lands under State control. Our present tax law introduces one of the most vexatious problems that we have to solve. If the State cannot give a good title to all tax lands, then there is no use of forestry legislation regarding these vast areas, for if she cannot give title, she has none her- self, and we would not advocate the use of public money on the lands of men who ouly sit back and wait for them to become valuable before again claiming title and taking possession. The State cannot afford to carry on forestry experiments upon lands which she thinks she owns. The State of Michigan should never plant a tree upon lands over which the public has not absolute contro] and to which she has not a clear title and under the present tax law and the supreme court decisions regarding the same, it would be folly to try to re-forest the larger portion of the stump lands of this State. But once get the lands under the ownership of the Com- monwealth and we can, by keeping out fires, reproduce a forest at little expense, of as much or more value than the original, and this by 12 FORESTRY BULLETIN letting Nature do her own sweet will, aiding by a little judicious planting’ and pruning. . To summarize:—We must then have legislation whereby we can have wardens to protect forests, stump lands and game from fires and thieves. These wardens should have authority to arrest and commence suit, there- by lessening cost of long journeys of officers in making arrest and ex- pensive and tedious waiting for prosecutiong attorneys. It should be the duty of the Attorney General to prosecute all cases when called upon to do so. There should be such a modification of the tax laws as will do away with evasion of tax payment, through error or incompetency of township or county officials; there should be such provision made that . finally all lands taken back by the State should be held in the same man- ner as those to which original titles can now be given. Influence owners of stump lands to deed back to the State instead of letting lands go back for non-payment of taxes. When the State has thus acquired absolute title to large tracts of stump lands, put them | under the charge of competent wardens, help along by planting, pruning and keeping out stock, and we will soon have another forest. — A GROUP OF @ he a7 cael be a % Ba) FINE WHITE PINES | ‘ es MICHIGAN EXPERIMENT STATION 13 METHODS OF REFORESTING PINE STUMP LANDS. W. J. BEAL. “The vandalism which hews down vast stretches of woodland for gain, without thought or care for the future, has too long gone on unchecked. The injury done by it has often been described and can hardly be ex- aggerated.” (The Providence Journal). Fortunately for the people of Michigan, the conditions are still such that, if the annual or perennial fires, browsing animals and timber thieves are kept out, the land surface will very soon be clothed with a woody growth. This would come about through the agency of sprouts from living stumps, roots, or grubs of a considerable number of kinds of trees and shrubs that were not completely killed by a burning of the materials on the surface of the soil. -Among these may be enumerated nearly all of the broad-leaved trees and shrubs. Again, it is not common to find an area of much size that does not have left standing some one or more old trees with tops still living that were unworthy the attention of lumbermen because of defects. These trees bear seeds every other year, or less frequently, which the kind breezes, the birds or squirrels give free transportation for long distances. Considering the assistance that Nature, unmolested, is ready to bring, my task of telling how to re- forest stump lands of Michigan is not as formidable an undertaking as might first appear. But Nature does her work slowly and often imperfectly. Quicker re- turns can be made by assisting Nature. Besides keeping out the fire and grazing animals, man can assist Nature by planting four small, desirable trees to nearly every square rod, thus restocking the ground evenly. In undertaking the proper management of stump lands numerous prob- lems confront us: 1. What kinds of trees shall we plant; shall they be native or foreign- ers? 2. How many shall we plant to the acre? 3. What preparations shall we give the land? 4. How shall we care for the trees, from seedlings to maturity? ; 5. How shall we plant to best advantage, and at what season of the ear? 6. How large shall the trees be when planted, or shall we rely on sowing and planting seed? 7. Shall we plant one kind of tree on an acre, or shall we plant several kinds? Prof. C. S. Sargent, Director of the Arnold Arboretum in Massachu- setts, long ago began planting many kinds of forest trees, including those from Europe and other countries, and, as late as 1878, recommended for our use the planting of the Scotch pine, European larch, European lin- den, and several others, but in 1886, and since that time, he has turned completely about. He says “many of the conclusions reached in those papers, however, have not been substantiated by further investigations upon the same subject made during the past ten years. * * * Tam now 14 FORESTRY BULLETIN as fully convinced that the native trees of Massachusetts are better suited to Massachusetts than any exotic trees can be, and that if our woods and plantations are ever to assume real importance, and to make profitable returns upon the money invested in them, they must be com- posed either wholly or in large part of our native trees.” ' The white willow of Europe seems to be an exception to the rule just mentioned, as it grows rapidly and reaches large size in this country, and is worth planting if anyone can make use of the lumber. Most of the trees of Europe which attain much size were long ago planted more or less at the Agricultural College, some of them as early as 1860, and many others previous to 1875. The tests there made lead me to the same conclusion for Michigan that Prof. Sargent reached for Massachusetts. Furthermore, the trials that have been made in Eastern North America lead us to conclude that there is nothing on the Rocky Mountains or on the Pacific Slope that is worth planting for growing timber in Michigan. Prof. Sargent says further, “the most instructive plantations of Massa- chusetts are not those which have been made upon the European fashion, or rather with European trees, by men who have studied’ the subject in Europe or in European books upon forestry. The real progress in sylvi- culture in Massachusetts has been made by the farmers of Barnstable and Plymouth counties, who have taught us how to plant and raise forests successfully and profitably under the most favorable conditions. The seeret of their success must be sought where they sought and found it, not in forest treatises, unsuited to the requirements of this community, but in the native woods in full view of their own doorstep, which told them what to plant and supplied them with material for planting. It has been demonstrated in Barnstable county that a crop of pitch pine can be raised from seed with as much certainty as a crop of corn and with much less expense.” Half a century ago some experiments were begun in Eastern Massa- chusetts in planting white pines on barren sandy soil. The young trees were set in shallow furrows at odd times, with little expense, at a distance of from five to twelve feet each way, and after planting received no sub- sequent care whatever. They grew rapidly and vigorously. Prof. Sar- gent says “Here, no doubt, are the most profitable and successful at- tempts at sylviculture ever made in the United States.” These experiments do not, unfortunately, show “the method of culture which can best be adopted in order to make this tree yield the greatest return. More experiments are needed with the white pine.” Where experiments were made in Massachusetts the land consisted of old fields, clear of stumps and other obstructions, while in Michigan the pine stumps are still left and the intervening spaces are often filled with logs, briars, shrubs and grasses in variety. In making selections for planting, the nature of the soil and other conditions must be taken into account. On light sands we may not wish to rely on the conifers because of great risk from fire, but on such lands our broad-leaved trees are found to grow but indifferently, making timber of little value. For growing good timber on such lands, judging from our present knowledge, we are reluctantly forced to select some of the cone bearing trees. Still good pine has been grown on land in Michigan that also grew good hardwood. Where white pine or other kinds of first-class trees have been growing to some extent on our wild land and have not MICHIGAN EXPERIMENT STATION 15 ;produced good timber, it is a sure sign that it is unsafe to plant such ‘trees for profit; on the other hand, if fire and browsing animals are kept out, it is pretty safe to rely on a good crop of timber on land where one fine crop of trees has been removed. For Michigan the following kinds have been known to grow well, -each in soil suited to it; white pine, Norway pine, American elm, white -ash, basswood, sugar maple, black cherry, yellow birch, red oak, and per- -haps also with good care, butternut and walnut. Many others have made valuable timber, but most of them grow too slowly for profit, or grow rapidly but make timber of poor quality. In 1863, Prof. James Satterlee, with his father, planted near Greenville, Montcalm county, a considerable grove of chestnuts, butternuts and black walnuts. All have done well and are now healthy. The leading native trees on such land were white oak and black oak. Such an experiment begun thirty-five years ago, is worth considerable to one interested in tree’ planting. 4 In some places it may be profitable to grow aspens and some other poplars, with a view of using the timber for paper pulp. There is no danger of planting the trees too thickly, but this work costs something. The better kinds selected to plant may be scattered about among the stumps, placing four to the square rod, 640 to the “square acre, and among these, and near them, should be other cheap and quick growing trees or shrubs to shade the ground and help keep out grasses, herbaceous plants and weeds. For cheap nurse trees, to start quickly and shade the ground, there appears nothing better than ‘box elder. On the light sand, jack pine started from the svcd, is first rate. What preparations shall be given the land? To cover every case the answers would be numerous and long, because of varied conditions. If much rubbish is left unburned it may be best ‘to fire it and clear the land. If grass and pasturing have left the surface with a good deal of sod, plowing will be beneficial, but this is not always possible. In case it is not, dig over a space two feet or more in diameter wherever a small tree is planted. In most places the ground is already somewhat shaded by trunks of small trees. In this case no preparation is ‘needed, possibly, excepting the reduction of neighboring bushes the better to expose to light the young tree you are planting. Bear in mind that ‘this planting anew has to be done but once for all time, and the work ‘should therefore be well done. After setting the young trees what care will they need? Rigidly keep out fire and grazing animals. While your choice saplings are yet small, pass over the ground from year to year and lop off the tops of the surrounding bushes, if they reach much above those you are ‘caring for. If two branches to the main trunk are very nearly equal in size, cut one off or remove a part of it, thus sending more vigor into the remaining branch, that a straight trunk may be produced. After the trees have grown so large that a crop is to be harvested there are two ways to proceed. One is to cut off every tree of any value and allow ‘sprouts or seedlings to renew the forest, the other is to keep taking out from time to time a tree here and there as it is needed, leaving the rest to grow. On hilly land the latter method is always preferable. Evergreens are best planted just as the buds are pushing in the spring, other trees may be planted in the spring or fall, while they are destitute of leaves 16 FORESTRY BULLETIN For setting out seedlings that are six inches to a foot high in unplowed ground if the obstructions are not too numerous, two men with long- handled dibbles and a boy to handle the plants kept moist, can plant from four to five thousand per day, enough for seven acres of land. The boy should carry with him a mixture of trees of several kinds. The man thrusts a dibble into the ground, a seedling goes into the hole, the dibble is thrust again into the ground and pried toward the young tree, closing in the earth about it. If the earth is packed a little about the tree all the better. Chestnuts, acorns and the like, should be planted one in a place, about two inches deep, where the trees are needed. This should be done usu- ally in the spring, for then there is less risk of destruction by squirrels. The nuts may be kept over winter without loss of vitality, by burying on high land in twice their bulk of sand. | FOREST FIRE An experienced gardener knows that the roots of a young tree when ex- posed to dry air will live just about as long as a trout or a black bass in the same situation; the inexperienced or thoughtless person might lose most of his labor in tree planting by not knowing this fact. MICHIGAN EXPERIMENT STATION 17 The trees to be set should usually be four to twelve inches high. At this size they cost less, can be more easily planted and are more likely to make good ‘trees. As a guide to the selection of trees for each kind of soil or location, plant those species that formerly grew in such places. Chestnuts, if planted, should be placed in soil that is sandy or euvelly, high enough and well drained. I suggested that the boy helping in the work should carry a mixed bunch of the trees, that the different kinds be grown together. But why mix them, you ask? Trees so planted are less liable to the attacks of in- sects or fungi; less liable to loss from fire or wind; they economize the room above the soil and below the surface to better advantage. Their likes and dislikes are not just the same. Pines, beeches, oaks, maples, box elders and some others will hold their lower branches covered with living leaves very well in the shade, while ashes, walnuts and chestnuts are impatient of shade and cannot be grown closely enough together to keep out grass and weeds. It would be a mistake to attempt to grow white ashes or chestnuts by the acre, each sort by itself. I shall not here attempt to produce a complete treatise on growing and managing seeds and seedlings, but a few words seem necessary. In case you fail to secure seeds or to grow seedlings when you need them, they can be purchased at very low prices of some nurseryman. The man who has little horticultural tact will find it cheaper to buy; the man who has the tact needs little instruction from me. To grow seedling evergreens and other delicate things, secure a spot not likely to become very dry nor to become flooded with water. The soil should be good, with a surface of rich sandy loam or leaf mold. Above this should be shade. This spot should be but little exposed to wind. With a little care such places may be selected in almost any forest, though, the spreading roots are in the way and draw out the moisture. To produce the shade it will cost but little to set or drive posts five or six feet high, and from the tops of one to the other put on horizontal strips or poles, on which throw some fine brush destitute of leaves. Here you can grow seedlings with success. Sow the seeds in rows six to eight inches apart, covering them but slightly with one-fourth of an inch of light soil. Never let the ground get dry, nor become soaked with water for a very long time, nor exposed to the sun, nor become choked with weeds. Seeds of elms, birches and maples should be planted as soon as gathered or not long after. If seeds of ashes become dry before planting in the open (as they may be with safety), they should be soaked a day or two in water till they become swollen. 18 FORESTRY BULLETIN RELATION OF METEOROLOGY TO FORESTRY IN MICHIGAN. BY R. C. KEDZIE. The controlling influence of climate over forest growth is well recog- nized. The distribution of plants over the earth’s surface is to a large extent determined by climate, but moisture as an element of climate is controlling. The climatic conditions, as related to forest growth, and especially in connection with the question of reforesting our denuded northern plains become matters worthy of consideration. FOREST GROWTH. The conditions favorable to growth of trees are good soil, proper temper- ature and moisture. Failure cf any one of these will limit or prevent arboreal growth. A good illustration of the limitation by a poor soil is furnished in the government forests,of Germany. Prof. F. 8. Kedzie in a recent letter writes: “I have been all over the Royal Forest. It lies outside of the city about ten miles and is carefully watered and taken care of by a small army of foresters. The trees are all pines, planted a great many years ago, and through the forest run wild boar, deer and other game. J saw one lone red squirrel during my tour, which lasted over four hours. Only the Kaiser and his guests ever shoot or hunt the game here. * * * * At one point I found a plot of pines which was planted in 1889. but the result must try even the patience of a German— the average height was not more than four feet. I was disappointed in the appearance of the trees in the forest—they don’t compare with ours at home, and I expected they would be much larger on account of the more abundant rainfall. When I told the Ger- man friend who was with me that they were beginning to agitate the forest question in Michigan he seemed greatly astonished that a man was permitted to cut down trees without planting as many acres as he cleared. There is one thing clear to my mind; we don’t need to try any experi- ments in forestry with pine trees—the millennium is too near.” The limiting conditions for forest growth are not found in our soil, which is in striking contrast with the thin sands of Prussia; but in cer- tain sections the climatic condition, especially the rainfall, is the problem to be solved. While the climate of Michigan on the average is satisfac- tory, yet it still must be characterized as capricious—subject to wide vari- ations from year to year. The influence of these climatic variations is shown in corresponding variations in tree growth. Spruce trees have grown for many years on the college lawn. When cut down, and a cross section of the trunk is examined, the concentric layers of annual growth clearly point out the good years of abundant rainfall, while the thin rings show the years of unfavorable climatic conditions. The mete- orological tables for the last 34 years at this college, when compared with “the tables in wood” of annual growth, show very clearly the relations of climate to forest growth. MICHIGAN EXPERIMENT STATION 19 FORESTS AND MOISTURE. Much has been written about the relation of forests to rainfall; some claiming that rain is increased by forests, and others that there is no con- nection between them. Geo. P. Marsh in his admirable work “Man and Nature,” has pointed out how forests restrain the rapid escape of the rain; preserving springs and small streams, retarding floods, and mitigating drought. Their influ- ence in preventing the drifting of snow and keeping an even covering of that wonderful blanket for the sleeping earth, is well recognized. The influence of forests in diminishing evaporation by restraining the velocity of the wind at the surface of the ground is worthy of considera- tion. I do not refer to the well-known influence of tall forests in restrain- ing the violence of the wind as a body, but to the influence of forests, shrubs and vegetable growth of every kind in keeping the air quiet at the ground level, where alone soil evaporation takes place. To obtain some measure of the relative rapidity of evaporation in a draft and in comparatively still air; the following experiment was tried: The air in one part of the chemical lecture room was so nearly still that a feather would not move perceptibly; by opening windows in an. other part of the room a strong draft could be secured at one window, the wind blowing 12 miles an hour. Two square pieces of Turkish towel- ing of same size, were thoroughly wet, just short of dripping, then weighed separately, one suspended in the stil air of the room for an hour, while the other was similarly hung in the draft by the window, or in the mouth of the ventilating shaft. Both were left for an hour, then weighed again and the loss in weight showed the amount of water evaporated in each case. The trial was made seven times, with the result that the evap- oration was four times greater in the draft than in the still air. The actual amount evaporated was not the same for each hour, but the ratio of evaporation was almost identical in the whole series, viz: four times as much in the draft as took place in the still air. The reason for this is not hard to find. A volume of perfectly still air surrounding a wet body will take up moisture with progressive slowness till the air is saturated; but if this damp air is blown away and replaced by relatively dry air, evaporation will go on with increased rapidity, and if the air is constantly renewed as in a draft of wind, the evaporation will be niore rapid. Every washer-woman knows that the clothes will soon blow dry when hung out in a stiff breeze, but will take hours if lined up in- doors. The principle of my laboratory experiment will hold in the broad open of Nature. The air in contact with the moist ground will take up water till it is saturated and then evaporation will be suspended, provided the air remains still and undisturbed. But if this bottom air is swept away by wind, evaporation will be renewed and the drying of the soil will again goon. The influence of trees, shrubs and even the grasses in preserving in some degree this shallow pool of quiet air at the ground level and thus diminishing evaporation from the soil may seem a trifling matter at first thought, but becomes of great moment on the large scale of nature. RELATION OF SOIL TO MOISTURE. The capacity of a soil to imbibe and retain water is intimately connected with its composition. The open and porous soils of a sandy character, 20 FORESTRY BULLETIN take up water most readily, retain it in least quantity and part with it most rapidly by evaporation. One hundred parts of pure sand will take up 25 parts of water, and will lose 22 parts by evaporation in four hours when spread out in a thin sheet in dry air. Such soil is well called leachy and very subject to drought. If to such sand, clay, oxide of iron and marl, carbonate of lime, are added, the power of such mixed soil to retain water is much improved, but the material that has the greatest influence, and the one most within our control is humus or the organic matter of soil. An experiment showed this clearly. A glass funnel was used holding a very small filter paper in its throat (and thoroughly wet) to prevent the sand flowing through. Into this funnel 100 grains of dry sandy soil from Grayling were placed, and water poured over the sand till completely wet, and the excess of water drained off till dripping had ceased. This soil contained 95 per cent. of sand and 24 per cent humus. It took up and retained by capillary attrac- tion 29 per cent. of water. Left undisturbed for 3 days in the shade it lost 27.7 parts of water, retaining only 1.3 parts out of the 29. A soil was prepared by mixing two parts of Grayling sand with one part of Kalamazoo muck (containing 63.76 per cent. of humus). The ma- terials were thoroughly mixed and sifted and 100 grains of the mixed soils were placed in a glass funnel the same as in former experiment, and water poured over it till saturated, when it was found that 100 parts of this soil took up and retained 65 parts of water. On leaving it exposed for 3 days in the same way, the soil lost 45 parts of water, but still retained 20 parts of the original 65. In other words, the addition of 21 per cent. of humus to a sand containing 24 per cent of organic matter, more than doubled its capacity to take up water by capillarity, and increased by more than 15 fold its power to resist evaporation. A similar set of experiments, using jelly cups in place of funnels, gave concordant results. It is thus shown that the beneficial influence of the organic matter of the soil in mitigating drought in sandy soils is twofold: assisting such soil to take up and hold the rain when it falls, and prevent- ing excessive loss by evaporation. The damage by forest fires sweeping over the country, burning up leaves and grasses which would form humus, and consuming much of the humus already in the soil, becomes evident to all. These forest fires inflict in- calculable injury upon our northern plains. The thwarting of Nature’s efforts at reforesting, by burning up all trees and shrubs too young to resist the fire, is clearly seen as one travels over the blackened country. Keep out the fires is the first and great commandment in forestry for Michigan. Without this no effort at reforesting will accomplish much. METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS FOR THIRTY FOUR YEARS AT THE MICH- IGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. To satisfactorily study these questions of the relation of climate to forestry, we need a long series of observations taken at leading points in the State. Unfortunately these are wanting, but as a contribution to this end the following mean monthly observations at the Agricultural College are presented. They are too local to be decisive of the average climatic condition of our State, but may yet be of some value in future studies. MICHIGAN EXPERIMENT STATION 21 Abstract of the Meteorological Observations taken at the State Agricultural College for thirty-four years from 1864 to 1897. By R.C Kenzie, Professor of Chemistry. JANUARY, FEBRUARY, ° gp) e213 a eae 3 a 3 3 3 a cs g Year.| & s a | ts g cK 3 3 . qa | 3 | mw | cs] g als | 6 |e] g ef) e|\e|se| : e |e |@ |e) s a A m a iS) a 4 ¥ ea fA 5 I 1864 | °22.26 | .105 66 | 28.875 66 | 0.94 || 927.82} 150 70 | 28.771 69 0.27 1865 | 21.10] .090 72 | 28.887 77 | 0.65 || 27.59] 118 75 | 28.919 15 1.76 _ 1866 | 21.16 +104 82 | 29.013 14 | 2.08 j] 22.71 lll 81 | 28.970 1 2.28 1867 | 17.61] .091 87 | 28.857 76| 1.68 || 30.89] .152 85 | 28.904 UW 3.23 1868 | 19.00] .090 80 | 28.894 82 | 1.47 || 18.72] .093 83 | 29.014 65 1.28 1869 | 29.38] .162 96 | 28 830 66 | 0.87 || 26.66] .148 95 | 28.839 71 2.95 1870 | 25.87] .125 85 | 28.867 80 | 1.93 |] 24.25] .112 &4 | 28.807 65 1.20 1871 | 24.75 | 135 93 | 28.903 82 | 3.95 || 2565] .132 90 | 28.816 69 1.73 1872 | 21.59] .107 88 | 28.838 71} 0.43 || 21.34] .100 84 | 28.842 50 0.49 1873 | 15.87 | .099 95 | 28.873 79 | 2.98 || 19.10] .110 95 | 28.847 61 0.77 1874 | 27.70} 135 88 | 29.048 73 | 3.53 || 25.51] 128 &9 | 28.928 70 1.55 1875 | 12.87] .074 88 | 29.005 76 | 1.81 || 27.99 | .075 9b | 28.875 53 2.20 1876 | 30.22 | .157 84 | 29.073 58} 1.63 || 27.38] 131 84 | 29.063 58 3.04 1877 | 18.07 | .097 91 | 29.057 64} 1.33 || 32.31} 155 85 | 29.124 45 0.00 1878 | 29.11] .185 89 | 29,123 76\ 1.12 1} 28.07 | 138 89 | 29.029 56 2.74 1879 | 19.19] .099 89 | 29.130 68| 0.49 |} 20.40} .105 92 | 29.107 73 1.43 1880 ; 37.10] 171 15 | 28.995 63 | 2.67 || 29.19] 144 68 | 29.007 63 1.62 1881 | 16.98] .082 81 | 29.077 65} 2.27 || 21.58] .122 93 | 29.152 68 3.71 1882 | 24.89 | .125 89 | 29.144 72| 1.47 || 35.12] .156 75 | 29.053 56 2.28 1883 | 14.39 | .077 95 | 29.129 67 | 1.53 || 19.76] .106 93 | 29.252 61 £50 Sts 1884 | 15.46 | .093 93 | 29.130 77| 1.23 || 23.43 | .185 92 | 29.093 85 3.69 1885 | 15.34] .118 90 | 29.144 75 |. 2.70 8.94] 124 91 | 29.005 49 0.73 1886 | 18.78 | .106 91 | 29.074 q17| 2.66 || 22.27 | .182 86 | 29.106 65 1.35 1887 | 18.20] 103 90 | 29.000 TA | 3.25 || 24.26} 127 89 | 29.178 78 5.7L 1888 | 15.40] .085 89 | 29.202 WT | 2.18 |} 20.95) 112 85 | 29.070 6L 1.70 1889 | 28.04 | .185 84 | 29.008 J1| 1.53 |} 18.25 | .092 85 | 29.091 73 1.17 1890 | 31.54 | .161 87 | 29.146]. 72) 2.31 || 81.54] 152 84 | 29.073 69 1.79 1891 | 26.72} .137 90 | 29.092 70 | 0.82 || 26.67) .137 81 | 29.055 68 2.20 1892 | 19.20] .098 86 | 29.064 63 | 0.96 || 27.80] .189 86 | 29.133 79 1.93 1893 | 14.80] .082 82 | 29.008 78} 1.78 || 21.31] .098 87 | 29.115 66 1.83 1894 | 26.88 | .131 83 | 28.989 64| 1.87 || 21.15 | .100 77 | 29.016 58 0.53 1895 | 17.50} .095 88 | 28.966 66} 1.04 || 16.40] 091 81 | 29.055 66 0.12 1896 | 24.65 | .136 96 | 29.117 76 | 0.79 || 24.28] .138 96 | 28.916 67 1.51 1897 | 22.34 | .136 97 | 29.124 73 | 4.17 || 26.38] .146 97 | 29.090 80 0.67 Means| 21.87 | «114 87 | 29.0201 7! 18 |) 23.69) 124 86 | 29.010 66 1.88 22 FORESTRY BULLETIN Abstract of the Meteorological Observations.—Continued. Marcu APRIL. FA : s | 3 $ . eles Year. g 5 : ee g 5 s ce g > | as . 3 > B83 : a 8 A] go] 2 a So | wo | g2@ | g ee beer) 2 Lee eee ey) a/#]a|es|2]}42)])2]42)e8e!2| 4 a ay ala | 38 x a a. ia iB 3 1864 | °31.74 | .155 77 | 28.764 68 | 2.26 || °45.86 275 84 | 28.843 76 3.87 1865 | 36.96] .182 74 | 28.806 68} 2.79 || 47.40] 248 74 | 28.815 66 2.32 1866 | £9.06} .140 83 | 28.959 71 | 3.39 |] 48.94] .236 64 | 28.848 57 1.41 1867 | 29.72] .184 88 | 28.930 72| 0.68 || 48.20] 196 57 | 28.752 60 2.19 1868 | 37.80 | .213 87 | 28.887 63 | 4.65 || 43.68] 224 56 | 28.911 56 1.83 1869 | 27.60] .124 82 | 28.934 67} 1.65 || 45.70 | .222 67 | 28.827 61 3.42 1870 | 30.28 | .148 84 | 28.845 7 | 3.01 |) 50.39] .267 76 | 28.902 50 2.02 1871 | 38.18 | 194 83 | 28.810 66 | 3.91 || 49.80} .261 74 | 28.722 63 2.97 1872 | 24.75 | .109 85 | 28.911 54] 2.04 || 47.39] 260 74 | 28.852 52 1.26 1873 | 28.30] .142 86 | 28.852 62 | 1.73 |] 43.17] 220 76 | 23.798 13 3.88 1874 | 32.30] .161 83 | 28.895 54} 1.79 || 36.87] .169 75 | 28.941 46 1.67 1875 | 26.20] .136 87 | 28.844 49} 1.02 || 41.11] .182 69 | 29.047 45 0.61 1876 | 30.55 | .150 95 | 28.929 65 | 4.84 || 44.16] .195 66 | 29.000 51 2.08 1877 | 24.51] .127 91 | 28.981 63} 5.60-|| 46.16} 214 30 | 28.974 50] 4.14 1878 | 40.90 | .219 83 | 29.072 72 | 3.12 |} 50.55] .269 69 | 28.874 59 3.76 1879 | 33.19] .152 78 | 29.102 56 | 1.57 || 44.84] 195 66 | 29.050 44 1.25 1880 | 35.50] .145 79 | 29.181 56} 1.70 || 45.87] .282 74 | 28.984 48 6.10 1881 | 30.28] .145 86 | 28.899 67 | 2.66 || 45.59} 200 TL | 29.054 49 1.75 1882 | 35.96 | .163 77 | 29.110 68} 3.58 || 44.70! .202 67 | 29.101 BT 1.88 1883 | 24.89] .113 93 | 29.059 48] 0.71 || 43.48] .198 69 | 29.042 54 1.90 1884 | 29.89] 149 86 | 29,088 55 | 3.67 || 43.66/ 193 68 | 29.023 57 1.95 1885 | 21.26 | .159 88 | 29.096 52] 0.58 || 43.59} 228 73 | 29.097 60 2.47 1886 | 31.33] 169 80 | 29.013 60} 2.63 |] 50.18] 356 73 | 29.118 57 1.99 1987 | 28.29] 124 78 | 29.118 54] 1.78 | 45.87] 204 66 | 29.048 58 0.20 1888 | 27.03] .123 79 | 29.154 62} 1.88 || 44.03] .179 61 | 29.202 49 1.15 1889 | 37.60] .151 72 | 29.010 B1 | 1.22 || 46.59] 212 68 | 29.069 56 2.02 1890 | 28.20] .129 79 | 29.100 56} 1.54]! 47.20] .226 68 | 29.159 46 3.20 1891 | 29.27 | .183 80 | 29.124 TM] 2.41 |] 47.44] 287 70 | 29.060 55 1.74 1392 | 29.86] .129 77 | 29.121 52] 1.31 || 44.50] .202 63 | 29.107 50 2.04 1893 | 28.16] .148 85 | 29.063 57 | 2.82 || 43.50] .228 75 | 28.978 at 4.81 1894 | 40.06] .203 77 | 29.008 63} 1.25 || 48.44] 249 72 | 29.055 61 2.76 1895 | 27.20] .125 80 | 29.064 54] 0.27 || 48.57] .255 74 | 29.062 49 0.67 1896 | 28.70 | .159 95 | 29.052 52] 1.31 || 52.64] .376 81 | 29.067 46 2u77 1897 | 33.00} .190 94 | 29.085 65 | 2.08) 44.58] 282 90 | 29.143 65 2.74 Means| 30.84] .151 83 | 28.996 61] 2.28]! 46.00] 232 70 | 28.996 56 2.40 MICHIGAN EXPERIMENT STATION Abstract of the Meteorological Observations —Continued. 23 May. JUNB. gle] 2 Bl ge] 8/2. Year, g s FE: 33 3 a 3 33 a | 3 A Es 5 a a | "8 ; q 3 a} go] & FT 3 m | get ¢ el e|2|42| 4 élele| lz a 8 aa & 3 . z 3 5 ga 3 ; 8 3 iS EQ 3 B| 3 a 8 o5 3 a ata |eis S| a 2|\0 |ehlta |e | « 1864 | °60.19 470 17 | 28.787 62 2.87 || °67.62 632 81 | 28.949 48 3.88 1865 57.65 373 76 | 28.807 54 1.77 70.76 596 82 | 28.868 54] 3.55 1866 | 55.04 261 59 | 28.823 49 3.48 66.60 488 74 | 28.783 64 5.37 1867 51.11 234 62 | 28.781 69 3.81 71.61 556 73 | 28.872 46 2.83 1868 59.08 336 66 | 28.822 46 2.80 68.46 317 76 | 28.986 45 3.55 1869 56.02 +822 70 | 28.749 10 2.05 64.45 496 80 | 28.856 65 4.40 1870 | 64.32 441 73 | 28.857 39 1.16 10.87 588 TT | 28.880 42 7.27 1871 61.39 405 72 | 28.904 37 1.97 |) 68.21 522 74 | 28.865 42 2.93 1872 58.48 .880 77 | 28.868. 60 3.72 71.82 616 78 | 28.879 49 3.45 1873 56.98 345 72 | 28.826 58 3.05 70.60 5384 72 | 28.840 40 2.96 1874 59.58 323 62 | 28.844 47 1.77 70.61 559 15 28.878 54 5.07 - 1875 | 60.82 | .334 67 | 29.061 47 | 4.48 || 66.57 | 487 65 | 29.029 52] 1.84 1876 57.95 349 73 | 29.009 52 4.13 68.14 539 79 ) 28.911 50 4.34 1877 58.25 337 66 | 29.056 34 2.23 635.93 476 75 | 29.020 51 3.53 1878 54,57 .290 61 | 29.020 54 3.44 64.08 441 73 | 29.030 45 3.15 1879 58.76 821 64 | 29.116 40 2.45 66.02 418 75 | 29.073 43 2,87 1889 64.30 533 TL | 29.061 41 5.59 67.60 532 79 | 29.065 47 5.04 1881 65.24 448 71 | 29.116 37 2.11 64.31 472 78 | 29.018 58 4.37 1882 52.73 +269 66 | 29.077 53 4.04 66.49 ATL 72 | 28.971 53 5.57 1883 52.78 289 72 | 29.007 66 5.66 65.87 530 81 | 28.998 62 11.35 1884 | 56.90 342 73 | 29.007 50 3.95 68.92 527 76 | 29.268 A 2.83 1885 55.76 3893 67 | 28.988 55 2.30 64.69 576 75 | 29.105 43 6.01 1886 58.06 457 79 | 29.036 46 2.67 65.72 589 73 | 29.068 47 1,92 1887 64.28 401 68 | 29.096 36 2.42 68 53 -500 73 | 29.107 47 2.47 1888 53.65 -805 68 | 29.023 64 3.66 67.89 497 72 | 29.032 44 2.51 1889 57.37 269 64 | 29.009 52 3.61 62,83 439 79 | 29.057 65 3.42 1890 53.70 .299 70 | 28.960 58 4.98 70.30 582 73 | 29.083 50 3.92 1891 55.69 275 61 | 29.164 36 1.63 67.40 493 73 | 29.062 50 2.55 1892 54.50 822 76 | 29.003 70 5.92 67.70 561 83 | 29.019 59 4.33 1893 54.40 316 15 | 28.984 52 2.86 66.60 532 78 | 28.767 40 4,85 1894 56.94 355 15 | 28.987 62 4.83 71.38 551 72 | 29.039 42 1.30 1895 61.80 892 67 | 29.098 46 2.06 71.40 521 68 | 29.151 40 1.01 1896 66.48 547 83 | 29.035 41 3.14 69.87 622 83 | 29.060 44 2.60 1897 55.79 421 ; 90 | 29.089 49 3.29 64.21 562 88 | 29.050 52 2.57 Means] 57.96 3806 70 | 28.973 51 3.23 67.77 524 76 | 28.939 49 3.52 24 FORESTRY BULLETIN Abstract of the Meteorological Observations.— Continued. JULY. AUGUST. F 2 re * : co} wee | a P)e]a|8 on oe ee ate | eo ee Sete eel aia let ete] gel 2 |. F| e ) 2 | ge | 2 | 2 a = | = |e5| 2) 8 2 leafilale |s6ia = | a | &@ | a aie 1864 | °74.52 788 80 | 28.925 46 | 1.25 |] °70.72 558 82 | 28.854 68 0.39 1865 | 65.60] .535 85 | 28.788 64] 3.91 || 65.84] 542 85 | 28.953 53 3.38 1866 | 71.72 629 74 | 28.905 52] 4.19 || 62,60 464 81 | 28.884 66 3.44 1867 | 71.60} .547 70 | 28.915 44] 1.78 || 69.78 | 522 74 | 28.911 39 1.74 1868 | 77.19] 782 77 | 28.912 44) 1.11 |} 70.33) 545 73 | 28.943 50 2.42 1869 | 70.35 | .590 79 | 28.844 53| 5.77 || 70.58] 598 75 | 28.968 48 4.85 1870 | 74.40] 659 79 | 28.836 48] 8.02 j| 70.11] .594 81 | 28.890 50 5.53 1871 | 70.60] .579 71 | 28 891 49| 3.10 |] 71.19] .586 78 | 28.907 44. 1.42 1872 | 74.91] 671 77 | 28.924 47] 3.86 || 71.22] 650 83 | 28.967 50 4.18 1873 | 70.82] .575 75 | 28.914 Bl] 5.12 || 69.49} 559 79 | 28.927 45 0.80 1874 | 72.02) .539 71 | 28.907 37| 2.56 || 69.39] .527 74 | 28.924 31 1.28 1875 | 69.67 | .535 78 | 29.044 46| 2.42 || 65.48] .470 71 | 29.025 47 1.47 1876 | 72.48] 617 78 | 29.009 46] 2.101] 71.55] .576 76 | 29.048 43 1.28 1877 | 71.43] 522 70 | 29.062 44| 2.25 |) 68.46] .519 78 | 29.046 49 6.57 1878 | 73.041 .639 68 | 29.084 37] 2.96 || 70.15] .535 74 | 29.009 40 1.85 1879 | 74.03 | 573 71 | 29.057 36) 2.19 |) 70.00} 494 70 | 29.100 35 1.61 1880 | 68.04 | .559 78 | 29.069 45| 6.27 || 68.58) 571 82 | 29.126 52 6.02 1881 | 73.14 | .590 73 | 29.093 38| 1.81 || 72.69) 540 70 | 29.107 40 1.63 1882 | 67.71 | 485 72 | 29.108 43] 2.32 || 69.52] .603 83 | 29.074 54 5.72 1883 | 68.94] 569 80 | 29.072 Bt) 11.27 || 64.90 | 452 74 | 29.154 34 0.18 1984 | 67.95] .524 76 | 29.016 46| 2.60 || 66.91] .498 75 | 29.132 36 1.30 1885 | 7270) .599 71 | 29.052 43 | 2.52 |) 63.62] 545 80 | 29.061 52 5.82 1886 | 70.68) .711 65 | 29.064 48| 0.65 || 69.30] .665 71 | 29.062 44 4.69 1887 | 75.51) .556 65 | 29.104 36] 1.50 || 67.96] 427 66 | 29.117 48 0.89 1888 | 70.53 | 514 71 | 29.119 43 | 2.40 || 67.55 | 476 71 | 29.103 42 1.87 1889 | 70.19] .579 78 | 29,141 42) 3.41 || 68.56] .493 71 | 29.070 32 0.68 1890 | 71.07 | .481 65 | 29.104 33} 0.92 | 65.40] 452 TL | 29.137 42 3.60 1891 | 65.30} 432 70 | 29.109 37] 1.88 || 67.93} 479 67 | 29.134 44 4.82 1892 | 70.29| .539 73 | 29.178 32} 2.00 || 68.30] 521 75 | 29.111 37 5.12 1893 | 71.50] 574 75 | 29.069 39] 1.86 || 63.10] .537 78 | 29.119 31 0.56 1894 | 73.22 | .559 65 | 29.064 29) 0.86 || 68.80] .591 83 | 29.035 42 0.00 1895 | 70.50) 525 72 | 29.102 45 | 1.47 || 71.20} 616 80 | 29.050 44 4.64 1898 | 71.83) 701 &8 | 29.070 53] 6.73 || 69.99 | .688 89 | 29.087 45 4.78 1997] 73.79] .743 88 | 29.017 32] 8.49 |] 65.94] 566 88 | 29.066 29 1.69 Meaus| 71.39 | .589 To | 29.017 44] 3.27 || 68.59] 543 TT | 29.034 44 2.80 Abstract of the Meteorological Observations.—Continued . MICHIGAN EXPERIMENT STATION 25 SEPTEMBER. OcTOBER. ia Cj & O45 3 aR S gH Year. 3 r q Boe ; Fy - EI £4 ; : Elsj|2ias|s Bc ceil e) de oe ee) ae Be ee cl SE Be ee ee ed ae eee eae ee nl ie ae an e @ 7 D Cy eo ao CF a >) or ot CI a Ay ea Q is) o4 a Ay eS eQ 5 aa} 1864 | °59.62 | 475 81 | 28.902 66 | 3.53 || *45.74 256 £0 | 28.824 72 1.85 1865 | 67.66] .522 88 | 28.954 63) 4.79 || 46.50] .265 83 | 28.905 54 2.79 1866 | 55.80] 407 85 | 28.956 64 | 5.81 |} 49.50 307 82 | 28.979 66 3.57 1867 | 56.60 | .438 77 | 29.000 37 | 1.42 || 50.60] .285 77 | 28.960 45 2.11 1868 | 58.77 | .373 80 | 28.936 39 | 2.95 || 45.19] .240 73 | 29.000 57 1.11 1869 | 63.45] .459 83 | 29.020 41] 1.43 || 40.80! 219 86 | 28.920 68 1.72 1870 | 63.66] .490 83 | 29.022 B1| 2.85 || 52.45] .346 85 | 28.939 66 2.29 1871 | 59.10] 391 78 | 29.038 48 | 0.79 || 538.91] .307 72 | 28.909 53 1.43 1872 | 62.03 | 498 85 | 28.890 48} 5.21 || 47.44] .295 84 | 28.979 47 0.67 1873 | 67.388} .383]* 80 | 28.928 48 | 3.50 || 44.68] 245 80 | 28.917 55 1.91 1874 | 62.85 | 422 86 | 28.964 36} 1.27 || 49.10] 282 78 | 28.958 58 0.49 1875 | 58.50 | .388 76 | 29.031 51] 2.89 || 42.93] 219 76 | 29.016 64 5.81 1876 | 56.30) .391 83 | 28.995 57 | 3.65 || 43.74] .220 76 | 28.929 59 1.26 1877 | 61.28) 430 80 | 29.121 36| 1.388 || 50.83] .314 83 | 29.077 66 5.69 1878 | 63.15 | .477 78 | 29.156 45| 3.43 |} 48.33 | .269 76 | 29.030 54 1.99 1879 | 56.21] .356 78 | 29.152 47 | 3.19 |] 57.28 | .395 76 | 29.160 55 1.57 1880 | 55.83} 439 74 | 29.098 46| 3.10], 46.23] .260 81 | 26.130 52 2.51 1881 | 69.69] 515 73 | 29.077 50 | 2.91 || 52.51] .346 84 | 29.181 67 5.56 1882 | 59.98 | 7.429 83 | 29.198 43} 0.67 || 52.67 .330 81 | 29.124 50 2.64 1883 | 56.43] .360 78 | 29.162 53 | 2.34 ]/ 46.17 | .256 78 | 29,158 70 3.66 1884} 65.08 | 481 76 | 29.130 36| 3.34 || 50.91] .322 80 | 29.195 53 5.73 1885 | 58.94] .431 78 | 29.215 44} 3.75 || 44.95] .288 83 | 29.056 60 3.08 1886 | 62.07} .539 80 | 29.148 55 | 5.40 |) 52.37] .370 73 | 29.266 49 0.95 1887 | 58.86] .373 7 | 29.200 48] 4.72 | 44.97,] 287 75 | 29.103 60 1.86 1888 | 57.76 | .327 71 | 29.128 45} 1.89 |] 45.70] .238 76 | 29.027 70 3.00 1889 | 61.14] .379 72 | 29.157 40 | 0.79 || 44.19) .184 69 | 29.061 64 0.65 1890 | 57.70 367 76 | 29.230 48 | 1.67 |} 49.11 284 80 | 28.981 70 4.56 1891 | 65.10] .470 72 | 29,222 35} 1.10 |! 41.81] 252 TL | 29.158 51 0.82 1892 | 60.80} .418 77 | 29.132 41} 2.47 || 48.80] .28L 78 | 29.096 42 0.78 1303 | 58.40] .468 88 | 28.993 42} 1.84 || 49.70] .311 81 | 28.980 45 3.61 1894 | 63.66 | .491 80 | 29.103 45 | 2.59 || 49.80] .308 85 | 28.982 67 1.91 1895 | 66.60] .568 82 | 29.158 32 | 0.85 || 45.00] .274 86 | 29.084 41 1.41 1896 | 57.62] .459 92 | 29.064 60} 6.73 || 44.61 | -282 89 | 29.090 42 1.06 1897 | 62.92| .535 87 | 29.267 19} 0.80 || 53.06] 375 88 | 29.227 30 2.75 Means} 60.91| .439 80 | 29.081 46 | 2.79 || 48.18 28 80 | 28.954 57 2.42 26 FORESTRY BULLETIN Abstract of the Meteorological Observations.—Continued. NOVEMBER. DECEMBER. wel eel Ela] | Pe] ela lay. pe) e |e fae] eis] # | a2] g a z Ss o6 a a z & oS f: a A 3 Be 3 : a a I Be 3 i e] Pig | sig)/si2!|fid| gle g a Aa aa) a 5 a) b=) Ay oI ca iS) a 1864 | °37.88 193 77 | 28.814 13 4.12 |} °24.37 111 73 | 28.777 7 3.20 1965 | 38.63 | .193 81 | 28.947 54] 0.68 || 26.72] 121 £0 | 28.891 75 1.43 1866 | 37.94] .189 81 | 28.946 71| 2.60]/ 25.53] 123 79 | 28.893 761 1.90 1967 | 40.44] .192 72 | 28.832 56) 1.77 || 25.31] .118 76 | 28.868 78] 1.84 1868 | 36.77) .193 84 | 28.909 70| 2.44 || 21.16) .114 90 | 28.958 m1 = 1.85 1869 | 32.05 156 , 86 | 28.863 7 1.92 28.16 .126 82 | 28.999 18 2.11 1870 | 38.40] 187 80 | 28.903 54| 0.91 || 24.80] .189 94 | 28.772 79) 9 2.57 1871 31.95 160 86 | 28.964 69 1.25 21.12 108 86 | 28.880 81 1.76 1872 29.80 158 89 | 28.881 69 0.98 15.74 092 91 | 28.992 72 1.06 1873 | 28.49 148 89 | 28.833 15 2.03 29.54 158 39 | 28.929 hb) 3.02 1874 | 35.00 145 77 | 28.987 63 1.61 26.96 -135 85 | 29.001 65 0.37 1875 | 32.96 155 84 | 29.054 67 1.11 31.58 172 80 | 28.955 vi) 2.80 1876 | 36.33 191 85 | 28.953 80 0.91 15.23 -088 92 | 29.203 72 1,29 1877 35.24 -188 87 | 29.099 3 3.67 36.57 203 89 | 29.180 71 1.03 1378 | 36.29] .188 87 | 29.081 68 | 2.16 || 21.29] .108 95 | 29.147 89} 2,27 1879 | 38.22 198 75 | 29.027 68 4.55 27.46 129 80 | 29.032 84 3.55 1880 | 27.45 148 89 | 29.192 70 2,32 22.07 -118 91 | 29.155 77 0.85 1881 | 38.20] .190 79 | 29,129 74] 4.09 |] 34.81} .168 84 | 29.134 67 1.75 1882 | 36.30 195 85 | 29,187 15 1.83 24.80 +128 92 | 28.124 86 0.88 1883 | 36.08 194 80 | 29.128 58 3.98 26.39 130 86 | 29.124 65 1.28 1984 | 34.11 | .169 83 | 29.123 et] 1.84 || 24.71] .140 90 | 29.139 87] 4.15 1885 87.22 178 84 | 29.018 19 2.90 27,75 124 90 | 29.062 82 2.14 1886 33.94 -182 78 | 29.061 64 1.48 19.74 105 87 | 29.186 69 1.56 1887 | 35.66 -161 80 | 29.096 55 2.28 27,30 131 87 | 29.096 74 3.32 1888 | 38.50 196 82 | 29.167 62 3.12 30.39 145 83 | 29.070 72 1.20 1889 37.39 193 84 | 29.061 72 2.67 36.75 184 82 | 29.063 55 2.61 1890 | 39.06 185 77 | 29.081 57 2.30 26.45 114 81 | 29.093 62 1.12 1891 33.90 175 81 | 29.097 80 3.34 34.55 .160 78 | 29.074 56 1.47 1892 | 34.20 -169 83 | 29.098 82 1.84 25.59 113 89 | 29.092 83 1.52 1893 ; 35.63 -183 87 | 28.998 62 2.19 || 27.60 294 83 | 28.984 79 2,28 1894 | 32.48 164 86 | 29.056 74 0.97 30.12 157 86 | 29.075 68 0.93 1895 35.40 204 90 | 29.122 63 3.87 28.50 161 92 | 29.008 70 » 5.39" 1896 | 37.09 231 92 | 29.112 il 1.05 28,13 152 91 | 29.047 14 0.80 1897 | 36,49 204 89 | 29.154 63 2 94 52,62 148 96 | 29.095 72 2.02 Means)! 34.51 181 88 | 29.027 68 2,29 26.54 139 86 | 29.032 72 1.95 MICHIGAN EXPERIMENT STATION Abstract of the Meteorological Observations,—Recapitulation. 27 THE YEAR. ; . rd g . Be |g 3 i=] f-} ont =| = + a uc} ops) Q a Years. a es F oa =| © Q e B () 2 3 g ° a5) & . a ae a oO o o ga g a. a x | & =| i 3 E a= a a 3 oe 5 ao Ee g S | ao | $8) 8 |e | ¢ P| Ou a Q oO io) n W642: fos oo aaa se escent eee ces eetdoesuet oe °48.99 B47 76 | 28.960 66 | 28.37 31.5 WGGowetecttccossessetedentoceeec este sce ke coe e, 47.70 313 80 | 29.001 63 | 29.82 30.0 MIBO6 2 hoC See Sateen aen iene en oshaacticseuacouses 45.61 264 77 | 29.033 65 | 39.51 42.5 MBB T seis we ce wais ease cone dace case eee cosee cece. 46.95 297 15 | 29.002 55 | 24.58 52.0 1008 nec cw sehs See sewoseeeeske scan ceeseescbeseazde 46.34 293 79 | 29.051 59 | 26.45 56.5 BBS oo ot Se ee oe Se dere 46,27 802 82 | 29.007 59 | 83.17 56.0 NIST Oss seca ict jreseeteccersesuscceeleeudesuossscte: 49.10 347 83 | 28.996 58! 37.76 54.0 NSH assoe ecole detest tsketecesemesetmetesecees 49.90 807 80 | 28.988 59 | 27.21 54.0 NB Oo weieste aio eae ae ene toe ce eee ei eeeiae oe 45.54 828 82 | 29.007 57 26,84 42.5 WBS ia eee eres aoe oes ae eee Sos ae see Seb 41.54 +285 82 | 28.994 60} 31.74 15.5 WRT once oe pee eee eis sel dinatam asec wees 47.05 277 TY | 29.055 53 | 32.00 32.0 t 5) Spe ne ea ee nero Vsbes Foss taesasmnnehesh 32 43.06 - 267 79 | 28.998 56 | 28.24 63.5 IS1G woccces nese soeseee less castes chores sekedicl ees 46.17 300 81 | 29.049 58 | 30.55 46.5 PONT ceaveia=s ce wieoeoacs eosvean ate esceeeeceek bce se 47.42 299 80 | 20.066 54 | 37.42 2.56 WSUS pte etn gaye Dies S be Susie de vencesee utes 48.29 808 78 | 29.054 58 | 31.19 61.0 VEI9) wee oh So ne gone Soeeicee ee ees deena ae oseesaees 46.88 291 76 | 29.080 54] 26.82 30.0 W880 vo sctecs secu cus siege eusotennuse ceases eacels 47.32 337 75 | 29.103 55 | 43.98 29.5 TSS coco Sonate Sean ae eu ote ti cteeutesets weeae ae! 47,88 318 79 | 29.086 57 | 34.66 77.5 ABOO ha. wiaiets Sas ee Soci ae sae /aee ee cea ete 47.57 296 78 | 29.106 59 | 32.88 30.5 WSSS8is eon mse seeecewce ee dratecde ees ha ars och house Se 43.51 273 81 | 29.107 58 | 48.36 41.0 "W884... csascwecodonnntee codes seneaesessoweeteeee es 45.66 298 81 | 29.111 57 | 36.28 45.0 TO85 ss ceased qacetecadsauccacce ieeesedescodeseses 42.90 303 81 | 29.075 58 | 35.00 57.0 SSG io ooo wae sae Se Seeman ose de eteteteeeasedeze se, 46.20 365 78 | 29.101 57 | 29.95 57.0 1980 eo ce ac eee weceteceteatecmesmeceeeincece ceseeneae 46.60 279 76 | 29.105 55-| 31.10 4.0 (IR REA OBO EP ORSREN ROCA ORT ER 45.03 | .266|] 76 | 29.108) 58] 26.56] 26.75 "VO89S cn den ochre cca tSeacaceinne naan sews cle dede 47.43 273 74 | 29.073 56 | 23.78 38.5 WOOD eee ee obeat a ote ool Suecitesens 47.61 282 76 | 29.095 55 | 31.91 14.75 BOT eo a sseen es weucict ose tiiGedzuce es ccsecencosases 47.40 «282 70 | 29.113 59 | 24.78 29.75 ASOD nbn sn bend eee ween ee aeeboesew rds 45.88 291 78 | 29.096 58 | 29.92 30.5 SOBs soma ot aonz ott 3) see ces ade eteeemcaserueeees 44.97 313 81 | 29.006 55 | 31.29 58.35 S04 Bat cane coe ema eunmcatececes: Leechs 48.5 +322 78 | 29.038 56 | 19.30 20.38 SOR. ie peat eenicecewonieihsiccuute ccouoesmencees 46.67 «319 80 | 29.077 51 | 22.80 49.14 PROB hens et ett Rete a eet 47.99 874 90 | 29.057 56 | 35.20 35.75 F807 non cowl nc aces esececae scueeeeseectadbecoawegest 47.01 359 91 | 29.117 52 | 33.61 39.63 MGGNS ice ce eee sae el eae eee ce seus seeeeke 46.56 304 79 | 29.059 57 | 31.27 46.00 1X months from ix The cold season both as regards temperature and pre- the si in inches for the s igan is influence on forest growth. ich OF GROWTH. M 1n the mean rainfall isture has a small FORESTRY BULLETIN ic mo iving THE ACTIVE SEASON ive growth of trees t tation of atmospher GP'S ST'Sh | 6L°S 16°09 | 08°2 66°89 | Lo€ 68°TL | 29° LL'LO | €2°E SE Lg | BUBO AT ST's 90°€S | 03°0 66°09 | 69°T ¥6°C9 =| 6F'8 6L°EL | LSS TZ't9 | 62'€ 6L°GG |777 TT L68T 90'T FF | &L9 cO'LG | SL'P 66°69 | &L°9 e8°IL | 09°3 18°09 =| PLS Tet 00°S# | S8°0 09°99 | 79°F Os TL | Lb OS'OL | 10°T OF'IL | 90°C 16'T O8'6F | 69S 99°€9 | 00°0 08°89 | 98°0 G2°SL | O8'T SIL | 83°F to's OL'6F | 8°T OF'8S | 99°0 OT'89 | 98°T OS TL | S8°F 09°99 | 98° 8L°0 Of sh | a's 08°09 | at's 06°89 | 00'S 62'OL | && °F OL'L9 | 26'S 330 188 | OTT Orso | 8h &6°L9 | 88°T og"s9 | So's OF'L9 | €9'T 9S'F WV6h | LOT =| OL'LG | 09'S OF'S9 | 26°0 LOUL | 26'S Og'OL | 86°F £9°0 6L'tF | 6L°0 2°19 | 89°0 99°89 | Ths 61'OL | GP's §8°c9 | 19°S 00's OL'Sh | 68°T QL LS | L8T GS°L9 | OFS ec'0L | 19°2 68°L9 | 99°S 98°T LO'PP | ohh 98°8S | 68°0 96°L9 | OST TS°Sh | LES eS9°89 | ahs 66°0 LE°6G | OFS LO°C9 =| 69'7 0g'69 =| $9°0 89°OL | 26°T GL'S9 | L9°S 60°S S6FF | SL's FESS | 2's 29°69 | cSt OL’cL | 10°9 69'F9 | 08'S SL°¢ 160 | 8's g0°S9 | O8'T 16°99 | 09°2 G6°LO | €8°2 c6'89 | S6°S 99°6 LI'OF | PES SF'9¢ | 8T'O 06°F9 | Lo It | F689 | SEIT | L8°S9 | 99°S 19'S 19°GG | L9°0 86°69 | @L's¢ 65°69 | 8% u'L9 | Lg’ 67°99 | FO'P 9g°¢ IgG | 16'S 69°69 | €9°T 69°2L | 18°C FEL | LEP Te't9 | Ils 1S'Z §2°9F | OLS ss"cs | 0-9 go°89 | 12°9 F089 | FOS 09°L9 | 6S°S Lot 82°LS | 61S Te'9S | I9'T 0O'OL | 61a £O°FL | L8°S c0°99 =| She 66°T Sesh | 8's ste9 | Sot STOOL | 96°32 O'EL | STS 80°49 | FFE 69° g8'0S | 8E°T 82°19 | Lg°9 9F°89 | Sat Shih | o's €6°S9 | &2"s 90°T FL'sp | S9'S 0s"9S | 8a'°T STL | OL? Sh'cL | t8F yT89 | STP T8°¢ S62 | 68°C os'sg | LHT $P'S9 | chs 19°69 | ¥8'T LG'S9 | 8h'F 10°3 6F'°0 Ol'6r | La T S8'e9 | 8a°t 68°69 | 99° 20'3L =| LOS 19'OL | LL'T 68°3 16°T 89'tF | OS'S $e°L9 | 08°0 6F'69 | at's 28°OL | 96°32 09°0L | SO'E SPs L9°0 PLP | Tes £0°s9 | 8h F Ge'Ih | 98°& I6FL | SPE G8'ThL | @L's F6'T ert T6"eS | 6L°0 Ores | art 6 IL | OLS 09°OL | &6°¢ 12°89 | LOT ce? 62'S ShsS | S8°s 99°g9 | 69°F IT'OL | 20°8 OF FL | LOL L8'OL | OTT 1e°& GL T O8'OP | SFT cp'eo | 68°F 8S°OL | LES ceo | OFF chro | SO? GE'S Wt 6c | 66% LL'SS | eh'2 se'ok | iT 6T°LL | So°& 9F°89 | 08°2 82's IVs o9'0¢ | cht o9°9S | FLT 8L°69 | SLT O91L | 88'S Toth | 18's Te > LS°§ OS'6r | 18'S O8'SS | PFS 09°9 | 6LF CLL | Les 09°99 | SF's LES. 6L°S OS'9F | 6L'F 99°L9 | 88'S ¥8°c9 | 16'S o9"e9 | “S's 9L°OL | LET 60°36 sort FL Sho | 29'S G9"6o | 68°0 GL'OLo | So'T ZS Flo | 88°S 69° L90 | LBS Po bel PS a a o raw t+ t ot oe oe eee eae eee ee ae: ene a ee: we | = | B28 | & | SB| B | BE] &B | BB] &B | SR] B | SE] & | SB ge | » [33 | & | ge | £ | se) £ | ge) 2 | ge | £ | ge | 2 | eB 5 B. @ : Ea) e 5 eo B Ee) = Ea) = a) eyes ee | & | 88 5 5 E z s e a ee | & | 38 9 8 3 $ $ 3 S| F | oe a ag 10q0390 *Iequie}deg ‘qsn3ny “syne ‘oune AOD A table is here presented g The period of ac May to October cipi months of each year, and the monthly temperature for the year. 28 ‘LE8I 02 YOST S.inaf ‘amsnjour taqgopo-hvpy lof ynfun. pun aingnsadruay, MICHIGAN EXPERIMENT STATION [ eer Ara Ry La) ey (PY Sea S| ' 10 INCHES OF RAIN Loseetoorrtiriititirs 20° ABOVE FROST POINT. at re 2 or a ate ee ee 29 30 FORESTRY BULLETIN VARIABLE CLIMATE. The climate of Michigan is subject to wide variations, especially in the- rainfall. The average rainfall, including snow, is 31.27 inches at the Agricultural College, yet in 1894 the rainfall was only 19.3 inches, while- in 1883 it was 48.36 inches. The fluctuations in temperature are less, the: mean temperature being 46.56, yet in 1871 it was 49.90, while in 1873 it was 41.54 degrees, or more than eight degrees colder. To enable one to see at a glance the fluctuations in rainfall, and in tem- perature above the frost point for the six growing months, from May to- October, the following plate is inserted: The heavy black horizontal line denotes the relative amount of rainfall for the six months, while the verti- cal heavy black line shows the normal rainfall for the period: The light horizontal line shows the relative temperature above frost point for the six. months of the year, and the light vertical line shows the normal tempera- ture above frost point for the same period. The changes from year to year in the amount of rainfall are so great as to be confusing in studying the weather. To equalize this in some de- gree and see whether our climate is changing, the results are recast in periods of five years, both in the annual rainfall and in that for six months. of the active growing season. Inches of mean rainfall by periods: Year. 6 months. 1864 10 1868.3 one slaktems ook see ee eR eeeee wane 31.70 17.67 1869 (0 L813 cere ae pei eves ses WEEE cep exe 31.34 19.18. 1874 10 I8TSsiccor ear aeeray emilee sy ae See eR 31.88 17.238. USC9 EO) LES ce, o asinags se oacp ladder eae wa Hen eee wee. 87.34 23.24 POSE 10, ASS Be costa txedalarani'e: Sata mua wee Fe ee sokvalne 31.78 17.34 18890-1898 5. ously oe uileace addon 28.34 18.22 USQ4 TO DSU canvass pmaeuturenis dasa op eect we ee 27.73 18.73. PROXIMITY TO THE GREAT LAKES. The influence of the great lakes on the climate of neighboring land,. especially when the prevailing winds blow from the water over the land, is recognized. To show the extent of this influence as far as possible,. observations were consulted in the office of the State Weather Bureaun,. and by the kindness of Director Schneider, are here presented. They cover: a period of ten years past, and embrace the mean temperature and rain- fall for the six months—May to October: Temperature. Rainfall. Grand Haven, Ottawa Co. — ..... wee ee, 60.60 18.38. Hart, OCeand CO. cess ecwegay xe atie Bees s sine ois 60.71 17.06: Ivan, Kalkaska Co...............0 eee eee eee eee 59.40 17.38 Charlevoix, Charlevoix Co..... ......... ere 59.39 16.83 Cheboygan, Cheboygan Co....... ...........00... 57.45 18.00 Alpena’, AIDEN a COs cis nia as. nome nce tems. axPee ok 56.63 19.89: Harrisville, AlcOna: CO. cc ciceaes eevee once ces 59.48 18.15: Jéeddo, Sanilac Oe caaecePeee aren newnewaneusa 61.41 16.46 Port Huron, St. Clair Co.. ...... 0.0.00. 0... 60.53 16.91 Grayling, Crawford Co... ...............0000000, 58.18 14.11 Ovid, Chntom: COs 6 osc naa ne cane ety waar e gee Bete 61.60 15.70: Alma, Gratiot, COs.¢. ns g-sos eopang oweeie adm oS wedi a wea 61.08 16.86. Pint; (Geneséé CO'sc.05% geuvwras se eee ectine donec twas 60.90 18 .84- Agricultural College, Ingham Co.... et ee MICHIGAN ENPERIMENT STATION Bl A progressive fall in temperature js to be expected as we pass north- ward. The variation in the amount of rainfall for the active six months is a matter of interest. Note ihe rainfall at Ivan (17.83) at Grayling (14.11) and at Harrisville (18.15), all of thei in the same tier of counties. Also at Grand Haven (18.38) at Ovid (15.70) at Sint (esd) and at Port Huron (16.91)—all in the same tier of counties, reaching across the State from west to east. ; 32 FORESTRY BULLETIN FORESTRY LEGISLATION. CLinton D. SMITH. In Michigan, as early as 1846, a Jaw was enacted (Howell’s Annotated Statutes 9,402, 9,403 and 9,404) making it a misdemeanor to wilfully or negligently set fire to any woods, prairies or ground not the property of the person committing the deed, or wilfully or negligently permitting any fire to pass from his own woods, prairies or grounds, to the injury or de- struction of the property of other persons. The maximum penalty is a fine of $1,000 or imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one year. The guilty person is also liable to the party injured in double the amount of the damages sustained. ‘“‘Whenever the woods or prairies of any township shall be on fire so as to endanger property, it shall be the duty of the justices of the peace, the supervisor, and the commissioner of highways of such township, and each of them, to order such, and so many of the inhabitants of such township, liable to work on the highways, and residing in the vicinity of the place where such fire shall be, as they shall severally deem necessary, to repair to the place where such fire shall prevail, and there to assist in extinguishing the same, or in stopping its progress. If any person shall refuse or wilfully neglect to comply with such order, he shall forfeit a sum not less than five nor more than fifty dollars.” An act, approved May 29, 1897, adds three more sections to these statutes, as follows: Sec. 9404 a. (Sec. 4). “The township boards of the several townships of this State are hereby authorized, and it shall be their duty to prohibit the setting of forest fires or fires for the purpose of clearing lands, and disposing by burning, of refuse material and waste matter within their respective jurisdictions, whenever, in the judgment of a majority of the members of each of said boards, it shall be deemed necessary to prevent the spreading of such fires over the territory of such township, or any part thereof. Each of such boards may make such rules and regulations as it may deem proper for the purpose of carrying this act into effect, which rules and regulations shall be published by posting notices thereof, together with a copy of this act, in five of the most public places in such township.” Sec. 9404 b. (Sec. 5). “Whenever in pursuance of the authority hereby given, any township board shall designate a period during which it shall be unlawful to set such fires, any person who shall be found guilty of violating the order of such board by setting any such fire in such township contrary to the provisions of any section of this act, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof, shall be subject to the same punishment as is prescribed in section one of this chapter: Provided, That any person desiring to dispose of refuse material by burn- ing the same during the time prohibited by the board of such township, may do so after first procuring permission in writing, signed by the supervisor and township clerk, or by a majority of such township board, and the said supervisor and township clerk, or a majority of the said board. are hereby authorized to grant such permission, in their discretion, MICHIGAN EXPERIMENT STATION 33 under such conditions as they may prescribe, upon application, made in writing, for such purpose; Provided, further, That said board is hereby authorized at any time to repeal by resolution any action theretofore taken by them under the provisions of this act.” Sec. 9404c. (Sec. 6) “Hereafter it shall be the duty of every person residing north of parallel forty-four of north latitude, before setting fire for any of the above mentioned purposes, to serve a notice in writing on every resident owner or occupant of lands or grounds immediately ad- joining the tract upon which such fires are to be set, at least one full day previous to the setting of such fires, personally, or by leaving the same at the residence of such adjoining owner or occupant, in the presence of some member of the family of suitable age and discretion, who shall be informed of the contents, and neglecting to give such notice, shall be deemed prima facie evidence of negligence on the part of the person so offending.” The laws passed in 1857 in regard to trespassers on the public lands are still in force. They are found in sections 9405 to 9414 of Howell’s Annotated Statutes. These sections declare it to be a felony to know- ingly enter upon any of the public lands of this State to cut down or destroy trees growing thereon. If the value of the trees so cut down ex- ceeds twenty-five dollars, the maximum penalty is fixed at five years’ im- prisonment at hard labor in the State Prison, or by fine not less than one hundred nor more than two thousand dollars. Whoever shall take away any timber or lumber from the State lands is deémed guilty of a felony, an] upon conviction, is fined not less than a hundred nor more than two thousand dollars, and is also liable to imprisonment for not less than three nor more than twelve months, or imprisonment alone fur not more thaa five years. If the value of the trees cut down or destroyed be less than twenty- -five dollars, the punishment is fixed and may be either im- prisonment not less than three months nor more than a year, or fine of not less than fifty nor more than one hundred dollars and imprisonment for a period not to exceed three months. Whenever timber upon the public lands has been destroyed the prosecu- tion of the supposed offender is begun by preliminary examination, had within the county where the alleged offense was committed. When the accused person is held for trial upon such preliminary examination, the subsequent proceedings may take place either in the county where the of- fense was committed or in some other county to which the venue is changed by the circuit court. The law further provides that if any owner of a sawmill or his agent receives and saws logs knowing them to have been stolen from the public domain he shall be deemed guilty of a felony, and shall receive the same punishment as would have been inflicted had he been the original timber thief. It is the duty of the prosecuting attorney of the county to promptly report to the Commissioner of the State Land Office all trespasses committed upon public Jands in his county which may come to his know]- edge, and it is his further duty when directed by the Commissioner both to prosecute all actions for trespass or injury to the public lands and to advise the Commissioner and give opinions upon all questions of law which the Commissioner may submit to him. It is evident that the Michigan forests are not unprotected for lack of legislation. Existing statutes provide means both for preventing depre- 5 34 FORESTRY BULLETIN dations upen the public domain and for employing the inhabitants of the vicinity in suppressing forest fires. If the public lands are defenseless that condition arises rather from lack of enforcement of the law than from want of legislation. What is wanted in the communities surround- ing the public lands is a public spirit which will convict offenders when found guilty, and will aid in the prevention of crimes. against the public by making such offenders unpopular and retribution certain. One would hesitate long before recommending that the enforcement of the law be placed in the hands of State agents rather than local officers were it not that the experience of forestry management both in this State and else- where had demonstrated the necessity of such a course. The difficulty of enforcing a law for the protection of public property is too great to be left in the hands of local officers who have every temptation to favor the trespassers. In other states —The Division of Forestry of the United States Depart- ment of Agriculture, has brought together in circulars No. 13 and 17, the recent legislation on state forestry commissions and forest reserves. The legislature of the state of New York passed in 1897 an act to pro- vide for the acquisition of land in the territory embraced in the Adiron- dack Park and making an appropriation therefor. By the first section of the act the Governor of the state was directed to appoint from the Commissioners of Fisheries, Game and Forests, and the Commissioner of the State Land .Office, three persons to constitute a board which is known as the Forest Preserve Board, the members of which receive no compen- sation except their actual and necessary expenses. The duties of the board relate to the acquisition for the state by purchase or otherwise, of such of the lands and waters embraced in the Adirondack Park as it may deem advisable for the interest of the state. The state is securing title to a large body of land already covered with timber and located at ‘the head waters of its principal rivers. A portion of this land has been lumbered, it is true, but it is still well covered with young and growing timber. : Beginning on page 1 of chapter No. 17 of the United States Division of Forestry, there is the following epitome of the New York forestry law: “The original forest commission of the state of New York appointed ander the act of May 15, 1885, was superseded in 1895 by the Commission of Fisheries, Game and Forests, under the law of April 25, 1895. This law is a comprehensive measure in which allied interests are brought un- der the control of a single board. Under this law the commission con- -sists of five members, appointed by the Governor, with the consent of the -senate, the term of office being five years. The President, who is desig- nated as such by the Governor, receives a salary of $5,000 per year and traveling expenses, and devotes all of his time to the work of his office. The remaining four commissioners receive $1,000 per year and traveling expenses. The board holds at least four meetings on designated days -each year. It bas a secretary at $2,000 per year, and necessary clerical force. The duties of the board are to propagate and distribute food-fish -and game; to enforce all laws for the protection of fish and game and for the protection and preservation of the forest reserve. It has full control of the Adirondack Park and forest reserve, and is authorized to make tules for its care and safety. “The commission appoints thirty-five ‘Fish and Game Pr 8 Foresters’ (hereafter called Foresters) one of whom to be oe chtet MICHIGAN EXPERIMENT STATION 35 .and two others as his assistants, the chief to have the control and direc- tion of the entire force. The Foresters give bonds for the proper dis- -charge of their duties. The Chief Forester receive $2,000 per year and traveling expenses; the assistant Foresters $1,200 each, and the remain- ing Foresters $500 each; all having an extra allowance for traveling ex- _penses and each of them to receive one-half of all fines collected in actions brought upon information furnished by them. It is their duty to enforce all laws and regulations of the commission for the protection of fish and game and for the protection and preservation of the forest veserve and -all rules and regulations for the care of the Adirondack Park. They have full power to execute all warrants and search warrants and to serve subpoenas.” “Article XII, chapter 395, laws of 1895, describes the forest preserve (Sec. 270), and defines the powers and duties of the commission (Sec. 271), whose duty it is (1) to have the care, custody, control, and superintendence -of the forest preserve; (2) maintain, protect and promote the growth of ‘the forest in the preserve; (8) have charge of the public interest of the “state in regard to forests and tree planting, and especially with reference ‘to forest fires in every part of the state; (4) possess all the powers re- lating to the preserve which were vested in the Commissioners of the Land Office and in the Comptroller on May 15, 1885; (5) prescribe rules -and reeulations affecting the whole or any part of the preserve for its use, care and administration, and alter or amend the same, but neither ‘such rules or regulations nor anything contained in this article shall pre- vent or operate to prevent the free use of any roads, streams, or water as ‘the same may have been heretofore used, or may be reasonably required in the prosecution of any lawful business; (6) take measures, for the awakening of an interest in forestry in the schools, and imparting ele- mentary instruction on such subjects therein, and issue tracts and cir- culars for the care of private woodlands, etc.; (7) print and post rules for the prevention and suppression of forest fires.” By a law passed in April, 1898, a College of Forestry was founded at the ‘Cornell University. Thirty thousand acres of land in the Adirondack ‘Park are set aside for the use of this college as an experimental area. An -annual appropriation supplies the college with sufficient funds. The Minnesota forestry law is modeled after the laws of New York and ‘Maine. All of these laws entrust the enforcement to some responsible officer. The chief features of the Minnesota law follow: The law is entitled “An act to provide for the preservation of forests -of this state, and for the prevention and suppression of forest and prairie fires.” Section 1, enacts that the State Auditor shall be forest commissioner. ‘The supervisors of towns, mayors of cities and presidents of village coun- cils are constituted fire wardens of their respective localities, but the ‘chief fire warden may appoint such other persons as he may deem neces- ‘sary as fire wardens in unorganized territory. | The sections following provide that the forest commissioner shall ap- point a competent deputy to be known as chief fire warden, who is to re- ceive a salary of twelve hundred dollars per year. He is a trained for- ester and it is his duty to enforce the provisions of the law. He has general charge of the fire warden force of the state and can mass it at any special point to suppress fires. He can appoint, temporarily, needed fire wardens in cases of large fires and divides into fire districts all un- EDEL E 36 FORESTRY BULLETIN organized territories of the state and appoints competent fire wardens therein. He investigates the extent of the forests, the amount and varie- ties of timber, the damages done to them from time to time by forest fires, the causes of such fires, the methods used to promote the regrowth of timber and any other important facts relating to forest interests which may be required by the forest commissioner. He makes an annual re- port including the information so gathered and his suggestions. It is made the duty of all fire wardens to post in conspicuous places in their respective districts warning placards containing abstracts of the forest law, rules and regulations that accord therewith as promul- gated by the forest commissioner who furnishes the placards. During the dry season when fires are liable to occur, the chief fire warden is authorized to use such means as he may deem necessary to prevent or suppress such fires at the expense of the state, but his ex- penditures in one year are not to exceed five thousand dollars. It is the duty of the fire warden to take precautions to prevent the starting of forest or prairie fires and, when fire threatens, to go to the place of danger, to call to his assistance able-bodied men, and if any such person refuses to assist, or if the fire warden himself neglects to perform the duties assigned him, such officer or person is deemed guilty of a mis- demeanor and upon conviction is punished by a fine of not more than a hundred dollars or by imprisonment for three months. The chief fire warden and the local fire wardens are given authority to arrest without warrant any person violating the provisions of the act and to take the offender before a magistrate and make complaint against him. It is made the duty of the fire wardens to inquire into the cause of each forest or prairie fire within their district and to report the same to the chief fire warden, with the method used to control such fires, the amount of property destroyed, the number of lives lost and such other facts as the chief fire warden may require. The fire wardens receive for actual services two dollars per day, two- thirds of which is paid by the county and one-third by the state. The other employees receive one dollar and fifty cents per day. It is provided, however, that no fire warden shall be paid in any one year for more than ten days service in extinquishing or preventing forest or prairie fires, nor for more than five days’ services in posting notices and making reports. No county shall expend more than five hundred dollars of public money in any one year under this act. Any person who wilfully or carelessly causes to be set on fire any woods or prairies by means whereof the property of another is injured, is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction is punished by a fine not exceeding a hundred dollars or by imprisonment not exceeding three months. If the act is malicious, destroying property and endangering life, the maximum fine is $500 and the imprisonment ten years. Any per- son who shall either kindle a fire dangerously near the forest or prairie lands and leave it unquenched, or who shall use other than incombustible wads for fire arms or who shall carry a naked torch or exposed light in or dangerously near forest land, or who shall willfully or heedlessly deface or remove any warning placard posted as required by the act, is liable either to a fine not exceeding a hundred dollars or to three months’ impris- onment. The railroad companies are required to use efficient spark arresters on all their engines and to keep their right of way, for fifty feet each side MICHIGAN EXPERIMENT STATION 37 of the center, clear of all combustible material, between the fifteenth day of April and the first day of December. Deposits of fire, live coals or hot ashes are forbidden in the immediate vicinity of woodlands, and train- men are required to report fires discovered along the line at the next tele- graph station they may pass. The railroad companies are required to instruct their employees in the means for preventing and extinguishing fires and to post the warning placards furnished by the forest commis- sioner in their stations in the vicinity of forest and prairie grass lands. “Where a fire occurs along the line of their road they shall concentrate such help and adopt such measures as shall be available to effectively ex- tinguish it.” The railroad company violating the requirements of the act is punished by a fine not exceeding a hundred dollars for each offense, the railroad employee violating the law is deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and is punished by a fine of not less than five dollars nor more than fifty. It is made the duty of every owner of a threshing or portable steam engine to use efficient spark arresters and to put out or cover with three inches of earth any live coals or ashes which they shall deposit in any place from the engine. The Forest Commissioner is required to make a written report to the Governor of his proceedings under this act annually, which report shall include such statistics and facts as he has obtained from the chief fire warden and other sources, with suggestions for the preservation of forests and the prevention and extinguishment of forest and prairie fires. In the legislative session of 1897, in Minnesota, an important bill was introduced, passing the house but failing in the senate. Its purpose was to encourage the growing and preservation of forests and forest reserve areas. Among the novel features of the bill was a section providing that any person or corporation being the owner of any tract of land partly cut over or entirely so, which, however, would not probably be utilized for agricultural purposes for many years, might deed the same to the State of Minnesota, if in the judgment of the State Forestry Board the land should be received for forestry purposes. Lands deemed necessary for the preservation of water courses are specially mentioned in the act as tracts to be thus accepted. Provision was made for the distribution of the revenues accruing from such land, two-thirds to be paid to such pub- lic educational institution as the grantor in the deed might designate. The Wisconsin law is similar in general character to the. Min- nesota law, except that the chief clerk of the State Land Office and his deputy are made State Forest Warden and Deputy Forest Warden, re- spectively, without additional salary. The Maine laws make the State Land Agent the Forest Commissioner. The selectmen of towns are made fire wardens. Anyone who neglects to extinguish a camp fire is liable to a fine not exceeding $100, or imprison- ment in the county jail one month, or both. Railroad companies are re- quired to burn or cut and remove all grass and debris from the right of way once a year, to use spark arresters on their locomotives, to refrain from depositing live coals, fire or ashes on their track, and to report fires along the right of way at their next telegraph station. The Forest Commissioner encourages interest in forestry in the public schools and publishes circulars of information as to the care of wood- lands. “38 FORESTRY BULLETIN Pennsylvania has a law, passed in 1895, and approved by the Governor, March 13, of that year, creating a Department of Agriculture, and charg- ing it with the duty of caring for the forestry interests of the state. Section 3, of the law reads as follows: ; . Sec. 3. “That it shall be the duty of the Secretary to obtain and publish information respecting the extent and condition of the forest lands in this- state, to make and carry out rules and regulations for the enforcement of all laws designed to protect forests from fires, and from all illegal depredations and destruction, and report the same annually to the Gover- nor, and as far as practicable, to give information and advice respecting the best methods of preserving woodland and starting new plantations. He shall also, as far as practicable, procure statistics of the amount of timber cut during each year, the purposes for which it is used and the amount of timber land thus cleared as compared-with the amount of land newly brought under timber cultivation, and shall in general adopt all such measures as, in his judgment, may be desirable and effective, for the preservation and increase of the timber lands, and shall have direct charge and control of the management of all forest lands belonging to the commonwealth, subject to the provisions of the law relative thereto.” The legislature of 1897 passed several additional acts, making the constables of townships ex officio fire wardens and authorizing them with- out a warrant to arrest persons reasonably suspected by them of offending against the laws protecting timber lands. The owner of any land in that state having on it forest or timber trees, not less than fifty trees to the acre, measuring at least eight inches in diameter six feet above the ground, with no portion of the land clear, shall receive a rebate of 80 per cent of the taxes assessed and paid upon such land as long as the trees. are maintained in sound condition. Such rebate shall not exceed forty- five cents per acre. It is made the duty of the Commissioner of Forestry to examine the location and character of lands advertised for sale for non-payment of taxes, and if he finds them so located and of such a character as to make them desirable for the purpose of a forestry reservation, he may purchase them at the tax sales, subject of course, to right of redemption, to become part of a forestry reservation system, having in view the preservation of the water supply at the sources of the rivers of the state and the pro- tection of the people of the commonwealth and their property from de- structive floods. By the same legislature a commission was created to be composed of the Commissioner of Forestry, the Chairman of the State Board of Health, the Deputy Secretary of Internal Affairs, a lawyer or conveyancer * of ten years’ professional experience, and a practical surveyor. The duty of this commission is to locate and report to the legislature three forestry reservations selected from lands suited to the growth of trees rather than to mining or agriculture, and with an average altitude of not less than six hundred feet above the sea level. Each of these reservations is to con- sist of not less than forty thousand acres. One reservation is to be lo- cated upon the head waters of the Delaware river, another upon the head waters of the Susquehanna and the third upon those of the Ohio. Upon several points the legislation, in the states adjacent to Michigan. seems to be in substantial accord. In each of them a state forest park of broad area has been reserved and is to be maintained. These forest tracts subserve several purposes, they are the laboratories in which ex- MICHIGAN EXPERIMENT STATION 39 periments aimed at the solution of forestry problems are tried; they are the equipment for forestry instruction to the people of the State who, un- fortunately, are grossly ignorant of the fundamental principles of the sciences relating to tree growing; they are broad enough to conserve the moisture at the head waters of the rivers and allow it to percolate slowly through the soil, keeping up the flow of the rivers during periods of drought, and finally each is the nucleus about which shall spread larger forests, owned either by the State or by private individuals. In the second place, the enforcement of laws against forest fires and for the protection of forests generally is placed in the hands of a trained and well organized department. The chief officer is either elected or ap- pointed solely as a commissioner of forestry, devoting his whole time to- the work, or the duties of some existing state official are enlarged to include the enforcement of the law, and a sufficient number of trained assistants are provided. It is evident that until the public conscience is. awakened to the enormity of the crime of starting forest fires and the public intelligence is aroused to comprehend the financial losses which they entail, it is impossible to so far enforce the best laws as to control or prevent devastating conflagration. The efficacy: of legislation depends largely upon supporting public opinion. It is made the duty of the forest commissioner, therefore, to educate public opinion through the public schools and by means of special circulars and reports. MICHIGAN FORESTRY SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED CONNECTED WITH A VITAL SUBJECT MICHIGAN FORESTRY COMMISSION: CHARLES W. GARFIELD, Grand Rapids ARTHUR HILL, Saginaw WM. H. ROSE, Lansing FILIBERT ROTH, Warden, Ann Arbor “AIVIQVT UosiasY 0} soueijua ye payde1sojoyg—'cO6l ‘OE isnsny ‘spidey puvsy jv UOTWVIDOSSY AIJsoIO,T ULSIYOIP VY} peztuesio om oa[doad ay} Jo euo0g A FOREWORD. The great demand for forest literature has led the Michigan Forestry Com- mission to make this reprint of certain important contributions to the last report to the governor, the supply of the formal reports required by statute having been exhausted. The papers selected for this brief compilation are placed here as a result of a large correspondence involving a great many interrogations with regard to the details of forestry in our state. The papers incorporated in this pamphlet will answer a good many of these ques- tions and we have taken the liberty to add some new matter which will give important facts brought to the front under the suggestion of the newly organized Michigan Forestry Association. The Forestry Commission has drawn quite heavily upon the resources of its Forest Warden, Prof. Fili- bert Roth, in putting together the forest contributions to this little volume. We desire to make our small appropriation go as far as possible in meeting the demands upon our resources, and we respectfully ask any person who shall be fortunate enough to be a recipient of this pamphlet, to pass it on and enable it to reach as many inquiring people as possible. THE MICHIGAN FORESTRY COMMISSION. BETTER LATE THAN NEVER. BY E. W. BARBER, JACKSON, MICH. After an agitation and discussion that has lasted something over a quarter of a century, the organization of a Michigan Forestry Association seems like the beginning of the end. Reading history and the study of economic questions lead me to believe that saving the forest cover of at least one- third of the area of all the counties in Southern Michigan was essential to the present and future welfare of the best agricultural portion of our state. But reason and argument have had little or no weight. At last the for- estry movement has received an impetus for an economic necessity. Better late than never, of course, but it would have been much easier to have saved a due proportion of our wooded area and made it of perma- nent commercial value, than it is to restore the forests that are needed to render the arable lands more productive and capable of sup- porting the larger interests of a dwindling population. It was easier to make the state than it will be to save it. It will be sixty-six years in October since my father’s family and I came to Michigan, and during this average lifetime of two generations of humanity that the state has been my home, nearly all of the land, as there were only scattered settlements in the interior of the peninsula, has been denuded of its magnificent forests. Many a single tree is now worth more in the market than an acre of soil that might be tilled, but too many of the acres were denuded. It is hoped that the educative efforts of the Michigan Forestry Association will inspire our people to begin in every town to set out forest trees upon lands that have already ceased to be valuable for cul- tivation, and restore to the state something of its former sylvan beauty and splendor. There is nu state which presents a more beautiful outlook and invites intelligent effort with greater certainty of ample reward for forest restoration, than does Michigan. Please have my name enrolled as a char- ter member of the Michigan Forestry Association. All of the words in favor of the forestry movement thus beginning have not been used up. Michigan’s greatest problem, organized effort alone can solve. THE GREATEST ENEMY OF THE FOREST RESERVE.—FIRE. BY ARTHUR HILL, SAGINAW. Among the most vivid recollections of my early boyhood are those of certain days when the smoke from the burning forests about Saginaw was so dense that children living in the outskirts lost their way in coming to and going from school. We boys played hide-and-seek during school recess and could stand in the open not more than sixty feet apart yet not be recognizable. 8 MICHIGAN FORESTRY. Wild animals were driven by the fierce pursuing flames into the clear- ings and even into the very heart of the town where I saw a fine black bear treed and captured by Mr. Thomas Merrill whose courage and resolution filled my heart with an admiration, which in his ninetieth year, with his noble life and sturdy bearing, he still commands. Immense conflagrations followed in 1871 and 1881 overrunning vast regions of the state with such destruction of life and property as to evoke the charity of the state and the nation. These fires originated in and were mainly confined to the pine bearing areas, spreading either in the standing timber or over the debris left by our lumbermen. Today with our pine forests gone and the old slashings generally burned over again and again, consuming the combustible material, the fire perils of these earlier days no longer seriously threaten us. The larger proportion of the territory which bore pine is now devoted to agriculture and this will be greatly increased. It is now the aim and end of the State Forestry Commission, acting in obedience to a great and enlightened public demand to bring about a renewal of the forest growth over areas unfitted for profitable farming, and if forest fires can be prevented or controlled, this result can be easily obtained. There are scarcely any of our northern pine plains that will not produce tim- ber of some variety and value. Experiments now being made will determine the varieties best suited to soil, climate conditions and ultimate benefit and money profit. When plantings are made fine lanes can be established and there can be alternations or bands of coniferous and deciduous trees to diminish the fire risk. When the timber is self seeding in pine, as in the case with the greater por- tion of the reserve, these fire lanes must be established and outlined with a double line of plowed furrows, each year burned between. With these preparations and proper diligence on the part of the fire wardens the fire danger would be small, except for the gross carelessness of those who most enjoy the varied pleasures which the forest yields. The hunter, the camper, the fisherman, the berry picker, build fires, which they wantonly permit to spread over the country before their eyes on their mission of destruction. Camp fires unextinguished, burning smudges, carelessly thrown cigar stubs, are the cause of hundreds of forest fires each one preventable—unnecessary— criminal, because the property of another is destroyed. All this in disobedience of present laws and until these laws are respected the fire hazard is great and the cost of the fire patrol proportional thereto. Rather than rely too strongly upon the enforcement of the laws we must arouse in our people a sense of responsibility for their acts. For reasons which go back into our early history forest ownership has never had the general respect and sanctity that was accorded improved property. A citizen who sitting on a jury would send a man to prison for burning a $200 building, ate and without conscience fires and destroys $2,000 worth of standing timber. But when a state or individual is growing or virtually creating a forest, the sentiment of exclusive ownership and right to protection is bound sooner or later to be awakened, and the main obstacle to forest propagation removed. Meantime, through the ever helpful press as our best ally, and the aid of the many friends who are upholdizs c7z bar2r tet Tae wt SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED. 9 despoil the state of her beauty and her wealth, and to those who are shame- less we can only mete out the measure that the law provides. FIGHTING FOREST FIRES. BY PROF. FILIBERT ROTH. The great power of proper moral conceptions has been recognized since the beginning of man’s social and political life. It is the proper moral con- ception of the “mine and thine” which, far more than all written law, keeps ninety-nine per cent of our people from interfering with their neighbor’s property, and it is the moral conceptions of the people which make and un- make law, enforce law or make the written word a ‘dead letter.” One of the most striking illustrations of this is found in the moral conception and consequently in the legal attitude of the people of the United States toward the forest as a property. Centuries of experience have gradually established among the people of Central Europe a proper moral conception with regard to the forest. It has taught them to look upon and to treat the forest like the farmer’s home, his buildings or his crops, to provide in their laws for the protection of the forest as for his other property against injury and theft, but above all against that arch enemy of the present, the forest fire. When the pilgrim with the severe, clear-cut moral conceptions of his former home came to the shores of this country he found the forest not as a property of great value, carefully parcelled out among its many owners, but he found it a serious obstacle to progress, a cumbrance on the land to be fought with axe and fire before the soil could yield the crops he needed most. In spite of the warnings of thoughtful men the moral conception with regard to the forest as a property changed, the few regulations which were passed remained a dead letter and the forest was fought with fire and axe. This change in moral conception or rather this perversion continued and grew. It is this lamentable perversion which finds expression in the firing of hundreds of thousands of acres of forest in the south to “start new feed,” in the incendiary’s wanton burning of the abandoned camps, farmsteads of Michigan pineries, in the periodic devastation of the sandy pineries dis- tricts of New Jersey and New England, in the burning of our farmers’ wood- lots by the young nimrod. It is this same perversion which makes forestry today seem an impossible task even to the most enterprising of lumbermen. “Why, it would take an army of men to protect my lands” is the usual reply of men who speak from abundance of experience. Naturally enough, the perversion of conception is greater in the district where most of the land is burned over stump waste and sells at less than $1 per acre than in a district where land is worth $50 per acre, is all settled and 75 per cent of it is improved. For this reason it is to be expected that the right sentiment, the re-establishment of right conceptions and their enforcements must come from the district where the value of the forest is recognized. As long as Massachusetts, New Jersey or Wisconsin leave the lands of their pineries to the few local people, toiling and battling with no end of difficulties, so long will progress in the right direction be slow, for even the best of senti- 10 MICHIGAN FORESTRY. ment and the best of law must fail, if but for reason of poverty alone. We might as well expect a few pioneer settlers to build macadam roads as to inaugurate a proper system of forest protection. Abundance of timber and vast opportunities in many directions prevented an early change in sentiment for the better. Although earnest agitation in favor of forest protection and preservation began as early as the sixties, we have still some states in which one man suffers imprisonment for stealing $5, while another goes unpunished although guilty of destroying thousands of dollars’ worth of timber by fire. And, strange as it may seem, we have even had the governor of one of our states veto a bill for forest protection on the plea that he did not believe in the state spending money to protect the property of private persons or corporations. And yet what do these people pay taxes forifitis not primarily to get protection? “a Perhaps more as a matter of legal learning than of appreciation of the forest, laws have been introduced in most states of the Union forbidding the setting of forest fires; but even here we see the difference of opinion and ap- preciation. In Minnesota the malicious setting of forests fires is punishable by ten years in the penitentiary; in Wyoming by thirty days in jail. In keeping with the slow change in sentiment the forest fire laws of all of our states have remained a dead letter. In spite of the losses amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars; in spite of catastrophies like the Hinckley, the Phestigo and our Michigan forest fires, where hundreds of homes were destroyed and hundreds of lives were sacrificed, there is not a single state in the Union which has ever risen to the occasion and attempted with a will to prevent a recurrence of these disasters or to provide for the proper protection of forest property. If, during a strike, a factory, a mine or a few thousand dollars’ worth of property are in jeopardy, the sheriff is expected to call out help, and even the state is expected to respond by sending troops at great expense to protect this property. But here in our state, in Wisconsin, in Minnesota and other states we have hundreds of thousands of such properties in the form of forests attacked by a far more serious enemy, an enemy too certain to come regularly and properly announced by dry weather and definite seasons, and yet did any state ever call out its troops to guard against or to fight this enemy; to protect these properties; to give these tax- payers anything for the millions of dollars which they have paid into the coffers of town, county and state? No. Up to 1903 the state of Michigan never spent one cent providing for the protection of its second greatest prop- erty. Only eighteen out of the forty-five states of our Union have any system of protection against forest fires. In a few it is left as an indefinite duty to the sheriffs, in others to the game wardens; in a few it is made the duty of those poor overworked and underpaid officers, the town supervisors; in others it is an affair of the town constables, while only in a few states there exists a definite system of fire wardens with a central head and a regulated, although altogether insufficient, appropriation for doing the work. In our own state a man receiving a yearly salary of $500 is supposed to direct the work of the fire wardens (town supervisors and extras, since one is to be appointed for each surveyed township). This chief fire warden is to prepare instructions for, inspect, direct and help in a work where today there is need for active effort of 2,000 men, while tomorrow a good rain may reduce the danger to a point where 100 men can do all that is needed. Experience, energy, administrative capacity to direct 800 men and more and full under- standing of the country and the woods—all this the state supposes to get for $500 a year! SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED. 11 The supervisor, normally a farmer and a man who has enough to do of other work, is expected to be on the lookout for fires. But he gets no pay unless actually at work fighting fires, so he must not travel around and prevent fires, but must wait until he sees one or someone tells him of a fire. Then he calls out all the help he can get to fight the fire, but he must be careful not to do too much, for he must not spend more than the magnificent sum of $50 in a whole year no matter what sort of fire he faces. But some of these fires require considerable effort. Suppose a captain of a fire company was told not to spend over $25 on any one building in case of fire. The absurd re- sults require no picture, and yet is it not fully as absurb to stop the fighting of a fire which may readily destroy $100,000 worth of timber because there is a clause limiting the man to $50? Similarly every citizen is obliged, under penalty, to help fight. But suppose $48 worth of fighting has been done, is it not taking the man’s labor without compensation to ask that he continue fighting when he knows he gets no pay? Two-thirds of this pay comes out of the town, that poor, forlorn town, the very concern least able to pay; most likely a town in which the state owns three-fourths of all the land and refuses to pay any taxes at all. The results are what we see everywhere. The local fire warden never sees his superior, the relation is one of the usual “reports” affair, the warden is dis- couraged, the people see the uselessness of the thing. They are disgusted with slow pay or no pay and, what is far worse, that it does not stop the fires. For, after all, a forest fire once under way is an affair not readily overrated. The fire which, if taken in time can be beaten out with a green branch, needs only a few hours or few days to form a line of battle several miles in length, and if fanned by a strong wind readily puts all direct efforts at extinguish- ment to shame. Then we are usually told two things: ‘You can not stop them” and “The fires did no harm,”both equally absurd, especially in our state. That we might learn something from the people who have fought forest fires for a thousand years; that we might try their methods and spend our money in preventive effort, in effective patrol of all forest districts, this does not seem to have occurred to anyone as yet. Strange as it may seem, there is as yet not a single state where a state forest fire patrol, permanent or tem- porary, exists, and while some European states have succeeded in reducing the yearly fire damage in pineries to a burn of one acre in 15,000 (i. e., to 1-15 per mile), we allow millions of dollars’ worth of property to be burned up without as much as an effort to save it. Forestry we need and must have if we are to use the resources of our state and our country. But forestry and fire go together as water and fire, the two cannot exist together. As long as the country at large is subject to regular yearly firing no person cares to invest money in forestry. Private enterprise, after all the chief force in our development, can not engage in forestry until some protection is afforded to the forest. What form this should take ought to be one of the subjects of discussion of the Michigan Forestry Association as a matter of vital importance to this State. It also should be a matter of consideration from the Legislature at its next session, for surely it ought to be clear to anyone that here in Michigan at least the right sentiment, the right moral conception has returned with most people, that forest interests are the states’ interests, the interest of statesmen and press, and that it is good polities as well as good journalism to help this important branch of agriculture and thereby save millions of dollars every year to our state in 12 MICHIGAN FORESTRY. direct growth and by indirect benefits through our special industries and gen- eral industrial life of our commonwealth. WOODLOT FORESTRY. BY DR. JUDSON F. CLARK, BUREAU OF FORESTRY, WASHINGTON, D. C. The discovery of silvicultural characteristics of our American forest trees, together with the dissemination of this knowledge among the owners of wood- lands for practical purposes, has long been the most important feature of the work of the National Bureau of Forestry. During the last five years a special effort has been made to reach and solve the problems of the farmer. This effort has been induced because of a general lack of information on the part of the farmers in the management of woodlands and the increasing im- portance of the product of the woodlot. Few appreciate the importance of the farmer’s woodlot in the national economy. To emphasize this point, I shall quote a few statistics from the twelfth census (1900). The average farm in the United States contains 147 acres, of which seventy-two are recorded as “improved” and seventy- four “unimproved.” This “unimproved” area of American farms foots up the enormous total of 426,000,000 acres. The unimproved areas consist of woodlands, treeless swamps and barren lands. A very conservative esti- mate of the amount of unimproved lands in the United States capable of producing timber is 300,000,000 acres. A vast empire of actual and potential woodlots! The value of the total product of the lumber camps of the United States (including logs, bark for tanning, charcoal, rived shingles, ships’ knees, posts, ties and all other products of the lumber camp) was, in 1899, $174,000,000. The value of the products of the woodlots of the United States (including “only the wood, lumber, ties, etc., which the farmers cut in connection with their ordinary farming operations, ”) and not including maple syrup or sugar, was $110,000,000. In other words, in 1899, the farmers’ woodlots of the country produced an amount very nearly equal to two- thirds of the value of the product of the regular lumber industry as it was de- livered at the mills. Not only is the present product of the woodlot of very great economic im- portance, but it will certainly be increasingly so as the natural supplies of virgin timber disappear. The following statistics from the twelfth census illustrate the increasing importance of the woodlot as development progresses in the different states: TOTAL VALUE OF PRODUCT. Of Lumber Camps. Of Woodlots. WSN tO ieiccawcuweis Gesegy Layer ee $11,332,000 $1,002,000 WISUOMSIR..2 sasvewoys De gure et epee te 18,112,000 6,116,000 Michigan... s¢seae beet ee eeeeee eases 20,462,000 7,530,000 TnQiang...c2. sieves Biman Apeatantclass 4,058,000 5,235,000 OMG eis sinker: Gage AER gee eee 4,384,000 5,625,000 New Yorkies cacuecae encanta Sensi 4,364,000 7,671,000 CONN CHeUb cee Sag ke. gis ee 493,000 1,276,000 SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED, 13 Washington represents the newest type. Its lumber camp product exceeds that of its woodlots in the ratio of 11 to 1. Michigan has an intermediate position, having a proportion of about 2.8 to 1. New York has the balance turned the other way, and in the proportion of 1 to 1.8, and Connecticut, where lumbering as a business has become very much reduced, has the proportion of 1 to 2.6 in favor of the woodlots. It is only fair to add, however, that the product of the woodlot is used largely, though by no means wholly, in an unmanufactured or shghtly manufactured form (cordwood, railway ties, posts, ete.), while the product of the lumber camps is in a much larger degree the raw material for a vast series of manufactures. It is also worthy of note in this connection that the farmer is usually his own logger. This work is done at a time of year when there is little else to do, and in many cases the entire amount received for the product may be regarded as clear gain to be credited to the woodlot. The lumberman on the other hand, must build his camps, purchase his horses, camp supplies, tools, etc., and especially employ labor, the cost of all which must be deducted from the sale value of his product in determining his profit. The census returns show the value of the stumpage of the cut of $174,000,000 worth of product by the lumbermen during the census year to have been $58,177,000. It is not improbable that the farmers’ cut of $110,000,000 represents as large a real stumpage value. The value of the woodlot as a national asset can hardly be overestimated, and it should in future, with improved methods of management, ever con- tribute an increasing amount of material for general consumption. In several respects it has distinct advantages over the timber tract. Among these may be mentioned its nearness to the points of consumption, together with the practicability of an intensity of management that can hardly be hoped for on the larger areas, and which is only in part offset by the cheapness of the wild land. The value of the woodlot as a source of fuel has recently been brought very prominently to the notice of the public generally by realization that it is the only buffer that stands between the people and the higher prices which the coal combine may ask the moment they have the field to themselves. The people have also a fresh recollection of the fact that the woodlot is the only thing that stands between them and actual suffering by cold in the event of a coal strike. The cities and villages are more interested in this matter than the farmers themselves, for if a farmer has only a small supply of wood, he will naturally provide for the comfort of his own family before he offers any for sale. A consideration of this should lead the urban population to heartily support a moderate and equitable tax rate for the farmers’ wood- lots. This article, however, is intended to refer especially to the woodlot con- ditions as I have found them in Michigan. It is perhaps hardly necessary to say that these conditions are exceedingly unsatisfactory. A very few farmers, indeed, have made any real effort to improve this portion of their farms, and those who have done so have in many cases made very serious mistakes. Such mistakes were inevitable, for the farmers have not had access to informa- tion regarding correct methods of handling woodlands. The necessity itself for better methods is a comparatively recent development. The average Michigan farmer of today well remembers when the trees were regarded as the natural enemies of the tiller of the soil, and their removal was the farmers’ greatest labor. The change in the times has come without bringing the knowledge necessary to meet the changed conditions. It is a most unfortu- 14 MICHIGAN FORESTRY, nate fact that knowledge of correct methods of woodland management cannot be learned experimentally by the average farmer, as is the case to a greater or less extent with almost all other farming operations. Time element alone makes this a practical impossibility—years and even decades being often re- quired for a demonstration, instead of days or weeks. Aside from this, few if any, farmers have had the requisite training to enable them to carry out any really careful forestry investigation. The result has been that in the absence of instruction almost every effort for improvement has been merely guesswork, while the great majority of farmers have not interested themselves in the matter. The average Michigan farm contains about eighty-six acres. Of this area fiftv-eight acres are recorded as improved and twenty-eight acres as unim- proved. It is probable that three acres per farm would on the average be a liberal reduction from the unimproved land for such waste areas as are un- suited for tree growth. This leaves an area of twenty-five acres which is at present occupied by trees or capable of being so occupied. This gives a woodlot area of over 5,000,000 acres on the 210,000 farms of the state. As al- ready suggested, it is sadly true that the term ‘‘unimproved” is not inaptly applied to these 5,000,000 acres, for there is nearly or quite one-half of this area, which, in its present condition, is all but wholly unproductive, and on the remaining portion, as already indicated, there has been but little effort expended that would entitle any considerable portion to be classed as“‘im- proved. ” The value of the woodlot product of Michigan has already been referred to as amounting to $7,530,000 in 1899—a sum which compares favorably with the combined products of the orchard, grapery and small fruit garden, which in the same year totaled $5,860,000 for the state. When we recall that about one-half of the unimproved area of the farms is at present all but wholly unproductive, it will be seen that the producing area has yielded about $3.00 per acre to the woodlot owners in 1899. Michigan enjoys the distinction of having a larger return acre for acre from her woodlots than any other state in the union. Were this assuredly a bona fide income, it would be a matter for congratulation. That it is largely the result of the stripping of the land at an unusually rapid rate is evidenced by the very unsatisfactory conditions for wood production obtaining on the average woodlot, and by the rapidity with which the woodlots are disappearing in the four southern tiers of coun- ties. This view of the importance of the woodlot as the producer of future timber supplies and as a very considerable source of income to a very large class of the population of the country has induced the Bureau of Forestry to offer to co- operate with the farmers owning woodlands in their management.* On appli- cation, the bureau offers to send a trained forester to make a careful examina- tion on the ground of the woodlot. It is the duty of the forester to point out the defects of the woodlot and their cause, and how they may be most quickly and economically remedied ; to mark sample areas, showing which trees should be removed where removal is desirable, and where planting is desirable or desired; to advise regarding the species best suited to the soil and the locality. It is also customary for the forester to prepare a detailed report on the conditions found, with notes on their treatment. A copy of this report— which usually indicates the management for about ten years—is afterwards sent to the farmer for his future guidance. This service is free to all, but the *Applications should be sent to Thomas H. Sherrard, Chief of Division of Fore: ent, Bureau of Forestry, Washington, D. C. nest: Management, SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED. 15 bureau reserves the right to accept or decline applications, as may be deemed wise, with due regard to the objects for which the offer is made, and the limitations of the funds at their disposal for this work. It is hoped that by this means it will eventually be possible to have in every county, and perhaps in every township, at least one woodlot which will be handled in a correct way, and which will thus serve as an object lesson to the farmers in its vicinity of the practicability of woodlot forestry. A report on a woodlot examined by the writer in St. Joseph county during the spring of 1904 is given in Michigan Forestry Report 1903-4, that those interested may have a clearer idea of the scope of the woodlot work carried on by the govern- ment, and that all who read may get a forester’s opinion of a very common type of woodlot in southern Michigan. THE DUTY OF MICHIGAN. BY CHAS. W. GARFIELD. The immediate duty of the state of Michigan in connection with its land holdings, it occurs to me, is to put this whole matter upon a business basis, that is: the same basis a business man would use in handling a like area of real estate as an investment. Michigan is not so desirous of securing im- migrants as to offer such extraordinary inducements as has been the case for years, to get them to settle upon Michigan lands. Michigan does weleome within her borders thrifty people who may be poor, but who desire to work out a livelihood in a legitimate way. It can afford to make such men induce- ments as to the method of payment in its land offers. Michigan is not land poor. It is not obliged to dispose of its holdings at a sacrifice in order to throw the responsibility of taxation on the shoulders of would-be purchasers with a total disregard of their character or ability to get oninthe world. The state has this immense area of lands that has come into its hands for delinquent taxes. A business man under like circumstances, would very carefully size up the situation put a fair price upon the lands it seemed desirable to dispose of for the sake of getting thrifty settlers, then utilize the remainder of the holdings in such a manner as to make them, as rapidly as possible, grow more valuable. This sorting process our state has never done. The state of Wisconsin, with an immense area of lands in a similar condi- tion, has entered upon the sorting plan, with the idea of disposing of the lands valuable for agricultural purposes to the farmer, and retaining the thinner lands, not adapted to successful agriculture, to grow upon them forests for the benefit of the state, and incidentally for the benefit of every inhabitant of the state. This is a valuable step in progress, and one that Michigan could well afford to take. It should retain vast holdings of lands (unsuited to agri- culture) forever, and grow upon these landsforests, having in view the mainten- ance of a diversity of industries supported by forest crops. This is a philoso- phical way for the state to treat its landed investment. This plan recognizes forestry as a branch of agriculture and has in view the maintenance of the largest possible power of production from the land; and it also recognizes the ‘principle of mixed husbandry as a most important one in connection with agriculture. 16 MICHIGAN FORESTRY. It is a mistaken policy on the part of the state to seek its development by striving to have every acre of its land under cultivation for the production of ordinary agricultural crops. An immense line of industries of vast impor- tance to the state are supported by the productions of the forest. Individuals will not undertake to grow forests, having in view the support of these in- dustries. The state, because it goes on forever, can enter upon this project with every promise of success in the interest of its larger development. My contention then, is, that the state, in handling its vast area of lands, shall attack the problem of the wisest method of handling them in a business way, and that it shall recognize forestry as an intrinsic factor in its agriculture and shall undertake to supplement the activities of the individual with a forest policy that shall make the poorest and least valuable lands of great value in promoting its future prosperity. To this end it is of the utmost importance that the state shall immed- iately take hold of the training of experts in forestry in the same business-like way it has under solution the problem of educating its husbandmen. In its university and college instruction; in the development of its great common school interests, the importance of this line of education should never be lost to the sight. In the future economy of the state the tree will be as important a factor as the grain or the fruit, and an educated husbandry which shall main- tain the high character and standing of Michigan agriculture must include a proper training of the forester. THE AESTHETIC VALUE OF WOODED AREAS IN MICHIGAN. BY OSSIAN C. SIMONDS, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. To appreciate, one has but to compare the coast of Michigan, where some forests have been left, with the barren looking shores of Spain or Italy, or the beautiful country extending from Niles to Ypsilanti, with the treeless region of Dakota. After riding through some of the barren regions of the west, one be- comes hungry for such forests as he can see in Michigan. He wishes to look at the beeches, maples, lindens, oaks, ashes, butternuts, black walnuts, hickories, cherries, redbuds, dogwoods, larches, pines, hemlocks and cedars, with which those who live in the peninsular state are so familiar. It is not alone the climate that causes thousands of people, each year, to seek Michigan as a sum- mer home. They value the beautiful trees, as well as the pure air and agree- able temperature. In the older portion of Michigan the forests, which have been allowed to re- main, have become more beautiful during the last twenty or thirty years because their borders have become clothed to the ground with foliage. As one goes through the state, observing these forests, he sees, as a background, the larger native trees, and against them shrubs and trees of a lower growth. Frequently there will be an oak forest, with leaves of a rich dark green, against which may be seen a growth of sassafras, hazel bushes, sumachs# or elderberries. Again, one will be delighted with a growth of beech trees, with low spreading branches, and clean, strong-looking trunks. Or he will pass a stream, standing beside which the white bark of the sycamore will call his attention. Early in the year he may exclaim with delight as he passes a large group of wild crab-apples, a colony of thorn-apples, a border of Judas trees, SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED. 17 the snow-like flowers of the Juneberry, or a flowering dogwood in full bloom. One can hardly appreciate the beauty of the newly budded oaks, with colors ranging from deep red to white. In autumn, when passing through a maple grove, with its gorgeous coloring, one instinctively uncovers his head, as he would in a cathedral. If one has no book, and wishes to relieve a time of wait- ing, let him but think of the brilliant October foliage he has seen in northern Michigan, of the birches, with their white trunks and yellow leaves; of hillsides covered with scarlet sumachs; of the oaks, with their rich reds and browns; of the maples, with’ their well-known tints, and imagine these bright colors as they would appear against the dark background of an evergreen forest. It is not alone the eyes that are rested and delighted with the beauty of our forests. Who does not remember the refreshing fragrance of our pines, spruces, balsams, hemlocks and cedars? One often longs for good, deep breaths from an evergreen forest as he would for a bite from a Jonathan apple and he cannot be insensible to the lindens when in bloom, to the spiciness of the sassafras, or to the blossoms of the thorns and the crab apples. It is not merely the timber, grain, fruit, hay or vegetables which a tract of land pro- duces that make it valuable. The beauty of a region often adds more to the value of the land than its productiveness, and the forest is an important ele- ment of this beauty. A piece ofwoods may add materially to the selling price of a farm. There are cases where tree-covered areas, in combination with water views and hills and valleys, give to land many times the value it would have for agricultural purposes. Such areas are especially valuable near cities and villages, and that town is indeed fortunate which can boast the possession of a tract of original forest. It seems to me that I could have no better wish for the children of the future than that they should enjoy native woods, with the wild flowers that should go with them, as much as I enjoyed, many years ago, the unbroken forest near Grand Rapids. The woods help to mark the seasons. In early spring we note the swelling buds, and are filled with hope and joyous anticipation. A little later come the young leaves, yellowish green, pink, purple, white, silvery gray, changing later to the various greens of summer; the blossoms to be followed by fruits, attractive in color and shape. Later still the autumn foliage far surpasses any painting, and often vies with the clouds at sunset in its rich and varied effect. Finally, the graceful, naked branches, outlined against the sky, or agaist the dark gray of the receding forest, make pictures which many artists delight in putting on canvass. I have known people to treat lightly a beautiful forest, or the beauty of a country of which it is a part. If the soil is rich, and if there is a convenient market, their requirements and desires are satisfied, but I wish I could impress them with the feeling which Prof. McBride had when he said: ‘The problem, my fellow citizens, goes deep; it touches, as I think, the very perpetuity of our institutions. No man can love an unbeautiful land. No people, no civilized people, can long remain content when all vestage of natural beauty has been removed from sight, nor can a free government rest upon an unhappy or dis- contented people. The French revolution came when rural France was al- most a desert. The German loves the fatherland because of its beauty. He will ever bear imperial tyranny if he may but gaze upon the forest-bordered streams. England is a land of parks, not in the great cities only, but every- where from the Land’s End to John O’Groat’s, and we know what Englishmen think of England. If we wish our own people to most speedily reach the maximum of 'contented peace, we shall exert ourselves to preserve ‘to our 3 18 MICHIGAN FORESTRY. God-given heritage its original, wonderful features of surpassing natural beauty.” In order to live, we need something to eat, something to wear, something to keep us warm, but we need something more than all this—something to live for, and the beauty of the forest may be compared favorably with sculp- ture, architecture, painting, literature, music, and all the things that make life worth the while. TAXATION AND FORESTRY. The following letter from E. A. Robinson, surveyor of Charlevoix county, located at Boyne City, takes up so important a matter in connection with Michigan forestry that it is given to the public by the commission together with some practical observations from State Warden Filibert Roth which were brought out through his perusal of the letter. MR. ROBINSON’S LETTER. Michigan Forestry Commission—Gentlemen: J live in northern Michigan, Charlevoix county, where large tracts of land now covered with timber, are being lumbered by the various large lumber com- panies. To reach these lumbermen, for the purposes of taxation, on the basis of actual value of the property being cut off, as shown by the purchasing prices, the state tax commission has ordered supervisors to raise the valuation of all lumbered lands to ascertain empirical value. “Now as far as large lumber companies are concerned, it is all right, for the reason that they are converting the timber into money as fast as it is possible to saw it into lumber, but there are a few farmers who have reserved timber lots on their farms, ranging from five to forty acres, for their own uses, such as stove wood, sugar bushes and pasture lots. These reserve lots have been valued on a par with the commercial timber lots, by these misguided officials, making taxes so high for these farmers that it offers a premium on cutting the timber away, solely in order to avoid taxes. Our taxes on 115 acres, forty of which is reserved for a sugar bush, pasture and woodlot, last year was $56. Almost as bad as a mortgage, or rent. You are the state forestry commission, the object of which is to promote the preservation and maintenance of forests, on farms, state lands or wherever possible. You are urging farmers to keep a wood lot, and at the same time the state tax commission, by ordering large valuations on forest lands, is offer- ing a premium on forest destruction, the one working against the other, and the farmer pays the tax in order to avoid having his home sold from over his head. It seems to me that the state forestry commission should see to it, that farmers who are protecting and saving timber lots, for other than immediate speculative purposes, should be encouraged in so doing by being only nomin- ally taxed thereon. You can do farmers a great favor by using your influence in the direction I have indicated, and also promote the upbuilding of our forest preserves. I therefore appeal tofyou to bring this phase of taxation to the notice of SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED. 19 those in authority, with the result of offering a premium, directly or indirectly, on forest preservation, rather than destruction. Most respectfully, E. A. ROBINSON. PERTINENT SUGGESTIONS BY PROF. ROTH. That forestry is not a mere experiment, that it is an old, well tried and ap- proved business, that it is the only kind of business capable of using certain classes of land, and that even in fertile farming districts a goodly per cent of land should be devoted to raising a timber crop, all of these things are pretty well conceded. There’s no lack of enthusiasm all over the country, from Maine to California we have forestry associations, forestry commissions, forest re- serves and state forests and from one end of the country to the other private owners are trying to find out just how far the matter is practicable and profit- able for private enterprise. But everywhere private enterprise meets two serious obstacles. Unrea- sonable taxation, and lack of protection, chiefly protection against fire to a less extent, trespass. TAXES TOO HIGH. One of our prominent governors very properly stated in a recent article that taxation beyond the average or reasonable rate of income or interest on a man’s money or business is nothing less than confiscation of property and should be prevented by law. If all the business in the state of Michigan, profit and loss properly bal- anced, pays about two per cent (and it is doubtful if it pays more,) it is quite a burden to pay 1.7 per cent in way of taxes. Again, if the farmers of Wash- tenaw county on land readily saleable at $40.00 per acre find it quite a tax to pay 1.2 per cent it surely is more than a trial for the settler in the pinery re- gion on land sold by the state at $1.00 per acre to pay as high as six per cent. and commonly over three per cent in way of tax in the same kind of business. it will be argued that business pays at a better rate, that in a state where money readily brings five per cent and over, there is no kind of business which does not pay, at least, this interest of five per cent. Let us see. REVENUE OF AVERAGE FARM. According to the census of 1900, the average farm in the United States is worth, buildings, stock and implements included, $3,574 and produces a gross income of $656.00 all told. Out of this, $74.00 goes for extra labor and fertilizer and if we put the taxes at only $35.00 and the necessary repairs horseshoeing, etc., at another $40.00, the total income shrivels down to $507. This $507 represents the wages of man and wife and usually one child together with the net income on the investment. Such aman however, is with $450 and the keep of himself and family if he is engaged by the year so that $450 plus the part of the provisions not raised on the farm should be deducted from the $507 of income, which at best would leave perhaps about $25.00 as the net revenue on $3,574. In Michigan, these figures are: The average farm contains eighty-six acres; is worth (including stock and implements) $3,398, or very near the average for the country. It has a gross income of $540, which leaves perhaps about $400 to be divided between labor of the farmer’s family, part of keep and net income on the investment. 20 MICHIGAN FORESTRY. POOR LANDS USED FOR FORESTRY. Now these figures are not put here to slur farming, for few people appre- ciate better than the writer the importance of farming as the greatest in- dustry of man. They are set down to show that when we take the business of the country, of a state, or even a county and average it up as we should when we want to settle on a proper basis of taxation, that the sheer folly to suppose that the business pays at the rates of interest which the money lender gets out of a few fortunates or unfortunates as the case may be and that, as has been very properly claimed by the students of this subject, the business of the state pays at small rate of interest and generally at less than two per cent rather than at more. But forestry is a class of farming, it raises a crop from the land and nat- urally enough, it has only the poorer lands at its disposal. So that if taxes on these poorer lands, stocked with timber, rise above two per cent, a point is soon reached where an income is out of question, where even the capital itself is being attacked; in other words, where confiscation of the man’s property begins. RATE OF TAXATION. But are the taxes really so high in our state? According to a report of the state tax commissioner (a most excellent and necessary part of any reason- able government) the people in our state paid taxes as follows: ON $1,000 OF ASSESSED VALUATION. 1901 1902 No. of counties. Counties paying over $50....... 0.2.0... cece eee ee | 0 Counties paying from $40 to $49... 0 2.0... eee, 5 3 Counties paying from $30 to $39......0 000 62... 13 16 Counties paying from $20 to $29... 0 ....... sega, been 30 26 Counties paying from $15 to $19........ .........000 vee, . 18 13 Counties paying from $10 to $14.......0 000.22... Le. .. 15 23 Counties paying less than $10.......... 000.2... eee. fer. til 5 According to this the people over half our counties paid more than two per cent on their property as taxes, and in about one-fourth of the counties they paid over three per cent, while in one county, at least, in 1901, the average tax rate was over six per cent. And it must not be inferred that such things have ceased, for within the month the writer was shown tax receipts where over five per cent had been charged. HIGH TAX DETRIMENTAL TO FORESTRY. Has this state of affairs lasted long? Yes, and it is exactly this tax rate which has discouraged not only lumbermen from holding their forests and caring for them, but has even obliged some of our best farmers to sacrifice their handsome woodlots, to have them cut before the tax gatherer should suc- ceed in his efforts at confiscation. That the state failed utterly in giving the lumberman any return for his taxes, failed to protect his property against fire or trespass, is a sad additional which need not be discussed in this connec- tion. What the state’s policy in this direction is today may be inferred from the reports referred to. In the reports of 1901-1902 it is admitted that the “lum- ber industry of the state is small ond the anantitw and value af limber and SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED. 21 timber now subject to assessment is meagre.” It is stated that much prop- erty of this kind had escaped taxation, that the commission employed experts and has “ helped supervisors to learn the quantity and value of timber,” etc., and that by this extra effort the assessment of the counties in which the larger part of our denuded pinery lands are located has been increased by over $5,000,000, and that since the tax rate in “these towns is not less than three per cent.” Additional taxes to the value of over $166,000 were obtained. TIMBER REGARDED AS CROPS. That this was squeezing the proverbial turnips for blood evidently did not occur to these certaily well meaning and fair minded men. And yet it is quite evident that under these conditions any man possessing a wood lot or patch of forest is bound to cut it clean, to denude the land in order to avoid serious loss. The standing timber on a piece of land is a crop and differs from a crop of sugar beets chiefly in the fact that it stands many years instead of only afew months. And yet it would be just as fair to assess farm land used to raise sugar beets at the time the sugar beets are just about ready to harvest and assess crop and land together, as it is to assess the forest crop and land together, as is actually done. In case of the farm, we assess the land and perhaps high. Since it can raise a special crop we assess it on the assumption of its being able to produce a valuable income. Why not assess it at some value commensurate with the income it can produce if kept as a forest and in that way make it possible and even desirable to the owner to keep it as wood- land? Where the forest is stocked on good farm land, of course, there would be no just reason for shirking. JUDGMENT REQUIRED ON TAXATION. But it must be assessed at its cash value, says the law. But the experi- ence of our tax commission, of every assessor, has long demonstrated that the three forms of value, the cost of replacing the property, the sale or mar- ket value and the value as based on the earning capacity are forever mixing up in these considerations. Generally the market or sale value has been taken as the measure, but when applied to railway and kindred property this basis fails. And it is to rigid adherence to this basis which makes farm assess- ment so high. For it is well known that while the factory, store, or railway line, is bought and sold on its earning capacity, the farm is normally bought to build a home, and sentiment, often far more than cash net income, is the deciding factor. And yet, would it not be well for the state to take a broad view of the matter and demand that while the farm may have been bought chiefly for the sentimental reasons of having a home, that in the assessment the value based on sentiment should be modified by a consideration of income, and thereby bring the assessment of this farm on the same basis as that of other property? EARNING CAPACITY TO BE CONSIDERED. The same reasoning applies te the forest, except that sentinient is left out and all that is asked is that the cash value of the forest should be considered chiefly from the standpoint of its earning capacity when kept asa forest. To be sure, many a piece of forest will be cut off, and the value, based on an earn- ing capacity, will be changed suddenly into a simple market value of timber land. But is the loss of a few dollars of taxes so serious that the state must resort to a system which completely forbids one of the most essential industries one of the principal forms of agriculture? Suppose the state should suddenly 22 MICHIGAN FORESTRY. want to assess land and ripe crops on the farm and make the sugar beet indus- try impossible thereby? Would it not provoke the strongest of criticisms and justly so? But this is exactly the case with the farmers’ woodlot as well as the large forest. SIX MILLION ACRES ABANDONED. The effects of our taxation, strange as it may seem, falls more heavily on the large owner than the small one. The cwner of a number of farms, worked by hired help, is simply without revenue, and may be, is losing even part of his capital. The small farmer simply loses part of his wages. He does on his own farm what he is not willing to do for anyone else if hired, he gives up part of his just wages to the tax collector. Jn reality, of course he pays more taxes and his small loss means more to him than the larger loss to the richer man, but certain it is that these small holders can, and do hold on to their lands, while the larger holder, who from necessity, runs affairs on a busi- ness basis, removes what there is of value and abandons them. Six million acres of tax title land, one-sixth of the land area of the state, is soaked for taxes fully testify to this truth. What are you going to do aboutit? The answer is for the statesmen of Lansing. Certain it is that a farming community, in managing affairs on business principles, can not afford a tax rate of over one per cent and expect to make any interest on the investment. And equally certain it is that private own- ers can not go into forestry and expect success in an enterprise where large tracts of poor lands are to be restocked at considerable cost, and where every bit of work must be done by hired help and under difficult conditions, unless there is some assurance of a more equitable system of taxation than prevails in our north counties today. BENEFIT TO THE STATE. As regards the work of the state, all is different. State lands are exempt, or practically so, and besides this the benefit which the state seeks in refor- estation is not merely in stumpage, but it is more in secondary benefits, added industries, better market for farm products and the utilization of lands other- wise lying idle. Why the state should permit this tax rate system to go on is difficult to see. It has done incalculable damage, it has led to abandonment of lands, to the deterioration and misuse of these lands, it has prevented development in a number of our counties and is today one of the most serious obstacles to im- provement. Still more is it difficult to see why the state should want to load a special burden on these very districts by holding areas of lands, whole townships, without itself paying taxes or in some way easing the unreasonable and mis- chevious burden of these people. Everyone is agreed and our statesmen are ever ready to proclaim that the development of any country or town is an advantage to the state on the whole. Why, then, should the state shirk its duty and thereby seriously hinder the development of any district, merely under the pretense of saving the penny? LOSS TO STATE LARGE. And sucha penny! Take eleven of our pinery counties in the southern pen- insula and the aggregate assessed value in 1902, of real and personal property, amounts to but a trifle over one per cent of the property of the state. But this pitiful one per cent must be squeezed for an extra nennv. even at the risk SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED. 23 of keeping seventy-five per cent of its lands in a wild, waste and unproductive condition, and thereby losing to the state the use and growth of millions of acres involving a loss of millions of dollars. Forestry we must have. Michigan is losing $10,000,000 every year by leav- ing idle millions of acres of land. Forestry on private lands we must have, for state action will not be sufficient to cope with the problem. But if we want forestry, we must first have assurance that a man’s property will not be confiscated by unreasonable taxation. WHAT THE STATE SHOULD DO AND WHY IT SHOULD DO IT NOW. BY PROF. FILIBERT ROTH, ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN. “History repeats itself.” This old statement is only too often true, and it seems that generally the people on the whole have much more difficulty in profiting by the experience of some other people than has the individual. The farmer of Michigan profits hy the experience of the farmer of New York, the lumberman of Texas copies from his brother in Michigan, the engineer of America sets pace for engineers in all parts of the world, and yet the people of Pennsylvania, in spite of the prophetic warning of William Penn, the founder of that colony, did not profit by the experience of Central Europe,with regard to its lands and its forests; New York, in spite of the emphatic arguments of its governor two centuries ago, did not copy from the people of Switzerland or Germany, but went ahead, irrespective of consequences, denuded its good lands and its bad lands alike, threw away the lands of the Adriondacks at five cents per acre, which it has difficulty now in buying back, slashed and burned as they are, for $3.60 per acre. The conquest of the wilderness, with its dark forests, its swamps and moors; the building up of a large civilization in Central Europe, France, Germany and the neighboring countries resembled so much the same development here in our state of Michigan, that a glance at the history of this development must be helpful in a better understanding of our own conditions. To be sure, the pace at which this development proceeded was very different in the two countries; there it was by hand, on foot and per raft, here it was per steam railway, the bandsaw and its “shotgun feed.” From about the year 800 to about the year 1400, the ‘‘inexhaustible” forests of Central Europe were fought with fire and axe, the forest over large districts was free for any one to burn and clear as he chose. Millions of acres were cleared and the settlements of this part of the world took on much the form and extent which they present today. Six centuries were needed for this first “‘ rough hewing” of these settlements or countries. There were no distant markets, no rapid and cheap means of transportation to induce whole- sale clearing of land for its timber, it was a slow, steady fight for plowland and meadow and permanent homes. There was an abundance of wood every- where and the forest suffered only in the vicinity of towns and along drivable streams. At these points the cutting of timber naturally went beyond the clearing; there was overcutting, and in many places this gradually led to tres- pass, fire and general forest devastation, even on lands not suited and not desired for agriculture. Since few and poor roads made long distance trans- 24 MICHIGAN FORESTRY. portation of timber impossible, many of the towns began to feel the evil effects of this bad usage, and conservative men began to plead for protection and better care of the forest. This agitation required time, but as early as the year 1165 the authorities of certain districts began to issue regulations and organize a suitable service to prevent further forest destruction. The matter was sporadic; the greater part of that immense forest was still to be subdued, but nevertheless the good work of a reasonable care and use of the forest spread from these many centers, and by the year 1300 a considerable number of districts had regulations concerning the cutting of timber, and in several of them future clearing without official permit was forbidden. By this time, too, there had established itself in all the better settled dis- tricts certain rules concerning the use of the forest, the running of stock, the hunting, gathering of grass, fruits and seeds, the manner and time of felling timber, etc., had become matter of public discussion and official instruction, and thus forestry grew up, as it were, side by side, with the primitive agricul- ture of those times. By the year 1600 the dangers of forest destruction and the proper use of the forest were quite fully understood throughout Central Europe, and practically all accessible forests of France, German, Austria and the neighboring states were under some form of control. At the same time the ownership of the for- est was established, and instead of being commons, the forest now had passed into the hands of definite owners, a large portion fortunately falling to village, town, church and state. A very instructive case in this connection is the forest property known as Sihlwald, belonging to the city of Zurich, Switzerland, ever since about the year 1000 A.D. As early as the year 1314 there existed here a forest service, and in the year 1342 the principal forester of the Sihlwald became the “Sihl- herr,” and as such was a member of the town council. At the same time a definite system of cutting timber had developed, and by the year 1422 the budget or amount of timber to be cut each year was determined and pre- scribed by the council, which expressed itself appropriately in its city order about as follows: ‘‘In order that this forest shall not be overcut or damaged, but shall be used in an orderly manner, maintained and its growth preserved for our children, therefore it is decided that the forester shall not order or cut more than 36,000 pieces (about 900 cords.) ”” From the year 1630 to the present time a record has been kept of the amount of timber cut each year, and it is evident that we have here a forest property in the possession of this town for about 1,000 years, under good management for over 600 years, yielding every year its regular crop of timber and in better shape today than it was ever before. It was in such ways as these that the forests of Central Europe attained their present form and _ systems. At present, Germany, for instance, has 25.7 per cent of its land area in forest, nearly half belonging to private persons, the other half to the states and corporations (cities and villages, etc.). About two-thirds of these woods are under state control, the other third being in the hands of private persons entirely free to do as they please with their forests. The state forests and those under state control are, as is so well known to all American travelers, in excellent condition and under the most perfect management. That these for- ests are not merely a hobby or an expensive luxury is best proved by the fact that, for instance, the state forests of Wurttemberg, Baden and Saxony pro- duce a yearly income over and above all expenses of over $5.00 per acre. To be sure, such an income is not produced by neglecting the forest and leav- SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED. 25 ing it to fire and vandal, but it is produced by care and protection. None of the states mentioned spends less than $2.50 per acre each year on the forest lands, so that Wurttemberg, for instance, expends on its 400,000 acres of state forest over a million dollars, in order to secure the net income of over two mil- lion dollars. In this way, comparatively poor lands are utilized, they are kept covered and kept fertile, they are protected against washing and gullying and general deterioration, and they are made to produce an income and pay and interest such as is not secured from even much better lands by any other form of agriculture. At the same time these forests have furnished a home supply of timber at reasonable prices and thus assured comfort to the people. They have done more, they have encouraged wood-consuming industries, have justified the building of pulp and saw-mills, and various factories, for every- one knows what the regular supply has been for a century and more and has reasonable assurance that this supply will continue for indefinite time to come. Nor has Germany too much forest, for even now the rapid develop- ment of industry and commerce in all directions, the general rise in the standards of living have so increased wood consumption that of late Germany has been obliged to import some of its timber. As might be expected in the long fight against the forest in early times, much land was cleared in Central Europe which was not really agricultural land. Much of this was again abandoned, but much also was held and farmed down to the present day. In districts of this kind many tracts became more and more impoverished like the “run down farm” of New England and the Atlantic coast, farming dwindled into a miserable form of stock raising, and whole villages became half paupers, all the more enterprising of the popula- tion leaving as soon as opportunity offered. For more than a century the injury to the state caused by these pauper and half pauper conditions has been recognized. For more than fifty years efforts have been made to assist these districts and generally it is found that reforestation of the poor lands alone is of any permanent value. Generally the people are too poor and the state and province must help, but where real. effective work is to be accom- plished it is necessary to buy up the lands and give the people a chance to find better employment. Thousands of acres are thus bought up and reforested every year by the German states, and similar work is going on in Austria, Switzerland and France. The prices for such land, ranging generally from $10 to $25 per acre, seem high to an American, but it has been demonstrated that even at this price the forest will pay better than agriculture. But just as the old time clearing extended to much real poor land, so the forest retained many an acre of fairly good land, or at least land which, as long as the forest carries on its regular cultivation and fertilization, has the appearance of good agricultural land. For this and other reasons there was no lack of protest against keeping so much land in forest, and up to recent time sophistry and demagoguery combined to fight the forest policy of all the Cen- tral European states. Especially through Adam Smith and the French revo- lution the unlimited right of the individual in its property gained many cham- pions. France, especially, lost a large part of its valuable forest holdings, so that for the last fifty years she has found it necessary to spend many millions of dollars to correct the bad results of denudation in her hill, mountain and sand dune district. Nor is this all. She paid a heavy fine every year in form of a large sum spent in the import of lumber and timber which she might have raised at home. But in spite of all sophistry the lesson of 1,000 years is thoroughly learned 4 26 MICHIGAN FORESTRY. in nearly all states of Europe, and effort is being made everywhere to over- come the great difficulties and restore the poor lands and waste lands to_for- estry as the only form of agriculture which can use these lands, permanently preserve them and actually improve them. In this connection, the experience of Great Britain is of interest. Less than thirty per cent of its area is real plow land, another thirty per cent is perma- nent pastures, while the rest, or about forty per cent, is not used for agricul- ture, the bulk of this being waste lands, worthless heath lands, where once a good growth of forest existed and where now the only income from the lands consists of a few tons of wool and mutton or a rent shilling paid by sportsmen for the privilege of shooting a few birds. Land monopoly, together with an utter disregard of forestry, the only good form of agriculture for these lands, has deprived England of millions of dollars of income which she mightjhave had from these lands, to say nothing of the indirect benefits in woodworking industries which might have thrived, nor of the benefit to climate and the flow of her streams. And yet England pays over $100,000,000 a year to supply herself with timber, and this import has increased with every year for over.half a century. In our own country there was ample and timely warning when the different. colonies were first settled andthe old world experience was stillfresh in theminds of men. As early as 1640 the people of Exeter, N. H., adopted a regulation concerning the cutting of oak timber; in 1701 the governor of New York*ad- vocated that saw mill men should replace young growth on lands where they cut and did not clear. By the year 1800 numerous public efforts had been made to stay the destruction of the forest and to restore it on the non-agricul- tural lands. But all this was in vain, a spirit of recklessness was abroad, the people were waging a war on the wilderness and had no desire to practice forestry. Later on came the railway and the steamboat, the phenomenal growth of our cities, of our industries, the settlement of the prairie, and with these an enormous market for lumber and forest products generally. In spite of the good advice and warnings of the old pioneers, in spite of occasional warnings of contemporary writers, the forest was not merely cleared for plow land, it was not only the slow fight of the settler for a home, but the forest was invaded for timber only, and the destruction of the forest far outran settle- ment. What wonder then that Dr. J. T. Rothrock, the pioneer forester of Pennsylvania, as much as twenty years ago had to report to the people and the legislature that millions of acres had been denuded in their state without any intention and without any hope of making the lands useful for agricul- ture. The old argument which met former protests and presentations, namely, “Our lands are practically all agriculture lands,” was disproved. Miles and miles of blackened hillsides could be and can now be seen in that state along every trans-mountain railway, and the lesson of Europe is learned over again. But, thanks to the untiring efforts of Dr. Rothrock and the friends of forestry (might better be called the best friend: of the state), the people of Pennsylvania have taken the first big step in the right direction. The state is buying up these waste lands and pays up to $5 per acre for them and has already begun to give them protection and the necessary care to re- stock them with woods. The experience of New York was similar. Later than the year 1800 she sold her large holdings of virgin forest in the Adirondacks for about five cents per acre. By the year 1880 the people of the state realized that the destruc- tion of the woods and the denudation of the poor lands had gone too far, and before the year 1900 New York had hancht hack aver a millian anrac af thace SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED. 27 woodlands, mostly culled, to be sure, and paid on an aggregate over $3.60 per acre. And even at this price New York has made money by buying the lands. New York, like Pennsylvania, proposes to care for its woods and to restock the poor lands with woods as fast as seems practicable. The experience of New England is similar to that of the states mentioned. Here too much land was settled in farms that has proved useless. The area of improved land in New England has decreased for the last twenty years so that in 1900 it was only about sixty per cent of what it was in 1880, and the forest is allowed to spread and efforts are being made by the states and by many private persons and corporations to assist in this spread and in the im- proven:ent of the forest. Here in Michigan the fight against the wilderness proceeded much as it did in the old world centuries ago, and as it did in the older states of our country until about the middle of the last century. From that time on it went along two rather distinct lines. In the southern more settled and better agricul- tural regions it continued as before, acre after acre was cut and cleared and the wild lands step by step gave way to the plow lanls. Incidentally, many an acre of rather inferior land was cleared, and will no doubt sooner or later revert to forest; but on the other hand, the good sense and conservative spirit of the farmer prevented a total clearing, and, thanks to this good sense and the safety from fire, due to close settlements and roads, there is today over twenty- five per cent of the land area of the southern portion of Michigan in forest. It is in small tracts, the farmers’ woodlots, rather badly cut over and too much pastured, but in woods, and adds much to the safe comfort of the people, and every year yields several million cords of fuel and timber. In the northern counties in the pinery region of our state, however, the fight against the wilderness was entirely different. Here settlement did not follow the cutting of timber, the forest was cut over solely for its timber, and whole sections were cut during a single winter. In the pinery portion the forests on the lighter, drier soils, the tops of the cut timber led to fires, the forest was destroyed. Usually the first fire was followed by others, until many thousands of acres were converted into the well-known cut and burned over, fire-scarred waste which has done so much to retard the healthy process of development of portions of the state, and has failed for years to contribute to its wealth, having remained in an utterly non-productive, waste condi- tion. On the better lands where the pine, formerly almost the only timber cut, was scattered among a heavy growth of hardwoods the forest has generally held its own, and it is often difficult to see that the forest has ever been vis- ited by the hand of man. In these districts the hardwood is now being cut by the lumberman and the farm settler is following to subduc the land and build homes as fast as the forest disappears. It is here where the real settlement of our state is continued and where it will continue for many years to come. From these considerations it appears that Michigan, like several other states of the Union, repeated the experience of the old world. Centuries of experience indicate that in the settlement of forested lands the clearing of the part of the forest is a necessity, that this good work is always carried too far and is extended to lands which are not suited to permanent agriculture, that the farming of such poor lands is an injury to the state, and that the countries having most experience in this matter have fully demonstrated that: 1. Not ail land 1s plowland. This probably applies to every state in the world. In Europe we find in Great Britain over one-fourth of the land culti- vated and less plowland now than thirty years ago; in Germany but little 28 : MICHIGAN FORESTRY. over half of the area cultivated; and even in France we find a remarkable per cent of untilled lands, and in all these states, long and densely settled as they are, the amount of actual waste land is surprising and has engaged the atten- tention of statesmen and others for years. In our own country we have the striking example of the New England states. Here several million acres of land which were regarded as agricultural as long as the forest cover protected the soil, were cleared and farmed and led into poverty thousands of families who tried in vain to eke out a livelihood on lands which should never have been deprived of their cover. But other states have fared little better and today the following figures from the census of 1900 clearly show the correctness of the above statement. The per cent of improved land is as follows: 3 = a bo} ay =a State. s 2 Remarks. Soe 25 && a) my All North Atlantic states together. .......0 0.6.0. eee ee 37% Me.—Pa. All South Atlantic states... 0.0.0.0. eee 27% Del.-Fla. All forested states east of the Mississippi river................. 36% IMT CHI SAN geigasedet 9: cuted ib 9G RR BARE RR Ren aay be ae zeke. 32% WISCONSIN: aa userdey Suns abeche Dameons date ee een ee our 382% MAING se ins ba ae eu nose na ee tet eG ge gue oO Dee Meee eth gies aed 12% MassaiChusebiS so. «(ise sem Were us Gas sek ely ema eigen Eaton au duis meurg 23% New Worlie ic cua vsaa0s boi Reso ESE GORE R SIE ed ae Dee? oes 51% Pennsylvanians 5 aia ya wscd eee. Aes AEE nel BSE tigRens HEeceS 45% VAT OMIA ais oie npieie 3B Ob anae pede ek OG Hain 99 CALETA sake ae RAST 39% It should be said that in several of the old states like Pennsylvania, much of the land now recorded as improved land hardly deserves this name and is cer- tain to be abandoned and revert to woods sooner or later. But strikingly as this truth comes out on closer inquiry, it seems very diffi- cult for many to realize. Thus a well meaning and very prominent citizen of Wisconsin stated in a conversation that it was his belief that practically all land in his state was agricultural land, and the same statement was repeated emphatically at a meeting of people interested in this subject. And yet every one who has made inquiry and traveled that state has seen the farms in the sands on both sides of the Wisconsin river, abandoned by the most frugal and hardworking foreigners, after the most desperate struggles for existence, and has seen the one crop, potato farming on these same sands hardly yielding a livelihood to people whose existence might suit Russian or Turkish conditions, but is entirely unworthy of an American, and one which is sure to colonize pov- erty and work harm to any state in which it exists. 2. That itis not good policy to colonize the poor man on the poor acre, but that much colonization tends to pauperism and is a public injury. In this matter the experience in our country is quite ample, but it has never been carefully studied or gathered, and is as much masked bv the general welfare of the land. A family from one of . : : SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED. 29 promises and representations to exchange its little home in town for a 160-acre piece of pinery sands. ‘You are unwise to work here in the city and be a slave all your life; you ought to provide for your growing sons” and similar arguments usually catch the man from the old world to whom a 160-acre piece of land looks like a prince’s estate. They move, but unacquainted with farm- ing, new to the land, they begin and usually begin poorly. Crops fail, work in the neighborhood is scarce; each year sees poorer living; women and children of course taking the brunt of the suffering for they stay in their isolated home, while the man works in a camp or at some mill where ample board is provided. A few years later the place is abandoned, a family of disheart- ened, distrustful paupers return to the city or are scattered in the neighbor- hood among less unfortunate people. Now we are informed that these ‘‘moss- backs” are poor farmers, that they have the bad habit of neglecting their farms and following lumbering operations and going to the mills and that the land is all right and well suited to agriculture if only the right kind of men would take hold of it. There is some truth here, but also much error. A well- to-do man might possibly improve this land, but he certainly does not care to. But suffice it to say that right here in our state there are several (many?) thousand old abandoned places, the houses still standing, or as is usually the case, burned up by some shiftless vagabond. But while our own experience is as yet not sufficiently gathered, the experi- ence of the old world is ample and the lesson it teaches a most important one. Whether they live asshepherds on the mountains of the Karsh, the Alps or the Pyrenees, as small farmers on the sands of Prussia or France, or whether they eke out a wretched livelihood on the highlands of Scotland and the Ap- pennines they all have the same character, it is the ‘‘pine-woods cracker” grown old. The best leave, the wretched stay, and every period of bad sea- son drives them to brigandage and beggary. 3. That even in extremely fertile districts it is hardly wise or safe for agri- culture to dispense with forestry. The farmer of Indiana or southern Michigan holds on to his wood lot in spite of all the smart calculation and advice which figures out for him that he can better afford to buy coal, oil or gas than raise his timber and tells him to a cent how much larger a per cent he can make on hay crops than wood crops. He knows that the wood crop is the only certain one of all the crops he has and he also knows that it costs a great deal of cash (a thing normally scarce on the farm), to buy coal and also that it is of no small importance in his business that he should have a few pieces of good hickory and oak seasoning in case an axle, a whiffletree, bolster or tongue need replacing. Nor is this all, but the farmer of the Iowa prairie who settles on twenty feet of solid fertility finds it a most excellent thing to supply him- self with a small wood lot and become independent of the coal and timber hawker. Considering now the conditions in Michigan, we have: A good agricultural state with good climate and with nearly two and a half millions of people near the great markets of the land, almost surrounded by the greatest inland waters of the world, with numerous streams, abundant water power and amply traversed in all directions by numerous railways. Agriculture far more than supplies the needs of the people and is now and probably always will be the greatest industry of the state. The second greatest, the wood-working in- dustry but a few years ago found an ample supply of raw material and its out- put went to the markets of the Atlantic and to the plains of the west as far as the gulf. This is changed, the lumber industry has largely gone from the state, of the large capital invested in this industry in 1890, only about half 30 MICHIGAN FORESTRY. was still so invested in 1900, and instead of Michigan being one of the greatest export states of lumber in the world, we are today importing timber and lum- ber. The Seattle cedar, the California redwood, the cypress from the gulf, the pine from the Carolinas and the south Atlantic are filling our lumberyards and our people are paying every year large sums of money for a necessity which our state should never have to import, but should be able to export for centu- ries to come. Our people, in paying this fine for short-sightedness and careless misuse of the greatest natural resource found ready in the state, are paying out not only for the material, but are also paying for its shipment, partly at least, over the two great mountain systems of the new world, and in all cases for long distant railway transportation, little coming less than one thousand miles, and a very large amount over two thousand miles dis- tance. The woodworking industry of our towns, notably the manufacture of furni- ture which has added so much to the building up of some of our towns, finds no longer a home supply, but is going as far as Arkansas and Tennessee for its raw material, and the enterprising manufacturer is exposed to the severest competition and is in danger, at all times, of being ruined by the competitor, who has located at the source of these supplies. Such a condition is little cal- culated to encourage further development in this direction and the outlook for this important branch of enterprise is anything but encouraging. What a loss this is to the state may be inferred from the census statistics of the lumber industry. In 1890 this industry employed 129 millions of dollars, in 1900 only sixty-seven millions and while it might be held that this decrease meant only a change in employment, it is quite generally known that such is not the case, but that the Michigan lumberman has gone south and west, that he and his capital, much to our deteriment, have left the state. The present condition of the forests, once the greatest natural resource of the state, may be briefly summed up as follows: The great hardwood belt of the southern tiers of counties and the belt of fertile land extending from Sag- inaw Bay west and formerly stocked with a mixed forest of pine and hardwood is today, a well-settled farm district, and what is left of the former forest is in form of wood lots from a few to a few hundred acres in size. The condition, the value, and probable future of these wood lots, which in their aggregate form a very important part of our forests, is fully discussed in this volume in the paper of Dr. J. F. Clark. The forests north of this, now well settled district, were generally of three great types. A large portion of them was almost pure pine forest stocked on rather light sandy lands. A small portion of this forest was composed of open _and broken stands of Jack pine dotted with openings and known as the Jack Pine Plains. A second portion of this north woods was a mixed forest of hard- woods, largely maple, elm, basswood, ash, beech and birch (hardly any oak) and mixed with hemlock and pine, which here was nearly all white pine of large size and fine quality. These mixed forests were stocked on good land, sandy loam, gravel, and even heavy clay lands running in irregular broad belts across the peninsula and skirting portions of the shore lines. Through- out these regions are dotted with lakes and swamps and it is in these swamps that we meet the third form of the forest, the swamp forest of cedar and tam- arack, usually mixed with more or less of spruce and balsam and a little of in- ferior hardwoods. The forests of almost pure pine or pinery proper have practically all been cut and as has been stated before, the fire consuming the large amount of in- flammable material left in cutting, led to complete destruction of the forest. SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED. 31 The mixed hardwoods have been culled of pine, they have not been burned and are now cut for the hemlock and hardwoods, and the land, being of good qual- ity, is being settled. The third form, the swamps, were lightly culled here and there in logging times and are now more systematically exploited. Part of these swamps have been burned over but generally the swamps have escaped great injury. Some of the swamps make fine farms and as time goes on many of these will be set- tled and improved. On the whole, this half of Michigan, is still sparsely settled in spite of the fact that settlement in almost every county began as early as thirty or more years ago. The following table shows the proportion of settlements and improved iand and at the same time fairly indicates in figures the amount and distribution of the lighter sandy soils which form the most important part of the subject here under consideration. The state is divided here into four districts (not contiguous,) according to the proportion of land settled in the counties composing the district. Area, land in farms and improved lands in Michigan. U. 8. census 1900. (Numbers rounded off.) Of entire district. 5 Per cent. 3 a j 2 nan g ® 3 District. mS pe Jd 3 5 a a 3 Lila te ls S 6 os z q > co) 2 a g 5 5 a = il 3 a & & 5 cay Qa iS & 5 a p No.1 42 counties, the real well-settled farming por- tion of the state. No county, with less than 45% OF tS Tang iséttleds...4. cava dm ee mee A die ed BRERA 17 87 64 35 No. 2. 10 counties, no county with less than 30% nor more than 44% of its land settled. Largely forest, some cut-over pinery..................050. 3 34 15 85 No. 3. 16 counties, all but three in southern penin- sula; largely cut-over pinery lands, with few belts of hard wood. No county with less than 10% nor over 29% of its lands settled.................... 7.3 17 7 98 No. 4. 15 counties, three of these in southern penin- sula; mixed lands in the northern peninsula, some sands. Nearly all sandy, pinery lands in southern peninsula. No county with over 10% of its lands BO Edae noice tenement eae ee wee RS Heme 9.3 5 1.1 98.9 Total entire state... 0.00.00. c cece eee 36.6 48 32 68 Since the above refers to the land area as per United States Land Office Reports, and since the amount of land in towns and highways forms certainly less than five per cent, even if all highways were cut out, it appears that fully 32 MICHIGAN FORESTRY. twenty-three of the thirty-six millions acres of land in Michigan are unim- roved. : Returning to the lighter pinery lands, it is but natural that after the great fires had swept the forest cover and not only destroyed it, but alniost cleared it from the land, that little encouragement existed for the timber man to hold them or give them any further care. At first the lands were offered for sale and later a large portion of them reverted to the state for non-payment of taxes. They were offered for sale for taxes but usually bid in by the state so that today there are about six million acres of these lands either delinquent for taxes or actually deeded back to the state. This is a remarkable and a very significant state of affairs, six million acres, about one-sixth of the land area of the state is “in soak” for taxes. This fact not only indicates the proprietory relation but describes quite fully the natural and economic condition of these lands. The policy of the state with regard to these lands has been liberal, in fact, too liberal. The state has made a persistent effort to get the lands settled, or at least to get them into private hands, and thus back on the tax rolls. This effort was but natural and was strongly urged, of course, by the local interests in order to increase the revenues of town and county and reduce the most un- usualand exorbitant tax rates to which the people of some of these counties are at present exposed. But in spite of all efforts, the lands have remained unsettled, as is so clearly brought out in the above table. The good loam and clay lands never reverted for taxes and the poor lands even now do not find readysale. Thusof eightythousandacres offered at one sale last year, only about one-tenth were sold and these only brought the pitiful sum of about $1.25 per acre, to what may have been presumed to have been the choice one- tenth of the total lot and probably was bought rather for the remnant of forest material existing thercon than for actual settlement. Nor was this policy altogether inexpensive. It appears that the State spent in the five years, 1898-1902, the large sum of about $834,000, of which about $570,000 went for clerk hire to keep record against these lands, and about $264,000 went for advertising the lands. And while thus the state spent over $800,000, the amount sold amounted to only about $300,000, so that a clean deficit of over half a million appears to have been the net result of the transac- tion. And at the same time, not one cent of this vast sum was ever spent to protect these lands, to put out a single fire or plant a single tree. In 1903 the state adopted a new policy and it enacted a law by which the state lands located in three townships at the head of Muskegon river in Ros- common and Crawford counties, should be set aside as forest reserves, to be managed by the state Forestry Commission. (For more detail concerning the character of these lands, the work attempted and performed, see the re- port of the warden of forest reserves in this volume.) This law provides that the commission shall: 1. Survey and examine the lands and determine their real character. _ 2. Protect whatever forest growth is found on these lands against fire or injury. 3. Restock the lands with forest growth (since it was known that much of the land is practically bare of forest), and it further provides that the com- mission: 4. May buy, sell or exchange lands within the limits of the reserves as far as such exchange is in keeping with the objects of the law. 5. May cut and sell the timber on the reserves. And it also provides: SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED. 33 6. That the state may pay to the town a tax on these lands, which shall be used only for road and school purposes. When the bill for this law was up for consideration, it was quite fully dis- cussed and was protested against, particularly by the committee representing the two counties in which the lands were located. The principal arguments may be summed up in the following four points: 1. Why reforest our lands, we are glad to be rid of the “ howling wilderness” which you seem to wish to establish. = Our lands are fair agricultural lands and can and will be practically all settled. 3. Even our lightest lands are today excellent stock range and worth more to us for this purpose than they will be for forest purposes. 4. You withdraw large areas of our lands from taxation and thus throw the burden of maintaining school and road and proper civie government on the shoulders of a few of us who have our homes and our interests here and cannot well escape. There was much truth in these contentions and since this matter must come up again, it is of interest to inquire into these principal arguments. It is but natural, too, that much sentiment prevailed and that both sentiments and -misunderstanding were fostered by interested persons, but on the whole, the protest was a fair one and well deserved the consideration which it received. “Why reforest and re-establish the ‘howling wilderness’ we are glad to have behind us?” This argument, as most of the people of the district have by this time fully learned, was based largely on a misunderstanding of the real objects of the reserves. In a country where only about eight per cent of the land is settled, where one may ride for miles and miles on a kind of ‘stump prairie” without seeing house, hovel or camp, and where marsh fires and brushwood fires burn for days without so much as attracting attention, in such a county, the protective efforts of the state can hardly be accused of producing a wilderness. Here a state forest ranger can only be of benefit to everyone and most of all to the local settler, to the stock farmer and the owner of lands and timber. Nor is this all. In a district where 100 days of sleighing indicates the nor- mal winter, where frost must be looked for practically in every month of the year, and where settlement is as slow as it has been in these districts, what can be more desirable and useful than a goodly cover of forest, a shelter against the winter storms, an ample supply of fuel and a local supply for the few mills, which, if proper management prevails, might find here a supply for all times to come? Today it is the unsightly, blackened swamp waste which discour- ages the good settler, it is this stump waste which might be termed the“ howl- ing wilderness.” What the state is attempting, not the increase of wilderness, but a most useful, in fact, here an indispensable branch of agriculture and the only form of agriculture which can be relied on as producing a useful, market- able crop on all of these lands irrespective of seasons. “Our lands are practically all farm lands, etc.” Here we meet again with the argument which has been considered before, it is the same argument which led to the clearing of the millions of acres of non-agricultural lands abroad, it is the argument which prevented the people of Pennsylvania from heeding the words of Penn, it is the same misconception which left unheeded the good ad- vice and proper beginning of the Pilgrim fathers and which made people deaf to the pleadings of the governor of New York two centuriesago. As has been stated, the experience of Europe has proved it an error for those countries, which after a thousand years of trial, are spending millions of dollars every 5 34 MICHIGAN FORESTRY. year to correct the evils brought about by this error. The experience of all our older states has proved the notion in error for those states, they have paid a costly fine for theirerror and they are just beginning to correct its bad effects. Nor is this all, the American farmer, the farmer of Michigan, who has known these lands in our state for many years and whose judgement in this matter is certainly worth all the expert testimony in the world has declared against the lands. The fact that he preferred to wrestle with the heavy hardwood forests of our and of other states and preferred to undertake the difficult prob- lems of redeeming the arid regions of the west rather than settle these pinery lands, should be conclusive evidence that they are not all farm lands. But there is more to prove thisfact. Thevegetation of these lands is peculiar and is the vegetation characteristicof pinerylands. Theelm,the basswood, the maple, the birch and ash refuse to make timber on these lands. The transition from this land to the hardwoods on clay and loam is usually so sharp that it is strik- ing. Even the unitiated, casual observer is astonished at the contrast. Here on one side of the line, hardwoods eighty to 120 feet tall, mostly maple, elm, basswood, birch and beech, little or no oak and no jack pine, the ground dense- ly covered with young trees and brush undergrowth, and a luxuriant growth of grass fighting with young tree growth for possession of the ground in every new opening. There on the other side of the line, scrub oak, five to ten shoots . from an old burned stump, older trees gnarly, limby, few trees over 50 feet high, few sprouts, or cripples of maple, cherry, poplar and white birch or else a scattered growth of jack pine or a mixture of this with scrub oak, every where pine stumps to idicate the former glory, but no elm, basswood, ash nor beech, nor any tall hardwoods anywhere. The ground is not covered with a dense growth of shrubs and young hardwood. The oak forms a thin stand and most of the ground is covered with sweet fern, huckleberry, with bush honeysuckle, blackberry bramble and other persistent growth, among which a sparse growth of grass and sedges is vainly trying to holditsown. In this way nature has clearly indicated the difference between these lands and fully sub- stantiates the correctness of opinion of the farmer. Nor has there been a lack of actual trial and the hundreds of abandoned homes on the plains in every county containing such lands surely cannot all be accredited to shiftless- ness. There is one fact in this connection which is often overlooked. It is the ex- ' perience of the pinery region of the Atlantic coast plain. Parts of New Jersey, Delaware, and from there to Texas are a pinery in which settlement has con- tinued ever since the landing and founding of Jamestown, and yet this region is today wild woods. And in spite of a mild climate which extends the possi- bilities and range of agriculture, these lands remain unimproved and await the settler. Here is an area several times the size of Michigan still open to farm- ing on sands. It must not be inferred from this, however, that none of this land is fit for agriculture. To the contrary, the lands are extremely mixed and one meets with surprises at every hand. It is for this reason that the law has left the power with the commission to sell lands and there is no doubt but that any real well intentioned farm settler can get lands within the forest reserves provided the safety of the forest cover permits this exchange. Generally then, while it must be considered as more than doubtful that all these lands or even a large proportion are agricultural lands, the present state policy, the forest reserve policy fully considers this claim and the state today, as ever before, stands ready to promote settlement and agriculture inside as well as outside of any forest reserve. “The land is good grazing land.” This claim is a dangerous one and it is SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED. 35 heartily to be regretted that the state of Michigan, located as it is, surrounded and penetrated with natural and artificial means of communication, with a good climate, level lands, with deep soil, should ever fall into the errors of New Mexico and of other mounta'n regions and advertise its lands as sheep range. To invite a land monopoly, a monopoly of “the second great asset of the state’ a monopoly which has everywhere proved inimical to settlement and improvement is sheer folly and would be rued most by the very people who advocate it today. A few sheep sheds for improvements, a few lone herders, and a dozen men at shearing will represent the kind of civilization which this range business leads to and the output of this boasted industry will consist of a few tons of mutton and wool all going to distant markets leaving not a cent for conversion or further manufacture and save the meat, furnishing no article of local consumption. Andtheland? It will be a Scotch heath, range desert reproduced. It is rarely appreciated how thoroughly inimical such use of the land is to the real settlement. But anyone with experience 1n the west, particularly Wyoming, Nebraska, ete., will remember how natural, even necessary it is for any stockman to discourage the settler within the boundaries of his range. While the range on the whole might not be worth fifty cents per acre, he should better afford to spend twenty dollars per acre to get rid of a far- mer in the midst of his holdings. It is this very feature of range business which led to the so-called “rustler war,” (should be settlers’ war) in Wyom- ing; has led to special legislation in congress; has caused the department of the interior to spend many thousands of dollars in trying to remove the high- handed range grabber and range fencers and it is this same feature which in- duced the wide-awake farmer of Wyoming, Montana and Washington to pass a law which forbids the sale of any state lands for less than $10 per acre. ‘And this in arid regions, for sage brush lands, while Michigan sells for ten cents and and accepts $1.25 for the pick, ten per cent of an 80,000 acre tiact.} Can it be possible that Michigan will remain blind to all the experienve of the west, to the experience of the cld world where the range use of the Alpine ands and pinery lands alike has been a detriment for ages and is the greatest stumbling blocks in all efforts for the improvement of the conditions of the people and their lands? The fourth argument in the protest demands equal and just taxation, and therefore is practically s.und. If the people of Michigan expect the township of Denton to keep up roads and schools and protect life and property and gen- erally do those things which any civil organization is expected to do, it should not take away from the few settlers living in this town the wherewithal t » ao their duty. New York pays taxes on its forest reserves, every state of Central Europe pays taxes on its state forests and any other holdings. Why should we, in a country which clainss a government by the people and for the people, want to shirk and throw an unfair burden on a few pioneer people who are least in position to bear it? And to the credit of our state, be it said that this argument was duly considered and the legislature provided as has been stated above that the town shall not lose all revenues but shall receive pay- ment in lieu of these tuxes, the money to be used for school and road. It has therefore practically admitted the soundness of the argument and the plopriety of meeting this demand and it is but natural that this matter in the future will receive further consideration and be adjusted equitably and satisfactorily. In this way the fourth, the most just and formidable argu- ment practically falls uway as regards Michigan state forest reserves. The state has declared it right and meets it. 36 MICHIGAN FORESTRY. We see then that the protcst may be and is fairly met and it is gratifying to note here that in the counties of Roscommon and Crawford where the reserve policy has made its beginning the people have completely changed their views and there is today a most hearty and intelligent cooperation between the state and the people in the matter of forest reserves. And now, what is it that the state should do? The answer has practically been given in what has been said, but may briefly be stated more categorically as follows: : 1. The reserve policy of dealing with all state lands has proved acceptable to the people, it is the only economical and safe policy, it is in keeping with ex- perience of the older parts of our Union and with centuries of experience in the old world. It should be continued and it should be extended to ail state lands and to every acre of land as soon as it becomes delinquent for taxes. %. Nostate land should be sold for less than $5 per acre, for the land alone and any timber on the lend should be sold according to 1ules established by the State forestry Commission. 3. No ands or timber should be sold except by public aution to be held in the county seat of the county where the land or timber is located. 4. No lands ence deeded to the state should he sold or offered for sale un- less written application is made therefor and the useless wholesale advertisc- ment of our lands and the forcing of these lands on the market should cease. 5. Lands delinquent for taxes should be offered for sale once in acecrdance with the present law, but it should be iJlegal to waste the funds of the state in repeated advertising as has been done in the past. 6. Lands on which the taxes have not heen paid for five years should be deeded to the state irrespective of any circumstances and the title thus ob- tained by the state should be sufficient. 7. The policy of the federal government in selling its land only to actual settlers and in tracts not to exceed 160 acres is sound in principle and practice and should be followed in the disposition of our state lands. 8. Non-agricultural lands should not be sold at all and in cases where doubt exists the Forest Commission should decide, since lands of this character are generally more valuable for timber than for farms. 9. The appropriations at present devoted to the handling of the tax title lands should be used to give these lands protection, care and improvement and to defray the taxes which the state pays to the town where lands are reserved for forests. 10. The state in selling any lands once deeded to the state, should never give a quit-claim deed, but should always give a warranty ‘leed. Cases are now on record where citizens of this state in good faith buy the lands claimed to be the property of the state, and after purchasing these lands are obliged to allow other persons to cut off the timber or endure other trespass. A deed from the stste should be sufficient eviderce before any court to enjoin trespass of any kind. But why should the state do these things now? Why not wait and let things develop? The answer is largely given in the nature of the case as presented. The state is rapidly growing and with it, the demand for timber. According to the best estimates we use each year more than two thousand million feet of lumber and timber in our state. If the timber and lumber are high, the house is not built and the barn “has to do.” development in every direction 1s hampered and checked. But it takes 150 years to make white pine such as we have used in the past and it takes fifty years to make even fair pole timber fit for ordinary market. SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED. 37 It is hardly a matter in which it is wise “to hold on and go slow and see how things turn out.” The state is losing hundreds of thousands every year now and will lose more in the future on account of the absence of a satisfactory home supply of forest material. Similarly it is easy to regulate the entire matter of state lands or poor lands today. A reasonable price alone will do this to quite an extent. If left undone and if the old policy of advertising our lands as sheep range and the encouragement of land monopoly prevails, and once theselands pass into the hands of the land sharks and are hawked out and colonized, the matter will be precisely where the older states of our country and where the states of Europe have foundered. No matter how universally this colonization may fail, no matter how wretched and run down large areas of these lands may become, the application of any remedy will meet with so many heads and so many and such diversified interests, that it will be only by the sacrifices of enormous sums and much time that Michigan in years to come, may correct the evil which the mistakes of Michigan today will cause. With a little conservative restraint, with a bit of good will and effort, with some attention to the experience of older states and people, the state of Michigan mav, in a very short time, develop out of a blackened waste, a property which to the state will mean millions every year and which will mean even more to the people of the district in which it is located. To leave millions of acres in a waste-land condition is a waste of money which no state should be guilty of. But this waste can partly be stopped at once and it should be. The state should go ahead with the good example. Millions of acres of pri- vate lands await the right care which can and will come, but can come only when the state goes ahead and establishes a proper and efficient system of pro- tection and develops a just method of taxation for these lands. Nor should it be forgotten that this matter is one of great magnitude. The possibilities are great and it is doubtful if our state will have such an op- portunity again. “yYSYy asd1oy aq} UL a1v OFM JUOIJ Ot} Ye UOSUT oY} OF YOUN] SuTALIVD ‘all y—sjsoIog 0} AUIoua JeaIs ot], “PURT IY} SUMIVIT[GVYar UT 4SISsv 0} Ja] ST a1} pods V UBAD JON ‘all y—Awue oy} Aq poysmmbur A A lesson for Michigan, A gallant fight to save the elements of a new forest. wh Hang cdtals The beauty and delicious coolness which awakens delightful pulsations of the heart as one enters the farm woodlot. The beginning of a catalpa harvest. Thinnings for posts from a young plantation 9 years old, 4 to 6 inches in diameter, many trees made two posts. ‘s[aaYg II0d ‘1aqsa1o{ {WIOYW WOqULT ‘UapleM sarod {plegIVD “M ‘SkYO ‘SaId {asOU “HM “Adag ‘Wal ay} WoL SuTUNOD “ayV'T SUISSTH Twau ‘AqUNOD PIOJMRID UT AIISINU BT{} JO IaUIOD 9UO TT META ‘yooys Sunof Zuyyoo}01d puv ZUIMOIS JO POYJoU SULAOYS ‘ayr'y SUISSIET Teau ‘KrasInu 4Se10J otf} JO MATA [eIOtaH A young growth of mixed broad leaved trees in an open spot in unpastured woods. ( us a AS pet , cake, rid SAR, Ms Nature is performing a work of reforestation. Scene in midst of Geo. B. Horton’s woodlot in Lenawee county where several large trees were removed making a clearing of one-eighth of an acre. ‘puR[POOM painqsedun Ul WOIssaooNs 4So10J [VINJeU SuLMoYs AJUNOD aaMevUaT UT JO[POOA s,UOJIOH “g ‘oay Wor sfdurexe uy \ \, i z: Caras EER, = The pinery as it is. The mature timber wastefully removed, much of it Jeft to fire, and the forest itself is destroyed, all young growth is gone and for many years these vast stretches of land have produced nothing, every effort of nature being offset hv entire lack of protection. ‘£JUNOD PIOJMVID UT ABTA “LaquIT} Jo doid papeau Yonur pur [NJesn v MOLZ AvUT ‘qso10} Io} pasn Jt Inq ‘4lasap JOU ST I IVY} ‘IaAWMOT ‘MOYS Saat] UIG AVMION OUOSpULY oY ‘pur[ Wey pIUOpuLge UO pus SUIAOJ[ “PUR WIR] [Te JON EX Se SRS | '4YSTIY UL 499J OT OF OT Se0I} YI ‘SpoOoMpiey pur sonids ‘outd Jo uoeULTd Plo Tees GT W ‘sIoWUINS g[qeIOAvl Sulinp off orenbs vy} 07 dasys Ma} & pod} Uet{] s10W Iej Op UD pue Juesop JOU ore SpUvS SUTAOUI eset} JY} UOT}eIJsUOUp S,[eeq ‘Id “ed REPORT QF | COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, TO THE GOVERNOR AND- LEGISLATURE va OF THE STATE BY AUTHORITY ~~ ; LANSING, MICHIGAN WYNKOOP HALLENBECK CRAWFORD CO., STATE PRINTERS 1908 REPORT or COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, TAX LANDS AND FORESTRY TO THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE BY AUTHORITY LANSING, MICHIGAN WYNKOOP HALLENBECK CRAWFORD CO., STATE PRINTERS 1908 REPORT OF THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, TAX LANDS AND FORESTRY TO THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE UPON THE SUBJECTS REFERRED TO THAT COMMISSION BY ACT NO. 188 OF THE PUBLIC ACTS OF 1907. To Hon. Frep M. Warner, Governor: Sir:—We submit to you for transmission to the next legislature our report and recommendations made as the result of our invéstigations under the act of the legislature of 1907, creating the Commission of Inquiry, Tax Lands and Forestry. We submit also a duplicate for use of the Board of State Auditors and State Printer. Our report and recommendations are as follows: THE SCOPE AND OBJECTS OF THIS INQUIRY. This Commission of Inquiry was appointed under Act No. 188 of the Public Acts of 1907. Its primary duty under this act is to submit to the legislature of 1909 a report setting forth a comprehensive plan for the protection, improvement, utilization, and settlement of the delin- quent State tax lands, now owned or that may hereafter be acquired, and for the better and more economical administration of the affairs and business of the State connected therewith, and with other denuded waste or forest land; to the end that henceforth a consistent and complete policy may be pursued in reference thereto. The act directs that the report shall (1) define the proper attitude of the State toward the de- 4 THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, linquent State tax lands and toward other forest, denuded or waste lands owned by individuals, particularly as affecting the fire problem, the conservation and increase of water supply, and the equalization and regulation of stream flow; (2) prescribe some method of defining the limits of forest reserves, and the manner in which the delinquent State tax lands, now owned or that shall hereafter be acquired, shall become a part thereof; (3) submit a draft of such laws as, in the judg- ment of the Commission of Inquiry, will best enable the State to per- fect its title to said delinquent State tax lands, protect the timber thereon, provide the most practical means of checking and preventing the starting and spreading of fires thereon, or on other waste or forest lands situated in the State; (4) submit a draft of such other law or laws as the Commission of Inquiry may deem conducive to the profit- able and economical administration of the business and affairs of the State in reference to the matters which are the subject of this investiga- tion; (5) submit, as a part of its report, such findings and recommenda- tions, germane to the subject, as the Commission of Inquiry shall deem advisable. The title of the act in express language calls for a plan that shall be comprehensive, to the end that the policy hereafter pursued by the State may be consistent and complete. It is therefore expressly directed that this plan shall suggest a course of action for the State in reference, not only to its present and future holdings of land forfeited for taxes, but also in reference to denuded, waste and forest land owned by others. A plan is called for which shall not only provide for the utilization of the tax lands by their settlement and improvement, and by the establish- ment of State Forest Reserves upon them, but which shall also deal with the relation of the State to these tax lands, and to other forest, waste or denuded lands, as it concerns the general subject of forestry; and, in this connection, a report is called for upon reforestation, the fire ‘problem, and the conservation and betterment of water supply and stream flow. It is obvious that these large benefits to public welfare were not less in the mind of the legislature than was the utilization of the tax lands, or the solution of the purely administrative questions clustering about them. Reforestation of the waste areas of the State, the furnishing to future generations of an adequate timber supply, the conservation of water supply and the betterment of conditions affecting floods, water power, stream flow, are questions of as great moment as any State can face. Inasmuch as, for reasons more fully presented hereafter, these benefits can be secured only by the bringing back into forest conditions of greater areas than any reserves the State can create out of the delinquent tax lands; it follows that the requisite area must either be purchased by the State, or its reforestation must be brought about through encourage- ment to individual effort. It is therefore within the clear meaning and intent of the language of this act, if not within its express wards, to submit suggestions for such legislation as will lead to forestry by in- dividuals, especially in the way of farm forestry in the older and more settled portions of the State, and in the way of reforestation of cut- over, denuded and waste lands as a commercial venture in the less set- tled districts of the northerly portions of the State. TAX LANDS AND FORESTRY. 5 THE FORFEITED TAX LAND. The primary subject for our consideration is the State land which the act refers to as “delinquent State tax land.” The act itself makes it entirely clear that the land in question is that which has been, or shall hereafter be, owned by the State by reason of forfeiture of the title for non-payment of taxes by the former owner. For convenience we desig- nate this land in this report as forfeited tax land. It includes the tax homestead land in the Land Office, and the State tax land in the Auditor General’s Department. The title to this forfeited tax land is acquired by the State under the present tax law as follows: The owner having failed to pay taxes with- in the time prescribed by law, the land is returned to the county treas- urer, and in the spring following the year for which the tax was levied, it is returned by the latter to the Auditor General, who applies, early in the year next following, to the circuit court in chancery of the county where the land is located. His petition sets up that the land is delin- quent for taxes, and asks that the court by its decree fix the amount due and direct a sale of the land therefor, unless the amount be paid before a date specified. Pursuant to this decree, the land is offered for sale at the county treasurer’s office in the May following the decree, that is, in May of the third year following that for which the tax was laid. The sale held, for example, in May, 1907, was for the taxes of 1904. At this sale, land which is not bid in by individuals, is struck off, or bid, to the State by the county treasurer, and is so returned to the Auditor General. It then remains subject to redemption by the owner for one year. If it is not redeemed within this year, it becomes State tax land and goes on to the State tax land list. At this point, the original owner’s title is cut off; the State has become, as against him, the absolute owner. Hickey vs. Rutledge, 186 Mich. 128; Alcona Co. vs. Aud. Gen., 186 Mich. 133. Under the present tax law, the Audi- tor General is not required to deed to the State such State tax land until, upon examination, it is found to have been delinquent for five years or more, and to be abandoned. The title of the State, however, does not rest upon this deed, but accrues at the end of the year of re- demption before mentioned. Jackson & R. Co. vs. Lumber Co., 146 Mich. 207; Gibson vs. Comr., 121 Mich. 50; Alcona Co. vs. Aud. Gen., 138 Mich. 499. The purpose and function of the Auditor General’s deed is not to convey title to the State, but to convert what was State tax land into tax homestead land, and to transfer the same to the jurisdic- tion of the State Land Office so as to bring it within the operation and effect of the law relating to homesteads and to sales. Platz vs. Engle- hardt, 138 Mich. 489. The origin of the State’s title, both to the tax homestead land and State tax land, is in the original owner’s continued failure to pay taxes, and in the proceedings taken under the tax law and under the decree of the court of chancery. Both are equally for- feited tax land, and are clearly within the contemplation and purpose of the act creating this Commission of Inquiry. It appears from the foregoing that no land can appear upon the State tax land list until it has been delinquent three years, and that no land can, by the Auditor General’s deed, be converted into tax homestead 6 THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, land unless it has been delinquent at least five years. Examination of the State tax land list of any year in the Auditor General’s Department will disclose that most of the land which has been deeded, or which is in condition to be deeded, has been-delinquent for a term of years greatly exceeding five. It is believed that it is a conservative estimate to place the average period of habitual tax delinquency at upwards of ten years; and it is quite certain that this average considerably exceeds five years, and that all but a very small part of the forfeited tax land (State tax land as well as tax homestead land) has been delinquent for a period of five years or more. THE TAX LAW HAS AUTOMATICALLY CLASSIFIED THE FORFEITED TAX LAND AS THAT WHICH IT IS WISE TO USE FOR FOREST RESERVES. The forfeited tax land, situated largely in the sandy cut-over pineries, is, therefore, the residum of a sifting process that has worked auto- matically for a long period of time. It is the land selected impartially by the self interest of the original owners as that which, for a series of years, has not been worth paying taxes upon. It is an obvious and safe conclusion that land which has been derelict for taxes continuously for many years is, in general, not of the better class of land in the town or county. Habitual and continuous tax delinquency, ending in for- feiture of title and total abandonment, establishes, with reasonable cer- tainty, that such derelict.land is, generally speaking, of the poorest in the particular town or county where it is situated. Moreover, many of the choicer pieces of what, at some time, have been included in the State’s holdings, have been picked up from time to time by the home- steader or purchaser; so that in the course of time less and less of good land has been left in the list, until at present the sifting process of natural selection has furnished a safer guide to the poorer lands of the State than would be obtained by actual official examination. It is prob- ably true that there is a good deal of this forfeited tax land which might profitably be farmed. We believe it is equally true that a good deal of it is too poor for success in this direction. In our opinion, no one can speak with conclusive authority (compare appendices 2 and 3) as to what percentage is of the one kind or the other, nor do we think it can be accurately determined by official examination. We believe it to be a safe and fair conclusion, however, that in general the land forfeited to the State for taxes is of the poorest class of land in its particular locality. If, therefore, the State wishes to establish State forest reserves, and | to utilize for this purpose the forfeited tax land, it will find it already selected automatically and impartially as the land that prima facie should be devoted to forest growing, because it is in general the poorer land in each county; and therefore in taking it for State forest reserves there will be no violation of the principle that forestry should be directed, as far as practicable, to the lands less valuable for tillage, leaving the better tillable land for settlement. While some land of the better class might fall into forest reserves that were formed by taking all the for- feited tax land, without discrimination, in limited districts where the State’s holdings are bunched in sufficient area, nevertheless, this would, under the circumstances, be a desirable result rather than one to be avoided; for there should be considerable land in the State reserves TAX LANDS AND FORESTRY. 7 suitable for the growing of hardwoods, since the greater part of the forfeited tax land is too light for the best results with that kind of trees. Moreover, the fact, hereafter shown more fully, should be remem- bered, that the entire area of such reserves as it is possible to form out of the tax lands can be but a small percentage of the area of any county; and if every acre taken for reserves should be good agricultural land, nevertheless, the total can never exceed the quantity necessary for a reasonable balance between ‘cultivated fields and forest areas. It is as true of regions that are all good agricultural land, as it is of regions in which a part of the land is non-agricultural, that the needs of society - require that a considerable percentage of the area occupied be devoted to growing forests. Of course, forest growing should, as far as prac- ticable, be directed to non-agricultural land. Confusion has perhaps arisen due to a want of failure to discriminate. Forest areas are a vital need in every community, and it should be the purpose of the State to establish reserves and promote forestry, even where all its land is excellent for agriculture. The real importance of the question (where it has any importance) whether land that is to be devoted to forest growing is agricultural or non-agricultural is not as bearing upon the wisdom of establishing reserves or encouraging forestry, but as bearing upon the question where those reserves or forests can be located most profitably, to the public interest. This question has been solved for this State by the automatic action of its tax law through a long period of years. The forfeited tax land has already been selected as the land which is, on the whole, the best land to form into State forest reserves, because its history proves that it is in general of the poorer class of land in each locality. Whether the State should establish and maintain forest reserves; whether the forfeited tax land should or should not be utilized for this purpose, and if so, to what extent and in what localities—these are questjons which do not depend for their solution upon a determination of the value, relative or absolute, of the soil of any county or town for agricultural purposes. It is no part of the duty of this Commission to investigate or determine whether Roscommon county or Crawford county, or any other county, is largely composed of non-agricultural land, or is chiefly, if not entirely, made up of land well adapted to tillage. We do not propose to go into an investigation of the conflicting claims (compare Appendix 2 2 and 3) that have been made upon that subject. Whether the land is of the one class or the other does not determine whether it is wise and advantageous to establish State forest reserves, or to utilize the forfeited tax land for such reserves. Both questions we believe are beyond controversy, whatever the fact may be as to the tillable or non-tillable nature of the soil. Public opinion every where has crystallized firmly into the accepted belief that it is essential to our future welfare that large areas be devoted to forest raising as State forest reserves; and it needs no argument to show the wisdom of de- voting to this purpose such available land as the State has, rather than of purchasing land for such reserves. New York, Pennsylvania, and other states have followed the latter course because they did not own the necessary land. Michigan now has a large area of land available for reserves, and it is self-evident that it should use what it has rather than buy other land. 8 THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, We repeat, so as to make it clear, that the recommendations herein do not imply, and are not based upon the idea, that the land of any county in the State is chiefly, or largely, non-agricultural and fit only for forest raising. We do not go into that question at all, because it is not essential. THE QUANTITY AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE FORFEITED TAX LAND. According to statements furnished to the Commission by the State Land Office and Auditor General’s Department, the forfeited tax lands Of this amount 545,- 009 acres was State tax land subject to purchase in the Auditor Gent eral’s Department, Nov. 8, 1907; and 567,748 acres was tax homestead land in the State Land Office undisposed of Nov. 26, 1907. A compila- tion based on these statements is here presented to show approximately the distribution of the State holdings at about-the end of the year 1907, in those counties in which there was such an area of such land as is material for consideration in connection with this report. In this com- pilation is given the area of forfeited tax land, the total area of the county, and the ratio of forfeited tax land to total area of the county. amounted, in November, 1907, to 1,112,757 acres. Number of acres of County. State Tax State Total tax homestead forest Total. | acreage of | Ratio. land. land. reserves. county. ae 365,127 27 330 ,052 ‘ 21 358 ,456 18 359 ,459 18 327,610 16 339,420 | ; 16. 370,765 14 359 ,966 12 365 ,962 11 334,088 08 é 330 ,018 08 Presque Isle. 429 ,209 05 Cheboy; 507 ,492 04 Grand. 5,407 05 362,708 05 364,020 04 235 ,002 06 367 ,247 03 334,307 03 350 ,205 03 1,002,248 06 581,436 08 758 , 202 04 1,228 ,828 02 41,061 04 759,551 03 566 ,365 04 588 ,759 03 491 ,926 02 In order to show as clearly as possible the location of the forfeited tax land, the location of each parcel with respect to the rest, and the location of the whole, and of the different parcels, with respect to lakes, TAX LANDS AND FORESTRY. 9 rivers and important streams, the Commission has had prepared a map for submission herewith. It is to be considered only as approximately correct. As sales are made every day in each of the departments, any map which is accurate and complete today, will cease to be so tomor- row, and every day that passes will lessen its accuracy. The mapping of the forfeited tax land on the map submitted was based upon informa- tion contained in plats by townships of the tax homestead land and of . the State tax land furnished by the State Land Office and Auditor Gen- eral’s Department. These plats show the State holdings generally about the end of the year 1907, although the showing as to the Upper Peninsula is of a later date. As the parts of the different counties were made in the Land Office at different dates, it can not be said that the general map based upon them is now accurate, or that it shows the State holdings as of any particular date; but it is sufficient to convey a clear idea of the essential facts to be dealt with, and of the method which this report proposes for defining State forest reserves. The tabulations furnished by the Auditor General’s Department and by the State Land Office are subject to the same qualifications as to accuracy. It requires considerable time to make up such a tabulation; and, as the work progresses, the routine work of the department is mak- ing changes constantly. The plats of each county or township having been made at different dates, the tables and figures having been made at dates not corresponding with the plats, and plats and tables dealing with matters that are undergoing constant and hourly change in the routine of departmental business, do not of course correspond exactly; nor is it practicable under existing conditions to have them made so that they will. We are dealing with a matter that may be likened to a kaleidoscope that is always running slowly; there is nothing fixed, aud the changes are not according to an invariable rule. Both the tables of figures and the map are submitted with the foregoing qualifications as to their accuracy. We submit in this report a plan for the utilization of the forfeited tax land in such ways as we believe will tend to the best ultimate develop- ment of the State. This plan, and the reasons for it, will be better under- stood after such a general review of the land policy of the State as will show the workings of the present laws governing the disposition of the forfeited tax lands. For, it will appear from such a review, that in cer- tain ways the present system is working against the best interests of the public. OF THE RESULTS OF THE PRESENT LAND LAWS AND THEIR ADMINISTRATION. (1) Prices realized by the State for Tax Homestead Land. The sale of tax homestead land under Act 107 of 1899 and Act 141 of 1901 began in April, 1902. The homesteading of the tax homestead land began with the entries made in 1896, but none were actually deeded until 1901. The prices and returns to the State, and the number of acres deeded as homesteads, or sold under the laws referred to, is shown by the following compilation from the Land Office reports: 2 10 THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, Acreage and prices of tax homestead land disposed of either as homesteads or by sales as shown by reports of the Land Office. Acres, Price. 1902 sales under Act 107 of 1899, which made certain Tax Home- : stead lands subject to purchase after April 1, 1902..... 448.51 $808 51 under ‘act: 141, Of 1901: 65.5 cass54 03% caeres oan de Re Rs 12,408.49 3,343 89 1903 “ under Act 107 of 1889......... 0... cece eee eee eee »431.04 4,850 13 * “under Act. 141. of 190163 siccco5 cia ons eee ans ae bd eS 71,045.91 77,466 45 1904 “ under Sec. 131, Act 206, P. A. 1893, and acts amendatory. 151,101.37 192,391 04 1905 “ cB « a st a 142,782.75 167,563 O1 1906. “ a & 5 e re 231,894.05 244,916 65 1907. “ i ‘A 4 us ee, mi a 235,133.74 224,539 91 uly 1 to Dec. 7, 1907, as per statement to Commission o n- - 2 viauiey 2 Enenat fae emai 9 atch . a as Bealaganctpabinis(o-ad Spares Ones Gowen Rtas aed 101,477.79 199,312 73 HOGA pswiaiais 3g es dosdodbarshe estas waveubaany see eal acer baaiotses wraiarncg dak Heed 949,723.66 | $1,114,386 62 Deduct receipts from lots in cities and villages (see statement thereof, ig ADPONGIX: Toss s cnmanw aaa 284 SHR FEEDER ME Ook Ret ha See ee REY 84,347 25 ° $1,030 ,039 37 Total No. of acres of Tax Homestead Lands disposed of as homesteads to Dec. 21, 1907. 244,431.72 Total No. of acres of Tax Homestead Lands sold to Dec. 7, 1907.............-00005 949,723.66 Total number of acres disposed Of.......... 0... e eee ee eee cree e eens 1,194,153.38 Money receipts from Tax Homestead Lands entered as homesteads estimated as LOG: Per BETO sa eo cs pine es wee pee Gee eS has aa ee Ouuhons a gee uy Behn ae $37,079 20 Money receipts from Tax Homestead Lands sold (after deducting amount received from alee of lots in cities and vVillages).......... 0... cee ee ee eee ee eee eae $1,030,039 37 Total: Money TeceiptSiss ¢0 vs evr geine a2 3.5 vos sa Ge BS Neda nase wNese db veinedakars $1,067,118 57 Average price received per acre $0.89 Average price received per acre from land sales 1.08 A considerable quantity of tax homestead land has been bought by land speculators in Chicago, Detroit and elsewhere for platting into small lots for summer resort purposes, and for subdivision into small holdings for farming, fruit raising and like purposes. This land has been bought in some instances as low as fifty cents an acre. Many sales have been made by these speculators to clerks, stenographers and working people of Chicago and elsewhere, and to others, on time at prices running as high as twelve and fifteen dollars and even twenty dollars'an acre. The business has been sufficiently extensive and re- munerative to justify extensive, full page advertising in Chicago and Detroit daily papers, Sunday editions, as well as to bear the expense of circulating advertising pamphlets. It is a fair inference therefrom that land good for farming and home making is worth very much more than the meagre price which the State has received for its tax homestead lands; and that any of the forfeited tax land that is fit for agricultural purposes will be cheap at a price which will net the State several times the average price it has heretofore realized, and which will, at the same time, enable those who wish to settle upon the land to acquire title at less than the cost of purchase from these speculators.* *In appendix 2 will be found a statement from the Land Office concerning the purchases and oper- ations of one of these land syndicates in Roscommon and Crawford counties, together with extracts from letters published, newspaper articles, etc. TAX LANDS AND FORESTRY. 11 (2) Ez«ploitation for profit to speculators at the State’s expense, is the net result of the present land system and methods. For the purpose, among other things, of determining whether the State has received an adequate price for the tax homestead land that it has sold, the Commission has sent out investigators through several coun- ties to look up such transactions as seemed to need it. The result shown generally in all directions and by a great number of transactions, justifies the conclusion that a very large percentage of the land sales result in the transfer of land on which the timber values at the time were enormously out of relation to the price realized. This is largely the result, it seems, of inadequate service in the examination and appraisals of land and of the shrewd workings of a very considerable body of self- interested men, who habitually deal in these State lands as speculators for profit realized in various ways. The evidence is conclusive that there are many of this type of land speculators; that no part of the State where there is any considerable area of forfeited tax land is with- out them; that a very large part of the tax homestead land that is entered as homesteads, and most of that which is sold, passes through the hands of these men. (See appendix 2, part 2.) This fact alone clearly shows that the present Jaw and methods in vogue result in a vast body of transactions attractively profitable to speculators. Our investigations of many of these transactions convincingly confirms this inference. Moreover petty misdeeds, irregularities, and inefficiency of service, appeared all along the line of investigation. The State’s large money loss through the combined effect of these things is the least important part of the injury. In the language of the committee which conducted this investigation, the effect on the minds of the public, and especially on the people in the various districts most involved, is in- definitely more serious than the money loss. It is the general lack of adequate State protection and State care and interest in these north counties and in the State Jands generally, that has made the State lands “commons” in the eyes of the people, to be dealt with as any one desires. This conception and attitude has been extended until all through our northern counties unoccupied lands are treated as common prop- erty; cut-over lands held in contempt as not worth the attention of a community or worth the protection accorded property elsewhere and under different conditions. This sentiment finds expression today in the public attitude toward trespass and fire; and it is especially in this latter respect where it will stand for years, as the most potent influence for the continuation of the waste land condition of large districts. An efficient, well-controlled, business-like execution of our present system, faulty as it is in principle, a well-organized State patrol of the northern wild woods and State lands as is evidently contemplated in our trespass service, would long ago have established respect for law and property and thereby prevented the destruction and loss of much prop- erty, and would have made it easy to introduce better care of forests and other works helpful in the development of these districts. The much dreaded fire question is trivial compared to many of the achievements of the modern industrial world; a few years of real ade- quate effort will restore law and order to a point where extraordinary care become superfluous and where a moderate expenditure well in 12 THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, keeping with the results to be accomplished, would protect our woods and cut-over districts, and give nature a chance to restock the land. Everywhere county abstractors, treasurers, registrars of deeds, State trespass agents, etc., are found to be either directly or indirectly, through agents, interested in the buying and selling of these State lands. As to the loss to the State, because of inadequate or fraudulent ap- praisal—aside from the loss because’of advertising and clerk hire—this has been enormous. The 21,451 acres which it has only been possible to examine because of the short time, show a loss to the State of $10.20 per acre average. According to the lists received from the Land Office, there has been sold by the State, during the past five to six years, 882,- 000 acres. At this average the loss to the State was $8,996,400. The value of the timber alone was five times that of the price obtained by the State for the land and timber. The report of the special examiners sent out by the Commission covers 21,455 acres examined, and is tabulated by them as follows: Value. County. , Area. Sold. _, Loss to State. Timber. Land. Total. Laue ag paSahive 2 1,600 $1,988 00 $6,849 00 $5,600 00 | $12,459 00 $10 ,471 00 Rewayeen -..-) 8,760 7,240 00 9,182 00 36,840 00 46,022 00 38,782 00 Lake. z 7,887 6,147 00 24,963 00 29,778 00 54,741 00 48,459 00 ence aia as 240 594 00 2,048 00 1,200 00 3,248 00 2,654 00 Kalkaska........... 480 690 00 5,640 00 640 00 6,280.00 5,590 00 Emmet............ 461 669 00 3,693 00 1,141 00 4,834 00 4,165 00 Cheboygan......... 5,407 10,499 00 61,590 00 13,117 00 74,707 00 64,208 00 Crawford.. #449 200 810 00 4,280 00 200 00 4,480 00 3,670 00 Roscommon.. 1,360 2,470 00 31,598 00 1,840 00 33,438 00 30,968 00 Missaukee.......... 200 310 00 5,600 00 840 00 6,440 00 6,130 00 CV aT oe. 5 Sel jean cue 360 360 00 3,157 00 720 00 3,877 00 3,517 00 21,455 | $31,777 00 |$158,610 00 | $91,916 00 |$250,526 00 | $218,749 00 Our special examiners further say: Most of the land examined was not sold to actual settlers, but to people who are either in the timber business or to persons regularly engaged in land traffic and who evidently purchased them for speculative purposes. Everywhere certain persons or cliques of persons appear either personally or through agents as the purchasers of State lands. Thus all the lands examined, showed that less than 5% were sold to actual settlers, the remainder being sold to timber dealers and land feted many of them not even residents of the State. (See appendix part 2 The homestead law, as far as our examinations extended, in its actual operation, has not lead to homesteads but has generally been used to secure timber or land and timber, for speculation. Thus of the cases examined, with the possible exception of one township in Newaygo county, less than 10% were taken with the evident idea of establishing a home, but were apparently taken for the timber values only. A complaint frequently met with during our investigations was that, because of the large purchases of different land speculators, actual set- tlers are kept out of the districts. Such a complaint was made by Wm. E. Lincoln, of Peacock, who said that snch nennle as Swieart wha nur. TAX LANDS AND FORESTRY. 13 chased State lands in large quantities, at $.50 to $1.00 per acre, were holding these same lands at from $7.00 to $15.00 per acre. The same may be said of such people as Geo. A. Hart, of Manistee, who is hold- ing his lands at $10.00 per acre; Granville W. Browning, who has per- sonally purchased over 30,000 acres of State lands at an average of about $1.00 per acre, and is now selling these lands for from $8.00 to $12.00 per acre. Another matter which was forcibly brought to our attention while making these investigations, was the fact that certain dealers and specu- lators are apparently able to at any time obtain any State lands they may desire. We come to this conclusion because we find that certain dealers have sold State lands from days to months before they had ac- quired a title from the State, and unless they felt sure of their ability to get what they wanted, when they wanted it, it is reasonable to sup- pose that they would not have made these sales. These facts, in addition to indicating that certain speculators have apparently an inside track in the Land office, would further go to show that the State is exercising no supervision over its appraisers, for in all of these cases speculators were assured a handsome profit before they were even obliged to pay any money to the State. These investigations are sufficient to make it apparent that the present system, law and methods are not ideal, and that it is advisable to try some radical change which holds forth a reasonable prospect of public benefit from a different use of, and method of dealing with, the forfeited tax land. The report of the committee, which conducted the investigations re- ferred to, and the report of the special examiners, will be found in full with a more detailed statement of results in the appendix, and are re- ferred to as a part of this report. (3) Loss of opportunity to assert and hold control of conditions affecting streams, water supply, stream-flow and manufacture and dis- tribution of power. - No natural resource of the State is of greater importance than the water in our streams. Its utility is for needs that are many and vital: for stock and for irrigation in rural districts; for the supplying of urban communities for domestic use; for fire protection; and for development of power for street lighting, transportation and manufacturing. The use of streams for purposes such as these, requires the impounding ‘of the water, and this in turn involves the overflowing of the immediate banks, and of more or less land in addition, within the limits of what is called the flowage area. The utilization of this natural resource, therefore, is dependent upon the right to flow such land as is with- in the flowage area of the impounding operation necessary to make the waters of the stream available for the particular purpose in view. This flowage area for any particular operation is fixed, both as to loca- tion and extent, by the surface formation or topography'of the land on and near the stream above the point at which the dam to raise the water is located. The right to flow is a property right, requiring either the title of the land within this flowage area, or the consent of the owner of that title. If, therefore, the State owns even a little land 14 THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, within the necessary flowage area, it can either prevent the impounding of the water altogether, and thereby defeat the whole plan, or it can, as the price of its consent, impose any conditions it sees fit. Its power is not in any way defined by the vague limits of the so-called police power. Its power is not only absolute, but the State cannot be divested of it, since the title can not be taken under the power of eminent domain. The ownership of only a few acres, therefore, may enable the State to keep forever the destiny of a stream within its absolute and unrestrained power. A very little land of small value, measured by the standards that ordinarily fix the value of land, thus becomes of immeasurable im- portance to the public welfare. Through its ownership the State may be enabled to take and forever keep a central control over both original development operations and subsequent distribution of the water in our streams. This central control would make it possible for the State, not only to protect the public in the matter of rates and charges, but to dictate concerning both development and operation in such manner as to prevent clashing of interests and secure fair and impartial service between communities as well as between individuals, to minimize flood conditions, to prevent pollution of water needed for urban uses, and generally to secure the maximum of public benefit. The maps and town- ship plats submitted with this report show that a great many parcels of tax homestead land have been sold, and that, many are still left, on important streams known to have considerable. fall, and to possess a large capacity for the development of power. The Commission has not attempted to ferret out the facts concerning these sales because it seems unnecessary, Since what is done can not be undone, and those from whom such information must be obtained are naturally close-mouthed, espe- cially where the project is in process of working out. In some instances full information has been freely given. One instance will sufficiently illustrate. A company organized to develop and exploit a part of the water power on the Manistee river purchased from the State eighty- seven parcels of land aggregating three thousand and ninety acres, all tax homestead land except six forties, two hundred and forty acres. The prices ranged from fifty cents to two dollars an acre. Six parcels brought the latter sum. Most of the sales were at one dollar or less per acre. The diagram of the engineers based, on actual survey, shows that practically every parcel of this land is in whole or in part, within the area that will be flowed by the proposed dam. A rough copy of the engineers’ map and township plats from the land, will, for reference, be “filed with this report but not printed. Like schemes will, unless the law is changed, shortly result in all State land within the flowage area of all the important streams being picked up by interested speculators. It is known in a general way to many that agents of those interested in acquiring such lands are numerous and active in different parts of the State, locating flowage areas and State lands therein. Alfred C. Lane, the State Geologist, writes: “I may say that I know that private in- terests have been carefully looking up the various water powers of the State and their flowage, and that such topographic maps as the United States and the State have been issuing conjointly would be of very great service in determining lands subject to such flowage. I am not, however, anxious to have our present series of maps cover such areas TAX LANDS AND FORESTRY. 15 until the State lands are at least temporarily reserved from sale, because I know that the result would be that they would at once be picked up. I know that land agents have made trips along many of our principal rivers and blocked out the flood plains and secured the acreage thereof.” The state of things indicated by Mr. Lane’s letter is the natural re- sult of the increase of utility and value of water power within very recent years by reason of the progress made in ability to transmit power by electricity for use at different points. This has made all land within the flowage areas of streams having the necessary fall for development of power, a valuable asset, and it must be expected that it will be quickly picked up by speculators, to be turned over to more permanent in- vestors. : It is not our purpose to recommend any change in the policy evi- denced by that clause in the Constitution which forbids the State from undertaking works of internal improvement; nor is it the thought of the Commission that ownership of land under discussion other than that in the State reserves, should be retained in the State permanently. It is desirable that this land should be made available for any use that it may be suited for, subject only to such provisions as will retain in the State the power that ownership of the land would enable it to assert over the development, operation and distribution of the water. All the incidents of ownership consistent with the State’s retention of control in manner suggested should be secured to the State’s grantee. One sec- tion of the draft of a proposed statute, submitted as a part of this re- port, seems appropriate for the attainment of the purpose in view, viz.: Section 12. Every grant, conveyance or transfer of the title of the State to, and every contract made by it affecting, any land within the operation and effect of Section 1 which lies upon, includes, or is bounded or crossed by, any lake, river or stream, or which lies within the flowage .area thereof hereinafter mentioned, shall be subject to the following stipulation binding upon the land and upon all grantees and assigns thereof as follows, to-wit: All such parts of the land included in such grant, conveyance, trans- fer or contract as will be flowed by any present or future work, dam, or operation for impounding, diverting or controlling the waters of any lake, river or stream in order to develop water power, or to furnish water supply, or to regulate stream flow, or for any other purpose, are conveyed by the State only to the extent that the grantee and his suc- cessors in title may use, possess and enjoy the same, except for the purpose of flowage as aforesaid; the right of flowage being reserved to the State subject however to the agreement that such right of flowage shall not be used by the State, or conveyed or granted to any person, except either with the consent of said grantee of the land or his suc- cessor in title then owning the same, or upon condition that compensa- tion by the grantee of such easement or reserved right shall be made to the said owner of said land in the same way as though he were the absolute owner thereof without restriction or reserved right aforesaid ; and provided further, that any grant or conveyance by the State of the easement or right of flowage shall be held and deemed to be subject to the reservation and agreement that the same is, and shall forever re- main, subject to such rules, regulations and requirements as the State 16 THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, may at any time see fit to impose for the protection and betterment of public welfare. Protection of the State’s interest requires action by the legislature at as early a date as possible. The particular parcels of forfeited tax land, having value in the way suggested, can not be readily or quickly ascer- tained; nor would it be wise to point them out publicly, in advance of legislative action, as that would enable speculators to take them up under the present law before the legislature can act. It is essential that the forfeited tax land be withdrawn from sale or other disposition (ex- cept redemption of State tax land in the Auditor General’s Department by the owner of the record title) while action along the lines recom- mended in this report is under consideration by the legislature. Action of this nature, immediately upon the convening of the legislature, is earnestly recommended as of great importance for the preservation of public interests. (4) The laws allowing sales of tax homestead land have not con- tributed materially to bring in actual settlers. It seems to be well established by our investigations that the laws under which tax homestead lands have been sold have contributed to the actual settlement of the regions of cut-over lands but very little. Some of this land brought by speculators is resold at large advance in prices, and often after the stripping of the timber. But it is compara- tively seldom that the man who is seeking a home buys tax homestead land; if he wishes such land he takes it up under the homestead law. Most of the sales of tax homestead land are to those who buy in order to strip the land of timber on it, or to acquire it for ranches to be used as cattle or sheep ranges. Some is bought for sporting or game preserves; some to control the flowage as already stated; some for sum- mer resort purposes; some as a measure of tax dodging. (See the state- ment in Appendix 4, of Wm. H. Rose, Commissioner of the State Land Office.) All the sales that have been made in the Land Office are shown by statements prepared in that office for this Commission. These state- ments will be filed with this report but are not printed. Examination of these will disclose that most of the land sold in any county taken as a sample, was sold in many parcels, but in large aggregate acreage, to a few individuals or corporations. It is evident from such an ex- amination. (see Appendix 2, Part II.) that the purchasers of very much the greatest part of the acreage were not persons who designed to settle on the land purchased. (5) The present law, both the feature allowing sales and that allow- ing homesteading, is operating to the devastation of great areas, and to the rapid destruction of the capacity of the cut-over lands of the north’ to reforest naturally without artificial aid. The results of our investigations show that the most of the forfeited tax land that the State disposes of is acquired primarily for the pur- pose of stripping it of timber. So far as sales are concerned we have already sufficiently covered this subject. It is a matter of common knowledge in the State. TAX LANDS AND FORESTRY. 17 So far as the homestead feature of the law is concerned, we have official figures that furnish valuable information. The following table, compiled from figures furnished by the State Land Office, shows by years, from the time entries began under the law to Dec. 21, 1907, the number of acres of tax homestead land entered as homesteads; the num- ber of acres deeded at the end of the five years’ residence required by law; and the number of acres abandoned and that reverted to the State for non-compliance with the requirements of the law. No. of acres deeded to settlers at the No. of acres revert- Year. No. of acres entered as homesteads. expiration of the 5 years residence re- quired. ing to State for non-compliance with the law. July 1, 07, to Jan. 31, ’08 17,693. 367 ,090. 16,741. 10,131.84 146,174.06 124,334.67 9,162.99 21,531.90 155,337.05 145,866.57 The general result shown therefor, is that 5114% of the acreage taken up as homesteads is deeded to settlers on compliance with the law, while -4816% is abandoned and reverts to the State. A compilation from the Land Office reports of the acreage of deedings by counties, together with a statement of abandonments as given to this Commission by the chief clerk, shows a slight difference between the total of deedings as given by years and that as given by counties: 3 18 THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, HOMESTEADED LANDS. Statement by counties of the number of acres deeded and the number of acres abandoned. Acres Acres County. ‘ abandoned. deeded. PAT COMB 2g. cetesee Scav's Soc Seetnt Sipe euasea ca alRile i cooshetoei duet ae ia f0 me SO ay a goa at ayik ty LEO Oe RenaONaTD 8,346.62 8,601.22 PRTG BAN sa iene acior ac sane ipiiane Rcieseseuancdonshantanis 12 6, wiah de sodaizehioan ad bs Se el Gasnwansenlieusre wir o onaceTAuels 11,371.81 5,646.50 PRLS TG sca. alee encriei os od de ce al erecenseglanle to cas ce ES unig cay oe oud tee ocieaapesrunelaasie Sob.8 eas gnderaya coud 11,990.09 10,366.24 ATOM A Cie 2 sasesnancey he olecd ic nb hats leven Scr tea OR BA yr archi le ed Danfnesaeevan ieee 4,817.15 1693.22 Bay...... 2,525.01 7,843.68 Crawford. . 6,220.13 5,706.83 Cheboygan 400.00 00 lare...... 8,163.17 9,188.16 Delta 2,962.79 3,433.66 Emmet. ; 1,520.00 1,661.25 Grand. ‘Tra vers@csx: 3 soo ushaes tA6d oT hee wae sera S a4 80.00 160.00 GEA GL Ob ore, c.sy secs gs ss csp ov ahanatnay apenas) tse taaeacpne onan BB ehh cas wn fein. gk hs wetactanefet ose 1,998.25 1,638.57 EU GUI 5 sass 0s 516g spn, leo oah ah drys acaba sis Sale Sh ohare ads ely SGultad I banativateldeus Jee 2,865.15 4,028.20 PROM 6 a: jeis ekecstisrsbss Soba dhol or Saipaudul Ge Engen» saseersnans B hu Rete lacutarae Tdi h Ade mba te 1,246.20 1,071.75 POI ee Sess shonots Hirata dnl Oiee ick nib eel entanedh Ge tale eR ale maencges Gah Ae Ces 651.80 §71.80 TSAO MD os casein 8S eh ee Niehint Sl dhce Ae auiedeca reas acc caste qaebuesete ne seca Sede a, sue dkeleh atte 2,336.15> 3,829.12 TOSCO oi 8.0 tick canine Acasa ON aie sa eh bie au cseab ses yn gy's-RNGnabieienT a eA PS SHOR ENE 460.00 }............ WR aM ASN is. sine vs raceey t cose sesenek ca saes eiasomistisne cle ga nceoiaubian aie “esd doar ane eadenaig ans 'sta 1,686.70 2,292.13 VO pect ak epadeodnramenkeaadiaaa sw keocenasag Kone emeleeyadl's SY xQweRrs Xo 560.10 IB ced cca sc hahaa gave weak va pel asf eera cae smbonbseridos ag fab anashy c atnens see: tate aay -h uenoaeyelataree face 960.00 960.00 LA DOOR i ie c-stwingratereg vig, Faure te gare Hus Ieee nant m9 oe ara blac arat eg ian Re RURReCe 4 hk AIS Ahk dha oath cee 160.00 Menominee s..6.666 csicngcute ew danpasead ae tce eH ae ae TRAE AA be be. 40.00 120.00 Mecostai.s cqnen cies gueautar seed Pee aces oath eek a Laameua Ss dine 8,238.81 22,656.45 Midland. : see : 7,619.89 Missaukee. ae i 9,417.87 Montcalm. ; 4,161.96 7,121.95 1,380.92 360.00 1,428.37 5,481.74 1035.25 120.00 520.00 320 .00 9,167.47 7,916.80 120.00 796.00 356.16 1,625.30 156 ,458 .56 Taking a district in the Lower Peninsula in which the State holdings of cut-over land are the largest, viz.: Arenac, Gladwin, Clare, Missau- kee, Roscommon, Ogemaw, Iosco, Alcona, Oscoda, Crawford, Kalkaska, Otsego, Montmorency, Alpena, Presque Isle and Cheboygan, we find that 53% of the acreage homesteaded is abandoned and reverts. The follow- ing table shows the result by counties: TAX LANDS AND FORESTRY. 19 No. of acres deed-|No. of acres aban-| Percentage ed on compli-| doned and re- of ance with the} verting fornon-| abandon- ( law. compliance. ments. County. ATONAG: chide cee deeens dee io R ite edmeee Dente ee 3,693.22 4,817.15 Gladwin........ 4,028.20 2,865.15 CL ale isis iscsi ot 9,188.16 8,163.17 Missaukee....... 9,417.87 6,256.46 Roscommon... . . 7,9 9, ' 8, 8, 134 : + : MONtMOLENCY 656 oecsics wee gurad yee neGina a wee ae 7,121.95 11,722.55 AlMCD G5 csi bp Winlebnghas Gaia G eee AG AMAR Sa 10 366.24 11,990.09 Prevaue ISOs oie eeeals Saka eRe tees Fade? 9,164.47 13,742.57 Cheboy Gates i ran eies oe45 dea oks Saree eee ed 320.00 400.00 TOta lise ost scqncedu ae Bisse Seach Sy iebbssocceuast eases ioe 84,438.85 96,601.60 53% THE TIMBER SKINNER AND THE “ RUBBER 40.” These abandonments, in the main, point to the operations of the tim- ber skinner. This well-known character is one who, pretending to be a bona fide settler, has, under the cover of the homestead law, made a practice of squatting temporarily for his nefarious purpose upon what, in the common speech of the whole region of the cut-over lands, has come to be familiarly known as a “rubber forty’; that is, an anchorage in the neighborhood of some mill where there is a market for everything in the shape of timber or wood products. Here he locates in a crude shanty, built to be abandoned, and from it reaches out in every direction to strip off all that grows which is convertible into money, whether it be found upon land owned by the State, or by individuals who are not watchful of their interests. It is this man who is surely divesting nature of power and capacity to reclothe and ‘rehabilitate the waste cut-over lands of the north. His destructive work supplements the devastation of fire, and both work together to a common end—desolation. It is doubtful whether fire or the unwise policy of disposing of these lands to those who acquire them for the timber is the greater foe to the true interest of the State. Each so supplements the evil work of the other as to increase its de- structiveness and make the ruin more complete. These two evils, fire and the timber skinner, are so interwoven that they are in reality one, and the elimination of both is essential if there is to be any hope of a rational and wisely balanced development of the cut-over lands, or of securing forests capable of supplying enough lumber for the future, or of producing the incidental benefits to public welfare that come from having adequate forest areas. The homestead abandonments officially recorded do not relate exclu- sively to the timber skinner, for many poor people have been enticed into attempting to make homes on land unfit for their purpose. These peo- ple were poor and not above the average in knowledge of and skill in agriculture, and so lacked both the means and the ability to create homes and family supporting farms out of light, thin lands. Capital and skill sometimes can do this, of course, but these people were without either. 20 ; THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, The necessary result was failure—a disaster to the man who made the attempt, and anything but profitable, either to the neighborhood in which he settled, or to the State at large. Abandoned homes there are without doubt in the pine barrens.* It has been suggested, however, (See Appendix 2), in quarters not altogether disinterested, that none of the failures evidenced by the abandoned homes to be seen in some of these northern counties, were due to the unfitness of the land, but that (so far as they represent not timber skinning but the failure of an honest effort to make a home), they were all due entirely to the unfit- ness of the man who made the attempt to create a farm out of such light, sandy lands. Inasmuch as a great quantity of land has, by the aid’ of questionable advertising matter, been sold by land speculators, to clerks, stenographers and working people of Chicago and elsewhere, it is easy to believe that a large number of persons may have been caught who had neither the means nor the knowledge to fit them for the task of farming. But it matters not at all whether failure of honest effort was due to the unfitness of the land, or of the man who was enticed into making the attempt. So far as the land policy of the State has made easy either result, it merits only condemnation, and a change in that policy should be made which will prevent the recurrence of like results. But making due allowance for the actual failure of bona fide attempts at home making that are included in the figures above quoted, the greater part of the abandonments shown represent the pernicious and destruc- tive work of the timber skinner, the man of the “rubber forty,” who is vying with fire in the work of bringing the cut-over lands of the north to a condition of waste and desolation. THE CAPACITY OF THE CUT-OVER LANDS FOR NATURAL REFORESTATION. The forfeited tax land is chiefly found in the regions once covered with pine forests. This land is light. Very little hardwood land, which is generally heavier, has been allowed to fall to the State for taxes. The typical history of the cut-over land of the original pineries, is that, after removal of the pine, fire, invited by the toppings and inflammable debris, has swept over the region. This devastation is often several times repeated, and its completeness is in proportion to the number of fires and their intensity. Sometimes the vitality of the land is de- stroyed; sometimes a few trees escape destruction, or a little young growth, and the possibility of natural reproduction, if fire is kept out, is preserved. The State has tried neither to keep fire out, nor to pre- serve the seed trees and young growth. It has ignored the value in forest growth except when large enough to yield lumber or wood. The value of seed trees, because of their equipping nature to reforest with- out planting or other artificial aid, has been overlooked. The policy of the State has been to crowd its holdings of cut-over lands upon pur- chasers for a mere song for the very purpose of having them stripped of this scattered growth. This policy, and the supine inaction of the Spe eert one Jeter ot we ai omen oe Saginaw: aii bara nie ta bt a nen TN lot of life’s tragedy is written on the Michigan mand peace oN oe settlers Ie cothete eke act try the same old experiment of threshing a living out of the sand an thi i with the same result. See also appendix 2. : one HAMMER ees ANE. TAN Ieee TAX LANDS AND FORESTRY. 21 \ State and residents in reference to forest fires, are working together towards the reduction of great areas to desert conditions. The stripping of the scattered growth, where it does not bring fire upon the land as its immediate accompaniment, leaves the inflammable toppings and cut- tings scattered about, converting the land into the very condition most inviting to fire and contributing its readiest means of spreading. An- other fire leaves the land bare, and probably kills not only all the young growth, but all the seed that may be scattered on the ground, leaving nothing in many cases with which nature can work to reforést; the young growth, the forest cover, the seeds, the seed-bearing trees, all aré gone. This unwise land policy, and the State’s neglect of the fire problem, are, in a large measure, due to failure ‘to recognize the function and value of the scattered forest growth upon cut-over land. It constitutes an asset of large value, quite distinct from the land itself. It gives the capacity to reforest naturally without artificial aid. It is true, per- haps,: that much of nature’s unaided work of reforestation will not be as quickly done as if the same area were artificially planted, and that she will often restock the land with trees less valuable than pine and the more desirable hardwoods; but, on the other hand, the cost of planting artificially is saved, and the product, whatever the character of the timber produced, will be of substantial value in time to come when all timber and wood values must of necessity be higher than they are now, and when much forest growth will have a market demand that never has been considered merchantable. Moreover, in all the ways that forestry aids agriculture or contributes to the public benefit, in the bet- terment of water supply and regulation of stream flow, the forest cover resulting from nature’s unaided work of reforestation will be as valuable as though the trees were all of the most desirable kinds for timber. The capacity of nature to reforest therefore, is an asset of great value. If the timber skinner is allowed even a few years longer to make way with the seed trees, every acre on which fire follows, as it will shortly, will be divested permanently of this capacity to reforest itself; and as seed trees on one forty may mean the capacity to reforest not only this forty, but its eight adjoining like parcels, the extent of the area affected by the loss is evident. Moreover it means a distinct injury even to the agricultural land destined to become farms; and to all the large acre- age that is non-agricultural, and that in wisdom should be again turned into forest, it means the difference between the cost of natural and of artificial reforestation. Letters and statements from people well acquainted with the condi- tion of the cut-over lands of the north will be found in Appendix 5. They picture the condition of these lands as it relates to their ability to reforest naturally. They present the subject from the points of view of many people widely scattered in the State. Taken together as a whole they make what may be likened to a composite photograph. 22 THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, THE PURPOSES AND PRINCIPLES UNDERLYING THE FORMULATION OF A PLAN FOR UTILIZATION OF THE FORFEITED TAX LAND. . For the best ultimate development of a State it is, next to securing settlers in adequate number, important to provide for a wise and proper balance between forest areas and tilled fields. Settlement should not be encouraged by State action beyond this point, but it should be the aim both to have settlers, and to have forest areas adequate for the needs of those settlers. Moreover, State action should not seek to direct settlement to any of this forfeited tax land except such as is of the better class, having real value for farming. Just as forestry should be directed to the non- agricultural and poorer land, so conversely settlement should be directed away from, not toward, the poorer agricultural land. Since the for- feited tax land is a residuum, largely culls, resulting from a sifting process that has segregated the poorer lands of the locality, we are justified in concluding that so far as settlement is to be directed by the action of the State, it should not be toward the forfeited tax land, but away from it, toward the prima facie better land which has been protected from taxes, and the available supply of which is, as the figures show, altogether: beyond present demands for settlement. In the four- teen counties having the greatest percentage of forfeited tax land, there is from seventy-five to ninety-five per cent of the area of the county that is tax paid, and in every other county of the State the tax paid land exceeds ninety-five per cent of the area of the county. In order to secure a proper settlement of any county, preserving a wise and ad- vantageous balance between forest and cultivated areas, it is therefore clearly not necessary to turn prospective settlers towards the forfeited tax land. It is equally clear that such of the forfeited tax land as is opened to sale should be disposed of in such way as will not incidentally operate to the disadvantage of the State. It is also our opinion that the best interest of all concerned will be subserved by providing that such of the forfeited tax land as residents of the townships in which it is situ- ated desire for private timber reserves shall be made available for that purpose. A plan for the utilization of the forfeited tax land should find its support and foundation in these considerations, and should therefore have for main ends the following, viz.: (1) To secure for settlement as much of the forfeited tax land as is possible, consistently with the reservation of adequate areas thereof for forests; but (a) only to the extent of such parcels thereof as are clearly well fitted for tillage and the making of successful farms; (b) only in such way as is consistent with the exclusion of the practice of timber skinning; (c) in such way as will, so far as practicable, eliminate the land speculator, or middleman, whose profits represent what is added to the price paid by the settler over and above the paltry price realized by the State, and whose work it is which is responsible for unfit land being taken up by homesteaders, and for unfit men undertaking the task of making profitable farms out of a class of land for which skill and knowledge are especially necessary. (2) To secure for use for forest purposes, in part by the State as TAX LANDS AND FORESTRY. 23 ‘State forest reserves, and in part by individuals as private timber re- serves, an area sufficient, if possible, to adequately provide for the pub- lic needs in the future as population grows. (3) To allow the disposition of the forfeited tax land not utilized as above only at such time and in such way as will not operate, either directly or indirectly, ‘to thwart or hinder the accomplishment of the purpose aforesaid. (4) To reserve to the State, whenever State land on or near streams or lakes is disposed of, all rights of control over them or their waters that full ownership of the land would give if the title were retained by the State permanently. (5) And any wisely conceived plan along these lines, should, as its complement, include the adoption of a policy aimed to secure the aid and co-operation of individual effort in the fire problem and in commer- cial and farm forestry. TO ELIMINATE PURCHASES FOR TIMBER SKINNING, ALLOW SALES OF LAND ONLY AT A MINIMUM PRICE PER ACRE PLUS THE VALUE OF FOREST PRODUCTS. So far as these objects relate to the disposition of the forfeited tax land for settlement, they will be secured, it is believed, by fixing by law a minimum price per acre of not less than five dollars, with the provi- sion that to it shall be added the amount of the value of all saleable timber and wood products. Land that is really good tillable land, will find purchasers, and will be cheap enough at this price; and it is cer- tainly wise to direct settlement away from the forfeited tax land if, where there is any demand for land, it is not deemed good enough land to command this price. Such a law will eradicate the practice of tim- ber skinning, if the law is properly enforced by honest appraisal of timber values. This execution of this feature of the law is the critical point of this entire branch of the subject. To effectively eliminate the practice of timber skinning will also re- quire a modification of the general tax law so as to prevent sale of the State’s bid by the Auditor General in such way as to give the purchaser color of title as a protection for the removal of timber. The Auditor General should be authorized to sell the State’s bid, at any time after expiration of the year of redemption following the tax sale, for the full amount due for taxes, interest, expenses and charges, and to execute to the person making such payment an acknowledgment thereof, the same to operate as a cancellation and total annullment of the right, title and interest of the State in the land; but there should be no conveyance of title or interest in the land grounded on the tax proceedings adverse to the original record title, or to title resting on actual possession. Ex- press provision should be made that the law shall not be so construed as to extend the period of redemption, nor to extend the right of the owner of the original title beyond the last day of the year following the tax sale. It should be made clear that the law is not designed to confer any vested right or interest upon the holder of the original title, but is intended to operate solely in the interest of the State, so as to enable it to cancel its right and title on receipt of all the back taxes and in- cidental charges, but to do this in such way as will prevent a stranger 24 THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, to the title from acquiring an interest founded on the tax proceeding with the design of making it a cover for timber skinning to the detri- ment of the public interest and welfare. OF THE DELIMITATION OF STATE FOREST RESERVES. The map prepared for submission herewith shows that the State’s holdings of forfeited tax land are much scattered and that a large part lies in small parcels widely separated from other State holdings. Only now and then are districts found in which these parcels are located with respect to each other in such way as to make it possible to form out of them a forest reserve of sufficient extent and compactness for economical administration. Hence the location of State reserves is dictated almost entirely by an established fact. They must be placed where the State has the land, and even if the land is tillable, it must be appropriated for reserves. To this extent even settlement must be regarded as a purpose of secondary moment. For the sake of effectiveness of fire protection and of economy of administration, it should be provided that future acquisitions of forfeited tax land so located as to fill in gaps and round out the State’s holdings shall, as acquired, be added automatically to the State reserves near which they are located. For this purpose the first step recommended is the defining of districts to be called reserve districts, to be located so that they will include within their limits the compact holdings of the State. It should be provided that within the limits of each reserve district all future acquisitions of land shall automatically be added to, and become a part of, the State forest re- serve within that district, subject to the limitation fixed as the maxi- mum area of State forest reserves in any county. Careful considera- tion of the map will show that the State holdings, so located with re- spect to each other as to be available for reserves, are but a very in- significant part of the State’s area, and clearly insufficient in extent to furnish the future with lumber or to have material influence on stream flow, or to bring about ultimately such a development as will produce a wise balance between agriculture and forest lands, or to produce gen- erally or in any large way, the incidental benefits to the public welfare which are to be expected from having adequate forest areas. By the time the next legislature convenes the State, in districts where it now has extensive and comparatively compact holdings, may have lit- tle or nothing left. The limits or location of reserves, therefore, can not be determined by reference to the map submitted, nor to the plats above mentioned; nor is it possible for the Commission, reporting in ad- vance of legislative action, to submit any map which can be used as the basis of the delimitation of State forest reserves. That requires knowl- edge of exact location and quantity at the exact time. It is not possible to obtain such knowledge, except by a temporary withdrawal from entry, sale or other disposition of the tax homestead land and State tax land (except redemption of the latter by the owner of the original title), and by the making of an inventory and map showing the hold- ings of the State at date of such withdrawal. Legislative action direct ing such withdrawal is the first necessary step to the creation of State forest reserves. ; It was perhaps in the mind of the legislature when it adopted the TAX LANDS AND FORESTRY. 25 statute under which this Commission is acting, that the report which is called for would specifically define State forest reserves. But it will become evident at once, upon consideration, that it is impossible for this Commission to locate definitely the limits either of reserve dis- tricts or of State forest reserves, because the first and essential condi- tion that must determine the location of both is undergoing change from day to day. Moreover, if the report of this Commission should define reserve districts, it is quite certain that there would be a rush upon the Land Office to acquire lands within those districts, either because of the prospect of more adequate fire protection therein, or in order to compel the State either to repurchase, or abandon the project of a State reserve in that district. Moreover, the location and defining the reserve districts and State forest reserves is a matter which ought not to be determined solely by reference to the map. Some considerable examination in the field is highly desirable. It would seem an unwise expenditure of money to make this examination, involving considerable expense, in‘the face of the fact that, before the legislature meets, the entire work may be made useless by a purchaser stepping in, and, under the law in force, acquiring the land necessary to the creation of a re- serve. No action can therefore be taken safely or wisely to definitely fix the limits either of reserve districts or of forest reserves until after the legislature shall have temporarily withdrawn all of the forfeited tax land from sale or homestead entry. ‘We therefore recommend that the Commission in charge of forestry be authorized and directed to proceed with all convenient speed to locate and define the boundaries of reserve districts, making selection (1) with regard to the State land therein, which by reason of its lying in com- paratively compact bodies is capable of being effectively and economically administered; (2) with regard to having the State reserves as far as practicable where they will contribute to the betterment of conditions affecting streams and stream flow; and (8) with regard to bringing into use for farms as much of the State land suitable therefor as is con- sistent with the establishment of State reserves in manner aforesaid. The statute should provide in substance as follows: All land within the operation of this act and now owned, or which shall hereafter be ac- quired by the State because of non-payment of taxes, and which is situ- ated within any reserve district, is hereby designated as, and shall be, a part of the State forest reserves; provided that not more than 20% of the area of any county shall be included in the State forest reserves; and provided that the Commission in charge of forestry may elect to take over as a part of the State reserves any land in excess of the afore- said limit which shall be acquired by the State, and, in lieu thereof, to drop from the State forest reserves other land in the same county of sufficient area to reduce the State Forest Reserves in the county to the limit aforesaid. The Commission having charge of matters of forestry is authorized to employ the necessary surveyors and others for the delimitation of re- served districts; and to incur such expense for maps, surveys and other purposes as may be necessary for the matters aforesaid in this section, the same to be paid out of the general fund when audited and allowed by the State Board of Auditors, 26 THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, OF THE EXTENT OF RESERVES, AND THE RELATION OF THEIR AREA TO THE \ TOTAL AREA OF THE COUNTIES IN WHICH THEY WILL BE LOCATED. The map, and the figures quoted also show that, by taking over as reserves all the land that is available, no county in the State will be overloaded with forest land. The figures we have quoted show that there are only fourteen counties in the State in which the quantity of forfeited tax land is as much as six per cent. of the area of the county, and only two counties in which it exceeds twenty per cent., and that the highest percentage -is reached in one county having twenty-seven per cent. It is clearly not necessary that a single acre of this land be taken up for settlement in order to save any county from becoming perma- nently a wilderness, or from having more land in forests than is wise and conservative, or than will preserve a proper and advantageous bal- ance between woodland and tilled fields. Moreover, the map shows that it will not be possible in any county to utilize all the State’s holdings of forfeited tax land for State reserves. Consequently the percentage of the area of any county that is really involved is much less than that shown by the foregoing figures. But it is not wise, in our judgment, to rest the matter entirely upon the facts disclosed by the figures we have quoted. In the last analysis the working out of a policy, such as it is the duty of this Commission to formulate, must depend upon success in solving the fire problem; and it seems clear to us that there is nothing of quite so controlling im- portance in reference to this fire problem, as to secure locally, among the residents of the regions most directly affected, a sentiment favorable to the results which such a policy has in view as its final purpose. Wheré it is the common thought of the community that the forestry movement is an enemy of the neighborhood, and that young forest growth not yet having merchantable size is valueless; where carelessness, and even wil- ful intention, in starting fire to run through young forest growth, is, even if distinctly forbidden by law, condoned and the law treated merely as a notion of theorists or of cranks; it is evident that the more settlers who come in with these ideas, the more will.the difficulties and the ex- pense of fire protection grow. Conversely, if such local sentiment be replaced by an attitude of friendliness toward the forestry movement, and by a just estimate of the value of young forest growth, the coming of more settlers will decrease the difficulties and the expense of the State in relation to the fire problem. Moreover, there is nothing that will contribute so much to make pos- sible the adoption of a rational and satisfactory State policy as to re- move the opposition of the residents of the counties in which the cut- over lands chiefly abound. It is a well-known fact that the only real opposition to forestry that has shown itself in the open, claiming to be based on defensible public grounds, has heretofore come from counties like Roscommon and Crawford; and this opposition has been largely based upon the claim that the forestry movement in this State is work- ing for ends that will result, in the conversion of these and like coun- ties into permanent woods, to the exclusion of legitimate and desirable settlement. As such is not in fact the intention of the movement, and as the facts shown by the figures already ‘quoted demonstrate that such a result is in fact impossible; it seems the part of wisdom to make such TAX LANDS AND FORESTRY. 27 provision as must necessarily quiet the apprehension and allay the fear upon which so much objection and opposition has heretofore been based. It is wise therefore to have the law expressly limit the area of forest reserves in any county to such proportion of the total area of the county as must, by any candid mind, be conceded to be well within the limits of a fair, proper and advantageous balance or proportion between agri- culture and forestry. The law may, therefore, wisely provide that the State reserves shall be limited to 20 per cent. of the total area of the county in which they are situated. It will be wise also to put a limit upon the acreage, both of State reserves and private timber reserves hereafter mentioned. If this limit be fixed at 25% of the total area of the county it will leave no room for legitimate doubt that a proper balance between forestry and tilled land will never be upset by reason of the action of the Sate in dealing with,the tax lands. TAXATION OF STATE FOREST RESERVES. A ground of objection that has been strongly insisted upon, not only in this State but elsewhere, to the establishment of State forest re- serves, is that a relatively large part of the township or townships in which the reserves are located will be thereby removed permanently from the tax roll, making the burden of taxation unduly severe on the rest of the locality. We believe this objection is well founded. New York and Pennsylvania met the same objection by providing either for taxation, for local purposes, of the State’s holdings of forest land, or for payment annually, in lieu of taxes, of a fixed sum per acre. This tax, or payment in lieu of taxes, should, as in the States mentioned, be required by law to be expended only for roads and other specified local purposes. We believe it wise to follow the example of Pennsylvania, and to fix the amount, thus making it an annual acreage fee; and to require, in lieu of taxes, payment of the same amount by the holders of the private timber reserves, provision for which is recommended here- after. Such a provision will be found in the draft of the proposed law for putting into operation the plan recommended by this report, and reference is made to it for details. We recommend the adoption of this provision, not only because we believe it just that the State should bear its share of the burdens of local expenses, but also because it will tend to secure the good will of the residents of the regions to be most directly affected by the location of State forest reserves—a matter of vital necessity to forestry, as already pointed out. DONATION OF FORFEITED TAX LAND FOR PRIVATE TIMBER RESERVES. The fire problem is the most fundamentally important of all the prob- lems before us. Nothing is so much responsible for the dangers of fire and the difficulty of protection against it as the mental attitude of the residents of the regions of the cut-over lands. Young forest growth is almost universally considered valueless and entitled to no protection. If this unfortunate belief can be changed, and a local sentiment be sub- stituted in favor of forestry and of fire protection, the greatest difficulty in the fire problem, and the chief obstacle to reforestation, will be removed. For the purpose of eradicating the widespread and pernicious notion that 28 THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, young forest growth should have no protection, it is proposed to give to residents in the township or locality limited holdings of the forfeited tax land, to be held as private timber reserves, These should be entered under a contract with the State, containing reasonable terms calculated to pre- serve and protect young forest growth and forest cover, and forbidding the cutting of trees within a period of time (not less than fifteen years) sufficient to give them a chance to scatter the seed necessary for re- forestation. Careful provisions for the protection of all the interests of the State will be necessary; and in case of destruction of the reserve by fire, it will be necessary to provide for a determination of the rights of all parties in such way as will be equitable under all conditions. In addition to such power as the law may specify, very large discretionary powers should be left to the Commission in charge of forestry matters to require further terms for its protection. The powers and discretion vested in this Commission should, like those conferred by contract on architects or engineers, be adequate and sufficient to work out the equi- ties of each individual case which is not expressly provided for within the letter or spirit of the statute. For a liberal term of years, these private timber reserves should bear no taxes beyond a moderate annual acreage fee to be applied in part for fire protection and in part for roads and local township purposes in the same manner as elsewhere recommended for the payment and distribution of an annual acreage fee by the State upon the State forest reserves. Title should, at the end of say 25 years, be given without payment of any purchase price, if meanwhile the terms of the contract have been fully complied with. The chief purpose of this suggestion for small, private timber reserves is to secure throughout the region of cut-over lands as many resident owners of growing timber as possible. Every holder of a little timber reserve would be a help against forest fires, and an aid toward a change of that mental attitude of disregard for young forest growth which is the most difficult feature of the fire problem. If substantial advance be made toward the obliteration of that widespread and pernicious notion by the plan suggested, the State will have given away wisely whatever land may be taken up as private timber reserves. INDIVIDUAL EFFORT IN REFORESTATION VENTURES MUST SUPPLEMENT FORESTRY BY THE STATE IF ADEQUATE FOREST AREAS ARB TO BE SECURED. As we have pointed out, the State has not sufficient land to establish State reserves of the requisite area to furnish the people of this State with necessary timber and forest products, nor to secure the incidental benefits that adequate forest areas will bring to the public welfare. Material results as respects streams and stream flow can not be ex- pected except for such an area of forest land as has a reasonable ratio to the area of the drainage basins of the streams to be affected. To provide adequately for the future, therefore, imperatively requires more than the taking over and protecting of such forfeited tax land as can be used for State forest reserves. The purchase of waste and cut-over land and its reforestation might be resorted to by Michigan following the example of New York, Pennsylvania and other states and countries; but we believe that an alternative course, at present more acceptable, is stil] open to the State. TAX LANDS AND FORESTRY. 29 NATURAL, RATHER THAN ARTIFICAL REFORESTATION SHOULD BE RELIED ON, AND AMPLE APPROPRIATIONS FOR FIRE PROTECTION SHOULD NOT BE CURTAILED TO PROVIDE FOR ARTIFICAL PLANTING. Reforestation of the cut-over lands will come in a large way by natural growth if general fire protection is provided, and it is reasonable to hope that, with such protection, individual effort may be induced to undertake reforestation ventures upon a scale that will ultimately produce a proper balance between forest area and tilled land. Much of the land that yearly crowds the Auditor General’s list of lands returned delinquent for taxes is cut-over, denuded, waste land that is now kept practically useless. Whatever grows upon it grows in vain, for before it can reach a point of utility fire comes in and destroys it. Repetition of this process is steadily reducing this land toward ulti- mate conditions of permanent waste. The loss involved is in the aggre- gate very great. It would be saved by adequate fire protection, and such protection would convert great areas of land that are now a nuis- ance into productive forest land essential to our material prosperity and development. In this way, only, is it feasible for the State, without purchasing immense areas, to make provision for forest land sufficient in extent to produce enough lumber and wood products to satisfy the needs of the people of the State, or to influence materially conditions effecting water supply and stream flow. The furnishing of general fire protection, therefore, is the most vitally important of all the problems under consideration. If any curtailment of expenditure is deemed necessary, the last place for it is in reference to the fire problem. Reforestation of the State’s reserves, in part at least, will be necessary by planting or seeding; but such artificial re- forestation should be postponed rather than the furnishing of general fire protection, if a curtailment of expenses is necessary. Such refor- estation by artificial means as shall be resorted to for the State reserves, should be undertaken only in a conservative, careful and deliberate way. Wherever there is a prospect that nature will do something her- self unaided, it is wise to wait and let her do it; for she works for nothing. Such planting as is to be done should be undertaken piece- meal, from year to year, so as to bring the annual expenditure within reasonable limits. And the expenditure of money for work of this nature should first be given the approval of the legislature, acting upon definite recommendations submitted from time to time by the Commission in charge of forestry matters. State action along the line of artificial re- forestation must be taken against a certain conservatism on the part of many who regard forestry generally as more or less a new and unproved experiment. Many people, in spite of the historical facts, still have a feeling that what has not been within their own personal knowledge or observation, that what their nearest neighbors have not actually done, must be more or less experimental; and they have a fear that the State, should it undertake to reforest artificially in a large way, may involve itself in expenditure beyond reason. It is not well to override even prejudice or unfounded fear in the adoption of a plan which must, for its successful working, largely depend upon the general good will and co-operation. But it is well to lay down clearly, as the cardinal rules of future action in the way of reforestation of the State reserves, 30 THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, that expenditure will be incurred for planting or other artificial aid to nature only where unaided she can not adequately reforest; that expendi- ture of money for this purpose will be made only after its appropriation specifically for a definite tract or plan; and that such expense for this purpose as the State shall incur shall be incurred from year to year and be kept within the limit of conservative annual expenditure. What- ever planting or seeding is done by the State will, of course, be confined to its reserves and must be accompanied by a system of patrol for proper’ care, for protection from fire, and ultimately from trespass. It is alto- gether too early, in our judgment, to attempt to solve problems con- nected with this feature of the State’s work. It is not our purpose to combat the opinion of expert foresters, often expressed, that the best method of reforesting State reserves (at least generally in the Lower Peninsula where fire has had longer opportunity to run). is by planting, rather than by natural regeneration. But this is the minor problem, not pressing for present solution. The main and immediately urgent problem ,is the general rescue of the cut-over lands and the restoration of an adequate forest area -for the sake of the individual benefits to public welfare rather than for the ultimate money profits from sales of lumber. This can, as we have said, be looked for only as the result of effective control of forest fires by the State. Conceding as we do, all that expert foresters claim as to the advantages of planting of State Reserves as against natural regeneration, we nevertheless adhere to the belief that work of this sort, except experimentally, or in special cases for special reasons, ought not to be taken up at present, if so doing in- volves any curtailment of expenditure necessary for fire protection. The securing ultimately of adequate forests for this State is fundamentally dependent upon the raising, in the immediate future, of money enough to provide efficient fire protection. No other feature of the matter should be allowed to stand in the way. THE PROSPECT FOR INDIVIDUAL EFFORT IN FORESTRY. It is believed that with general fire protection much may be expected of private enterprise in reforestation from corporations whose business requires a constant consumption of timber and wood products in large quantities. The consumers of wood for production of charcoal or for pulp; mining companies requiring timber for supports which must be periodically replaced and be added to as excavation goes on; railroads requiring vast quantities of small timber for ties lasting but a few years —these and many other like uses suggest themselves. Many concerns with a large business looking to permanence, and depending directly upon a large yearly consumption of forest products for continuance of their operations (especially where the consumption is chiefly of the coarser sorts that may be grown comparatively quickly), have already begun to attempt forest raising on a large scale in this State and else- where, even under the adverse tax conditions now generally prevailing. While forestry, as a mere investment, may not be attractive generally because of the necessarily long wait before satisfactory returns can be looked for, yet a concern which must be a large consumer of forest products in qrder to continue permanently in business, is not free to TAX LANDS AND FORESTRY. 31 pick and choose as a mere investor of money is; the incidental benefit rather than the direct money profit is the controlling inducement. TAXATION OF FOREST GROWTH WHERE LAND IS UNDER PROCESS OF : REFORESTATION. Individual effort, however, cannot be relied upon to aid in any large way while taxation remains as at present, because our present tax laws make it impossible to see a reasonable profit in forest raising under present conditions. Under the law, as interpreted, and the practice followed generally (so far as there is sufficient consistency in the action of assessing officers to warrant use of this word) forest raising is impossible as a com- mercial venture, because, if the assessing officers do their duty and tax annually what the law directs them to tax, the result must be the con- fiscation of all the profit within the period of years necessary to grow a tree from the seed to maturity. This is not from intention, but he- cause the system of taxation in vogue does not conform to the facts nor recognize the inherent natural and unchangeable differences that, for purposes of taxation, distinguish forest growth from all other forms of property, and make it a separate and distinct class. A forest property must always consist of two things, the land and the forest. growth.. The land should be taxed as unimproved land, the same as any other land of like nature in the same locality. The im- provement on it, the forest growth, should be taxed annually, but ac- cording to a system of taxation recognizing its inherent conditions and characteristics: The question is not merely whether the forest growth is a crop, or whether it is personal property, or real estate. The real matter of importance is that its inherent natural characteristics, and the conditions affecting it, are radically different from those of other kinds of property. Whether the law recognizes the fact or not, it is in its essence a distinct class by itself. This will appear from a brief consideration of well-known facts. The increase of forests comes only through a/process. of natural growth, by which annually a small ring is formed within the bark and about the heart of the tree. This ring must stand until the tree reaches the age or size agreed upon as that of productive maturity. This, of course, is a variable point, and more or less arbitrary. The ring, meanwhile, can not be taken away for use by the owner, or be put to any purpose, as other personal property can be. It earns nothing for the owner. It does not increase in size. It is forced to stand idle. It is a source of expense for protection from dis- ease, insects and fire. It is misleading to speak of it as invested capital, or invested income. It is not invested, because it is earning nothing and paying no returns. It is stored. The only beneficial use of it is that which enures to the public from having forest areas. If we assume that the average period of productive maturity is eighty years, the first of the annual rings of year growth will have before it an en- forced period of idleness of seventy-nine years. The next year’s growth will be stored in like way, seventy-eight years, and so on. At the end of eighty years there will be eighty of these rings. If taxes are levied annually meanwhile on the cash value of these rings as they are year by year accumulated, the result will be that, when the tree arrives at this 32 THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, assumed point of productive maturity, the first ring will have borne a tax upon its assessed value seventy-nine times, the second ring will have borne a like tax seventy-eight times, and so on. In other words, there will have been a tax on the assessed value of 3,160 annual rings, which is about forty times the number of such rings actually in the tree at the agreed age of eighty. The longer you make the period, the greater will be the excess of taxation. It is the opinion of this Commission that so far as reforestation of the State is sought through the encouragement of commercial forestry as distinguished from farm forestry, it should be treated in matters of taxation strictly as a business proposition, requiring no special favor in the way of bounties or tax exemptions. It does not need special favor, but only rational treatment. All that is necessary is to treat it fairly and justly in’ accordance with the facts and conditions which are in- separable from such property. The commercial forest raiser should not be placed, in the public eye, in the light of an object of charity, or as entitled to a bonus, but he should be treated as one undertaking a busi- ness venture for profit. The business is as capable of paying taxes as any other kind of business if the taxes be graduated in accordance with the unchangeable facts and conditions to which the property is, and must always be, subject. All that is needed, or that should be asked for, or that is wise to grant, is taxation according to a rational system. The fact that great benefit, direct and indirect, will result if reforesta- tion is undertaken on a sufficiently large scale, does not call for the giving of bounties or special favors, but is an excellent reason for chang- ing unjust tax laws that discourage such investments, to the extent of substituting a system of taxation that will be rational, because con- forming to the controlling facts. In this connection it should also be ' remembered that the State desires to induce individuals to reforest de- nuded lands, and that this involves an investment of money on their part which must stand for a much longer period of time than is usual for investments in the financial world, and while so standing must al- ways be, to a greater or less extent, in danger of destruction from fire, wind, fungi and insects. Moreover, before any return can be expected there must be a wait longer than the term of ordinary investments. This is true, even though it be conceded that a forest will begin to yield returns long before it arrives at what can properly be termed maturity. These are repellant features to the ordinary investor. On the other hand, the proposition can not be considered as attractive to those who seek commercial ventures for profit. The results are too long in com- ing. Consequently the number of possible investors in ventures of for- est raising is restricted; and if the States wishes to secure the co-opera- tion of sufficient individual effort, it will wisely make concessions wher- ever injustice is being done by its laws; and taxation which piles itself up during the entire period that: forest growth must stand stored and idle is clearly both irrational and unjust. ; Any system of taxation of forest properties must, to be rational, recognize the distinction between the land and the forest growth. No one can justly complain if the land is taxed like neighboring unimproved land. The improvement thereon, the growth that forms during each year, should be taxed at the rate borne by other property, but each year’s TAX LANDS AND FORESTRY. 33 growth should be taxed only once while the tree is standing; that is, the tax on forest growth, as distinct from the land, should be based on the value of the annual increase. This may readily be arrived at by a table giving results according to acreage, such tables to apply to the whole State, and to be prepared and adopted by the State Tax Commis- sion with expert aid. Under such a tax system the tree at the assumed time of maturity will have paid a tax on eighty valuations of annual growth. Hence the taxes paid will, in the aggregate, be a tax on the ‘matured tree as it stands when it is fit to cut. But inasmuch as the tree while growing has had protection from the State for the long term of years necessary to bring it to maturity, it is just that a reasonable cutting tax should be paid as compensation to the State which has fur- nished this protection. This tax, if reasonable in amount, will not operate to deter ventures in commercial forestry. It will be looked at, and properly, as a rational substitute for the cumulative taxation that now stands in the way of forestry as a business proposition. At the same time, the taxes that the towns and counties are entitled to con- sider their due will be paid annually, the full value of the product or crop being taxed as fast as it comes into existence; whereas the protec- tion for years that makes the venture possible is furnished by the State, and the harvest tax should therefore be a tax fixed by, and accruing to, the State. TAXATION OF FARM WOODLOTS. It is conceded universally that the farm woodlot contributes largely to the public welfare. Objections that might be advanced against the lowering of taxation upon commercial tracts of timber now standing, do not apply to the farm woodlot or to farm forestry: neither does the same reasoning as to tax exemption apply that we have advanced con- cerning commercial reforestation. The very purpose of the farm wood- lot is permanence: it is not for ltmbering and exploitation for profits. It is not strictly a business venture. Each woodlot is small, and a part of a farm. Woodlots are located usually in the more settled districts where land is of greater value than is such cut-over land as will generally be used for commercial forest raising. By taxing the land as unimproved land, the burden of taxes on woodlots will therefore be relatively greater, so that exemption of the forest growth on the woodlot will no more than equalize as between these classes of forest raisers. We recommend that it be provided that farm woodlots be taxed by assessing and taxing the land only as unimproved land, giving entire exemption to the forest growth thereon; provided that the owner man- ages the woodlot, and conforms in regard thereto, to such proper rules and regulations as may be imposed by law. A constitutional amendment will be necessary to the validity of such a modification of the laws governing taxation of forest properties as will be necessary. Such amendment, for the reasons stated later, should, so far as applicable to commercial forestry, be limited in operation to projects of reforestation of cut-over, waste land; and, so far as applic- able, to farm forestry and farm woodlots, should clearly empower the legislature to exempt from taxes the forest growth thereon as distinct from the land itself. 5 ® 34 THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, The following is the form of constitutional amendment recommended : Forest growth upon cut-over, denuded or waste lands in process of reforestation may, for the purpose of taxation, be separately classified, and be assessed and taxed in such manner as the legislature shall deem fitted to promote reforestation by individuals of cut-over, denuded or waste lands; and the legislature may pass such laws as the public and domestic welfare may demand for the encouragement of farm forestry, and, for this purpose, may exempt from taxation the forest growth upon farm woodlots. TAXATION OF PRESENT STANDING TIMBER. The conserving of standing timber in such manner as will be for sub- stantial public benefit necessarily involves the conversion of the property into a forest property to be handled according to the principles of busi- ness forestry, i. e., for periodic returns by the cutting off from time to time of no more than the natural growth upon the tract during the interval between cuttings. Anything which induces present owners of standing timber to merely delay the time of cutting, is at best only a temporary relief, helping to tide over the coming period of increased scarcity—a result of some, but not fundamental, importance. Whether any modification of the system of taxation, or even the total removal of taxes, would operate generally to induce the owners of the mature timber tracts now standing to convert the same into forest prop- erties as aforesaid, is a matter which admits of some doubt. The timber was generally bought under conditions based on the intention, and in- volving the necessity, of early cutting. The capital invested, the busi- ness organized by lumbering it and handling its product, all look to a yearly cutting commensurate with the capacity of the plant constructed for the purpose; and the making of a profit in many cases, and its extent in all cases, are directly dependent upon the plant being kept in opera- tion to its capacity. When prices are high, the pressure to realize as fast as possible the quick profit which was the original inducement of going into the venture, is difficult to withstand. Lumbermen and most owners of standing timber are not generally simple investors of surplus funds looking for fair annual interest returns. The money embarked _ is often borrowed, interest must be paid, expenses must be met, and divi- dends are expected. The ownership of timber land is usually acquired as a commercial venture, entered into for the purpose of securing large returns quickly. All is based fundamentally on the expectation and the necessity of quickly cutting off the standing timber. Taxes and interest have the same relation to this matter: the lowering of either makes it easier to carry the investment and therefore tends to prolong a little the time of waiting; but neither is the controlling thing. The basic thought of the. venture is an early profit. To expect the conversion of the tracts of timber now standing, into properties to be indefinitely held as forest property for periodic returns, is to expect such a change generally in the attitude and policy of owners of such property as amounts to a revolution, completely overturning the whole basis on which their busi- ness was entered into and is maintained. It is, however, true that there are, even under present adverse condi- tions as to fire and taxation, some owners of large areas of standing TAX LANDS AND FORESTRY. 35 timber who are treating their holdings in accordance with the principles of scientific business forestry. It is obvious that if others can be in- duced to do this in a large way it will be a great advantage to the State, because it requires much expense and lapse of time to duplicate any of the forest now standing. That forest serves all of the purposes of public interest that any forest can serve. It is worth the effort, there- fore, to make any attempt that fairly promises success to conserve the present forest and to induce its owners to permanently handle it ac- cording to scientific principles. But “it must not be overlooked that the public remember that these forests now standing were not grown by the present owners, but were obtained, full grown, by them or their predecessors, from the State at what seems a grossly inadequate price; and it is the general belief that, in the hands of the present owners, this forest property is held only as merchantable material for exploitation and sale at such time as will best suit the convenience of the holder. Hence there is no reason for special favors to the owner, nor to expect that the State will be benefited by a lowering of taxes on property so held. Unless the State, by modify- ing the taxation on standing forests, can assure itself that it will secure the conversion of such standing forest into permanent forest property, to be held and administered conservatively and in such way that the amount cut therefrom in any period shall not exceed the amount of growth therein, it would not be wise for the State to consent to lessen the taxes on this class of property. Any change operating’ to lighten the burden of taxes upon the owners of standing timber, however just in itself, and however wise as a mat- ter of State policy, will arouse opposition; for public opinion does not hold the lumberman or the owner of standing timber as a benefactor. The belief is general that a great natural resource, the original forest, has brought to the State very little and to those ‘who have destroyed it very much. Any change in taxation will require constitution amend- ment; and therefore in our judgment, it will be unwise to hitch up a proposal for lower taxation upon standing timber with a proposal such as we recommend for the regulation of taxes upon cut-over lands in process of reforestation, or upon farmers’ woodlots. Reforestation and conservation of forests now standing are two distinct propositions re- quiring separate handling; and those engaged in reforestation are clearly entitled to the betterment of tax conditions which we have recommended, even though it be thought unwise to change taxation as it effects com- mercial tracts of mature timber now standing. It is our belief that the conserving of the standing forests requires change in taxation so as to secure, in the assessment, equality of treat- ment between timber properties and other kinds of property, through a more direct and effective check upon over-valuation in the assessment; and by the imposition of a reasonable limitation upon the tax rate in rural districts. The latter is confiscatory in many counties, and can- not but operate to drive the owners of standing timber to lumber it even when they would otherwise wish to hold it. The report of the State Tax Commission shows, for instance, that in 1901 the average tax rate was $63 on the thousand in one county and $40 to $49 in five coun- ties and from $30 to $39 in thirteen counties. That is, in nineteen 36 THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, counties the average tax rate was from about two to four times the average rate of the rural districts of the State. This state of affairs indicates that the time has come when the same reasons that have led to the placing of limitations on the power of municipalities to raise money by tax or otherwise, call also for the placing of like limitations upon the power of rural communities. ADEQUATE FOREST RESOURCES CAN BE ACQUIRED ONLY BY GIVING THE CUT- OVER LANDS OF THE NORTH PROTECTION FROM FIRE. The foregoing brings us face to face with the fact that, if the future is to be provided with forests adequate to supply sufficient lumber and wood products and to secure the benefits possible through forests to agriculture and stream flow, they must be largely the result of efforts by individuals to reforest the denuded, cut-over and waste. lands of the north. It is evident that this can not be hoped for unless conditions -are brought about which will make forestry comparatively safe. In the last analysis, therefore, the problem of State forest fire protection is the controlling one. GENERAL FEATURES REQUIRED IN A FIRE LAW. Adequate fire protection for the extensive regions in which it is needed requires efficient organized service, and that in turn requires legal ma- chinery and authority under competent management, and with sufficient money. The machinery of the present fire law, with a few modifications, is believed to be satisfactory and sufficient, if its administration is in competent hands, and if sufficient money is appropriated for the pur- pose of fire, protection. Expense of fire protection may be expected to decrease as the enforce- ment of law spreads a better view of the value of young forest growth, keeps down reckless and thoughtless starting of fires, eradicates the lawless element, enforces the exercise of more caution, improves condi- tions that can be bettered, and as residents come to be owners of young growing timber. Adequate protection involves at least supervision and frequent reports during dangerous times. This, for so large a territory, requires, to be .of any value at all, several hundred temporary employees. Their duties will vary according to the needs and conditions of their respective districts, which should be so laid out as to make the most use possible of the cheaper methods of supervision, such as observation from high places and watch towers, use of telephone, etc. Actual patrol should be resorted to only when unavoidable, because it is much more expensive. The whole must be worked out in detail, suiting the methods and kind of supervision to each locality, with the purpose always in view of keeping down expense. In seasons of danger, daily or other frequent observation for fire, and report of results of the observation, should be required. These reporis should center in the deputy at the head of the district. In time of actual fire, there should be authority to call on citizens for help and money provided to pay for it. In times deemed dangerous, the services and authority of the sheriff's force of the county and supervisor of the town showld be made subject to the warden’s call. TAX LANDS AND FORESTRY. 37 The working out of an effective system of fire protection is obviously not a matter for paper elucidation, but for the exercise of sound judg- ment by some responsible and competent authority, backed up by the law. The machinery provided by the present law, aided by the amend- ments and additions suggested in the draft of a fire law accompanying this report, will be ample, if placed in the proper. hands for execution, with provision for the money necessary for so extensive a service. Efficient organization also requires division into districts not too large for practical handling of the territory included. There should be at least twenty-five districts, each with a deputy at its head and with a sufficient number of local wardens serving temporarily only in danger- ous seasons of the year or special periods of danger, as above suggested. At the head of all should be one responsible, active man, having both the expert knowledge and the ability to organize and administer, which is essential to the successful working of any machinery of this kind. This requires money for employment of the many helpers necessary, and the elimination of politics in their appointment. CONCENTRATION OF PUBLIC LANDS, FORESTS AND AFFAIRS OF RURAL POLICE, ETC., IN A PUBLIC DOMAIN COMMISSION. The handling of the fire question demands, in a large degree, expert knowledge and experience. Without it, more money can easily be waste- fully spent than will be necessary for the installing and maintenance of an effective system of fire protection under the guidance of men qualified by experience and knowledge for the task. The duties which must be performed in the interest of the State in connection with State forest reserves, with the fire problem, with the protection from trespass of the public lands, with the enforcement of game and fish laws, and in-other like directions, are in substance rural police duties, or their performance is analagous thereto, and may be performed by one force of men. Such a concentration of duties is in the interest of economy and effectiveness. But neither effective nor econom- ical results can be expected where there are several ultimate fountains of authority. The force whose tenure of office depends upon the game warden, can not be expected to render the best service in the way .of fire protection for State forest lands under another jurisdiction. To place the duties of trespass agents on the persons whose duty is to look after forest fires or breakers of game laws would result in economy, if there were but one source of authority over all; but, under the divided authority of the present system, such a concentration would lead to friction, clashing and jealousies, destructive of effectiveness of service. The duties of fire wardens, of trespass agents, of game and fish wardens, are chiefly police duties, and of a nature so kindred that it is obvious that economy and effectiveness will be much promoted by their concentration in one force of men, under one controlling administrative head. We believe, therefore, that the interests of the State affecting the pub- lic domain and natural resources should be brought under one depart- ment, to be administered by a commission having general charge, and sub-departmental heads having charge of the routine of administration. These several heads of sub-departments should, as far as the constitution 38 THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, allows, be appointed by the Commission. The Commissioner of the State Land Office is at present a constitutional officer. If the new constitution is adopted, it will be within the power of the legislature to abolish this office and substitute therefor some other officer. Under the present con- stitution, the duties of the Commissioner of the State Land Office may be prescribed by the legislature. In either event, therefore, whether the new constitution be adopted or rejected, it is within the power of the legislature to bring the performance of the duties of this office under the control of such a Commission as we recommend. We suggest that the office business connected with the matters under the Commission’s jurisdiction be devolved upon the Commissioner of the State Land Office, or such officer as may be substituted; and that the affairs of the State involving police duties and work in the field, as distinct from office work, be vested in a Forest Warden to take the place of the Game, Fish and Forestry Warden and other officials. The Forest Warden should have sole charge of the enforcement of trespass laws, game and fish laws, fire laws, land and timber examinations, and other like work. This active administrative officer in charge should be subject to the appointment and control of the Commission. The employees of all these sub-depart- ments should be employees of the Commission assigned to duty in a particular sub-department; their appointment, tenure of office and duties being within the control ultimately of.the Commission, but being pri- marily prescribed by the active, practical heads of the sub-departments. Their compensation, also, except as the law itself may expressly fix the same, should be subject to the same final source of authority. The exclusion of politics from the Commission’s work and appoint- ments will, we believe, be best accomplished by making the Commission non-salaried and by securing the exclusion of politics from the manner of the appointment of the members of the Commission. It should be so arranged that it will not be possible to convert this Commission into a political machine. The proposal submitted to the recent Constitutional Convention for a Commission, to be known as the Public Domain Com- mission, is recommended as the basis for legislation along the line of these suggestions: APPROPRIATIONS MUST BE COMMENSURATE WITH THE EXTENT OF THE FIRE SYSTEM NECESSARY. While the placing in a non-partisan commission of authority to choose the active administration officer having charge of this machinery, and responsible for its results, will tend to secure competent servants and efficient service, nevertheless the law, however perfect, or however ably its machinery is handled, cannot keep forest fires out of the millions of acres that comprise the regions of cut-over lands, without money ap- propriations, and these must be adequate to the task. Not less than $100,000 a year for the necessary service of fire warden; exclusive of salaries of wardens and deputies, should be provided for the present, and until conditions have so improved as to lessen the need. This should be appropriated to be used only when And to the extent the forest Fa shall deem necessary. All responsibility must finally settle on im. This is at present the real forestry question in Michigan. Until the TAX LANDS AND FORESTRY. 39 fire problem is adequately coped with, there can be no forestry having possibilities commensurate with the certain needs of the next and suc- ceeding generations. The fire problem cannot be successfully handled without adequate appropriations. The spending of this money wisely and economically requires expert knowledge and experience in those who have the control and management of the large number of men neces- sary; and this result, it is believed cannot be confidently expected with- out a concentration of forces and responsibility in those who are free from all political alliances and entanglements. In our judgment all efforts should, after the setting apart of reserves, be subordinated to the eradication of the fire evil. Planting and other artificial methods of reforestation can be allowed to wait, if it is necessary to curtail ex- penses. The fire evil is the last thing on which retrenchment of neces- sary expenditure should be practiced. Economy may be promoted by concentration of forces in the manner indicated; but when as efficient an equipment and service as possible is organized, sufficient money should be placed at its disposal to do the work required; and full responsibility for the manner and amount of expenditure should be placed with the administrative officer at the head of this service. In conclusion the essential features of the commission’s recommenda- tions are as follows: 1. The taking over as State forest reserves of such of the forfeited tax land as is so,grouped as to be available for the purpose. 2. To open to entry for small private timber reserves such of the balance of the forfeited tax land as is desired for the purpose by actual bona fide residents of the township. 3. Open to sale all of the forfeited tax land not taken into State reserves at a minimum price of $5.00 an acre plus the value of the forest products on the land. Appraisals to be made only of land applied for and at the expense of applicant and to be kept of record and published in the county in which the land is located. : 4. To make provision for adequate fire protection by furnishing suf- ficient appropriations and providing an efficient non-political force of men, under a single person, on whom will finally rest all responsibility for efficient service. 5. This will make it possible for nature to reforest naturally a very large part of the cut-over lands of the north, and for large results, com- mensurate with the State’s needs, reliance is placed by the Commission upon this natural capacity to reforest rather than upon expensive arti- ficial planting. 6. Concentration of the forces and rural police affairs of the State under a single commission with a single executive officer, the State For- est Warden, having sole active charge of and final responsibility for the proper execution of fire laws, forest laws, game laws, fish laws, trespass laws and, in general, all matters of rural police. 7. Elimination of all features of the present laws which have led to the injurious work of the timber skinner and to the building up of an extensive class of speculators at State expense. 8. Constitutional amendments, to enable the legislature to adopt a more rational system of taxation of forest growth. The legislation recommended for immediate adoption in order to give 40 THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, effect to the recommendations of this Commission will be found in the annexed appendix numbered 8. Appendix 6 is made up of extracts from various sources bearing more particularly on taxation of forest growth. Adopted by the Commission and respectfully submitted. R. 8S. GRAHAM, President of the Commission. c. V. R. TOWNSEND. CARL E. SCHMIDT. FRANCIS KING. A. E. PALMER, GEO. B. HORTON. D. B. WALDO. A. B. COOK. W. E. OSMUN. Dated July 24th, 1908. Attest: CHARLES B. BLAIR, Executive Agent of the Commission. © TAX LANDS’ AND FORESTRY. APPENDIX 1. 41 TABULATIONS AND STATISTICS FURNISHED BY THE STATE LAND OFFICE AND AUDITOR GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT. Statements furnished by the Auditor General showing acreage of lands subject to purchase on State tax land List No. 20, May, 1906, on List No. 21, May, 1907, List No. 22, May, 1908, and State tax, land subject to purchase Nov. 8, 1907: and statements by Commissioner of State Land Office of Tax Homestead Land, subject to sale Nov. 26, 1907, and June 30, 1908. State tax State tax State tax | Tax home- | Tax home- a f land list land list land list stead land | stead land Counties. No. 20, No. 21, No. 22 Nov. 26, June 30, May, 1906. |Nov. 8, 1907.|. May, 1908. 1907. 1908. 79,186.95 50,879.00 66 , 732.27 15,370.07 14,242.22 15,619.95 17,162.00 19), 207.546 Wie oo sen Sstierene tansatia see wn see 728.45 565.00 C28 SO hea oie i ecciptoater Nadie tee 2 yale 21,250.10 18,672.00 24,244.78 33,753.92 29,730.20 1,614.82 1,207.00 T S620 add- fis soo se several nara G44 go 8 OE 7,054.33 7,798.00 12,687.45 8,032.83 7,403.41 22,361.52 21,153.00 DSi O21 Oke |lhgcodan enlace iaianignal erencGua subennr) ale 310.34 310.00 BUA BE [2.8.8 85250.5 esa ete) doiciccdee te Made en 1,109.24 1,099.00 1,028.51 AO OO Niicitisas ee eees 3,044.90 412.00 672.48 3,304.10 778 32 261.26 260.00 TSlel9 |e wine x bacehil| Reale cages "180/00 | 180.00 | 7" T8506 [cba sd svsaeual swasbacka «bs 4,919.42 Nesccce nee es BOOS hc soca gaia vise 8 eal a aeneeictae fein ae ce a 4,919.42 535.00 867.11 4,379.96 4,197.23 Cheboygan...............005 26,286.24 22,130.00 25,928.97 20 ,084,81 18 ,483 .22 Chippewa............. 0c eee 49 ,993 .04 10,336.00 27,095.69 49 886.16 38 525.33 Clabes ths a Gaines tnreineuniee yt 7,180.01 5,831.00 9,317.22 10,054.99 8,493.94 CHMEONs 55 vce termes tae HO. ||) pr ipemaiersnet [ai waaecaagecs ays 55,127.50 53,020.50 26,689.89 21,087.42 Houghton......,....2.00 eee 5,104.63 AUTON: 2s seen ees oe eeene se 134.56 WghamM seca pace ices reowes< 215.00 VOM y.c cieree nd eisai eee eS 50 TOSCO;.c2-20 3 soe Olney ® 7,631.92 Titties a2c4 3 nes 14 ess eenawnns 65,706.17 Tsabellais: <4 ice cen eee ee ees 5,454.62 Jackson.... 0... : eee e cere ees 137.20 Kalamazoo.......-0.-65.0005 1.15 1.0 Kalkaska........ 00200000005 43,619.09 39,815.00 1. 41,706. 56 42 THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, State tax State tax State tax | Tax home- | Tax home- Counties. Jand list land list land list stead land | stead land Z o. 20, No. 21, No. 22, Nov. 26, June 30, May, 1906. |Nov. 8, 1907.} May, 1908. 1907. 1908. Kent? sietecsae tec eacueee as 127.03 121.00 120.60 Keweenaw 3,438.05 1,502.00 2199.15 [os ees ese eel e ass aes eee ake. 6,257.09 2,270.00 6, 804. 03 Lapeer.. 246.25 245.00 246220 |e ess ote eeeabsgmna creek ia Leelana' 1,835.23 1,488.00 1,633. it errr ee Lenawee. 2.30 2.00 2.30 Livingston DOOD) | betes sseteenes tetas alle 0G at eet mecsde ane [oe Luce... 11,018.15 4,195.00 7,109.88 Mackina’ 1,930.89 3,467.00 8,576.15 Ma COMD is ssiceent s scastisree xs0.w eds all taiavepmin 6 PONE. cing ices 282.78 Alcona......... 40.00 . Cheboygan.. 80.00 Randolph Live Stock Impr. Co......} Gladwin................-5 Otsego. Lee 684.40 Richards, John..............0-00005 Millersburg....... abate Presque Isle... Vee Alpena and Chaumont, N Alpena. 800.00 Rogers Bros...........0.00000005 { Aone 2,836.12 Oscoda. 955.75 Richardson, Ira H. et al Crawford. 2,713.73 Roscommo: 432.65 Root, Elihu N......... Crawford . 560:00 Redhead, John B Crawford 400.00 Reel, Emmet C.. Crawfor 598.93 Roth, Herman..................008 Lae Pane SMI, TOs. Bie icnsas acne scesesas one ae ae resque Isle. -00 Selkey. Albys «a ss idaweare espe deesadd Hawk@isrs soa yssanades se { Montmorency 259 56 Schmidt, WMiecesiscaaues gia cao. ROSCIS iis isd oa Hoa aes Presque Isle. 673 .92 Stubbs, GeO eae Gat enti teed AIPONG ss cies 2g ecseem anes ese Alpena 360.86 Oscoda 2,560.39 Alcona. 2,430.78 Soloman, Harry.................... All SablOs,4ecuvewees as. 557.53 120.00 Montmorency 160.00 Swisher, Lovell..................... Iowa City, tee scoda......... 400.00 Scoville’ Leroy A. J. L. Clarksville... AlCOND« css es 435.07 Sanborn, Jas. L.............-...... OSSINEKG ioooce oc ie titania artes Alcona......... 1,097.20 Scheiber, TAUPO hice asa oc east Gent Perecheney..............-: Crawford........ 360.00 Stitt, Frank B.......... 2. eee El Paso, UWhicciscs seca ae as Gromiied 2 was 385. : anistee........ 7,569.05 Swigart, Geo. W. and Canfield, S. Co..| Mamistee................ { Mason.......... 979.39 . an escnineedd feds 4 eee tee ; : anistee........ 1, - Salling, Ernest N.................4. Grayling sais cs esceaiies ac Crawford ee ‘ 280.00 amistee........ 1770, Sands 8. & L. Co. and R. W. Smith...| Manistee................ Mason.......... 2,004.33 nal Kalkaska....... 560.00 Smith, Frank W................... OPER Gide iacsaamnexaw« as Roscommon..... 704.31 Mom MIGreney. ‘ aoear PREURDENERBRS GREE SE pena......... woe Sanborn, Wm. H AIDEN cn coo he emacs Alcona Fag 1? 464. 90 resque Isle.... 200. Best, GOON. Ciisss tude ae deevin ween Vanderbilivs ¢isonccs access Oimaea, ariiueetveubare 1,416.59 qake SS acaaa 18 Gtr cS anistee........ . Sadler, Fred Wa... .6escceeeestaeuns MONEAEUC soiscioe deen 456% Roscommon, aoe 120-00 uskegon e : Swan, Chas. M..................... SIOUX Cities csniteinene et Tae Baath 1,205.73 Stark’ MOA Gr tie. oS Sapenbociagh toca Bien, ote Baldwitts.. « 2 1903} 40/1.25 50 22 200 222 172 56(LO=13-11)) 0 aneneane eas 1903} 80|]1.25 100 15 400 415 315 60/15-13-11 Hugh Freneb ys seis) 50630 1903; 40/1.25 50 15 160 175) 125 67/22-14—11]|W. W. Taylor............ 1903] 640]1.50 960|...... 3,840] 3,840) 2,880 70|/32-14-11/Z. B. Trumbele........... 1903) 80)1.25 100}...... 640 640 540 71|32-14-11]W. Taylor................ 1903) 120/1.25 150 36 960 996 846 72|33-14-11/Geo. A. Day.............. 1906) 80/1.50 B20 |r ecaieve's 480 480 360 73|33-14-11 Be oe EON eecceb ant ania eiataane 1906) 160]... 210 | ines ac 960 960 750 74|34-14-11|W. E. Howard........... 1907) 200/1.25 250 30] 1,200] 1,230 980 75|35-14-11|Jacob Aller............... 1906) 40)1.25 50 22 28 302 252 76|35-14-11}Wm. E. Howard.......... 1907) 40/1.25 50) 12 200 212 162 77| 4-14-13/G. P. Hensel............. 82/26—14-13 ie DB VAS va csie levees Seca 83|26-14-13/T. . Sherwood.. 84/33-14-13 & ke 89) 7-15-12|J. = Richmond.. 90) 7-15-12 91| 7-15-12} “ s_“ 92/20-15-12/A. Branch................ 93/29-15-12|J. E. Richmond 96/22-15-13|J. L. North.............. 98]24—15-13)C. Mansfield a jaca toca tases EGE 99|24-15-13 ERS Oech ach cidgsue 100|24-15-13 geet danatea ae 101)24-15-13 AO. eek pe mga BS 102 15-13|Susie Bradley............ 103/33-15-13/Chas, P. Hall....:....... 104/34-15-13|Joe. A. Ditton............ 106136—-15-131E. Branch............... 16 122 THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, NEWAYGO COUNTY—Continued. é Value. i Loss No. | Descrip- Purchaser. Y'r. |Areal @ | Am’t. to tion. State. Timb’r| Land. | Total 107/36-15-13)/Elmer Branch............ 1904] 80/1.25} $100] $100] $320} $420} $320 108} 8-16-13/A. H. Roehm............ 1905] 80/1.00 80 56 400 960 880 113} 1-16-14/0. Cook...............45 1904) 40) 50 20 180} 200 380 360 114) 2-16-14/S. Cross................5. 1903} 40) 50 20 200 200 400 380 115) 2-16-14)Alaska Ref. Co.......... 1903] 80) 50 40 215 400 675 635 117| 2-16-14/H. Ww. Patten een re 1905} 40; .50 20 250 200 450} 430 118) 4-16-14] “0 cigeaseevaes 1904; 40) 50 20 75) 240) 315) 295 119} 4-16-14) |“ © gare Raden ae 1904; 40) 50 20) 37) 240 277 257 120} 6-16-14) “ MO a adhe ae BB ay 1905} 40) 75 30 80: 200 280 250 121) 6-16-1 se a goomncu nn wie ek 1906} 40} 75 30 155} 200 355 325 123)14-16-14/H. D. Keller............. 1904] 80} 623 50 150 640 790 740 124/14-16-1 Es depec can ania Ge oad) Orbs 1904] 160].... 140 650} 1,280} 1,930) 1,790 126/15-16-14)L. Retterstoff............ 1903] 120) 75) 90} 1,400 560} 1,960] 1,870 127|15-16-14)/H. D. Keller............. 1904; 40) 50 20 150) 320 470 450 128}15-16-14) “ Oe Saeatravavee ee RE 1904; 40) 50 20 250 320 570) 550 129}15-16-14) “ BSS ba ctl aoa si 1904; 80) 50 40 200 640 840 800 130/15-16-14| “ Be sepa ae ats ea ae 1904; 40} 50 20 50 320 370 350 131]15-16-14) “ fe Siete eg ae ele $44 1904, 40) 50 20 100 320 420 400 132|15-16-14| “ We asta anaain a ale 84 1904; 40; 50 20 8 320 400 380 133]}15-16-14) “ A Renteiteddung ee.08 & 1904| 40) 50 20 75 320; 395 375 134|15-16-14| “ Me suacnigeaks ates $ 1904} 40) 50 20 37 320 357 337 137|23-16-14| Alaska Ref. Co........... 1903] 160) 50 80 280 640 920 840 138]23-16-1 e 6 BS iscsi sritssnin Go 1903) 240; 50 120 250 960} 1,210) 1,090 139|26-16-14 ie ye SP satpluatand Gatse-sem 1903] 160/1.00 160 750 640) 1,390} 1,230 140127-16-141I. Lameraux............. 1904} 80].... 70 500 400 900 830 2 LAKE COUNTY. : 153|18-17-12}A. R. Harmon 1905] 145/2.00| $290/$2,612| $290/$2 ,902/$2 ,612 156/22-17-12|J. Hoover.. 1905} 80}1.25 100 40 160 200 100 157/22-17-12| Gee. Hawkins 1904) 40) 50 20 90 80 170 150 158/27-17-12|G. rown. 1906) 480].... 560} 1,000 960] 1,960] 1,400 159) 1-17-13)F. Ww. Sadler. 1904) 40]/1.00 40|...... 200 200 160 162}13-17-13|}H. H. Parson: 1904} 40)1.00 40 790 200) 990 950 163}13-17-13} i sa 1904) 80/1.00 80 260 400 660 580 167|22-17-13 a “ 1904; 80] 50 40) 1,048) 160} 1,208} 1,168 168|24-17-13) i Mesa 1904| 80) 50 40} 1,080] ‘ 160] 1,240) 1,200 170|33-17-13 Heath & Bloomer 1904} 480].... 280) 3,300] 3,360] 6,660] 6,340 172/34-17-13 Me an etseesi Aas 2 1904; 80) 90 72 44 400 84 768 173|34-17-13 Be Sete senna 1904} 80/1.00 80 548) 400 948 868 175|10-17-14|Hackley, Phelps, Bonnell CO seisciirierese a: sunseesterw ant 1905) 40) 50 20 50 80 130 110 176]12-17-14|Hackley, Phelps, Bonnell OG sig eican ts 4 Lk EARP 1905] 240) 50 120} 1,990 480| 2,470| 2,350 179|19-17-14|Hackley, Phelps, Bonnell Oks. citioe 2G 4 Be sabi 1904] 3201. 232 480) 1,600} 2,080] 1,848 181|31-17-14]Hackley, Phelps, Bonnell ic Sere ee onary cee 1904) 80]1.00 80 120: 400 520 440 182 17-14|Hackley, Phelps, Bonnell COs, ectldasstedetrass ose bess oraheots 1904] 640) 75 480| 1,135 320] 1,455) 975 183|31-17-14|Hackley, Phelps, Bonnell COirwiawdet vee vee bo 1904| 40) 75 30 60 200 260 230 184|/31-17-14|Hackley, Phelps, Bonnell © pCO ie a ucssomearss som ae ale 2 1904] 40) 75 30 60 200 260) 230 186 17-14|Hackley, Phelps, Bonnell CO kai csedaageinia sie aim nie 1904) 440) 75 330 660) 2,220) 2,880) 2,550 187|32-17-14|Hackley, Phelps, Bonnell Co... . . Liniaiabie ed Sea 1904] 100) 75} 75 150 500 650 57 191/30-18-11/E. T. Merrill.............. 1904] 630}1.00 630 75) 3,150/32,255|) 2,595 192/31-18-11|L. Shuster............... 1906} 78]/1.00 78 250 38 63. 560 193/31-18-11}A. Merrill................ 1904) 80| 75 60}...... 400) 400 340 194/32-18-11]F. Smith................. 1904) 80)1.00 80}...... 400 400 320 195|18-18-12]/F. Delaney............... 1904| 154) 75 115 650 770] 1,420] 1,305 196'34-18-12/B. Preys. cy cccsciacen ve 1904| 40/1.00 40 25 80 33 290 198/18-18-13/F. W. Sadler............. 1904| 200) 50 100} 2,000 500} 2,500} 2,400 202/18-18-13} “ Be sensi ea eas nse trea 1904] 160|2.50 400) 2,000 640| 2,640) 2,240 203]138-18-13/C. J. Beebe.............. 1904; 80)1.00 BOs caves 320 320 240 214] 1-19-13]W. E. Lincoln............ 1904} 40) 50 20 150 200 350 330 215) 6-19-13|F. W. Sadler............. 1904) 160) 50 80 760 800) 1,560] 1,480 TAX LANDS AND FORESTRY. LAKE COUNTY—Continued. 123 Value. 2 Loss No. | Descrip- Purchaser. Y'r.|Area] @ | Am’t to tion. State Timb’r} Land. | Total 216/14-19-13/G. W. Browning.......... 1906} 40/1.00 $40} $130} $120} $250] $210 217/18-19-13/F. W. Sadler... -|1904} 560} 50 255 633] 2,300) 3,433} 3,178 220/24-19-13}) “ ff 1904} 80} 50 40 155 400 555 515 222/10-19-14 1905! 40/1.00 40 120 240 360 320 223/11-19-14 1905} 40/1.00 40 160 240 400 360 224)14-19-14 1905} 40/1.00 40 362) 120 482 442 225 19-14 1905} 960] 75 720 250) 3,840) 4,090] 3,370 236|32-20-13 1904} 40] 50 20 50 200 250 230 237|32-20-13 1904}; 40} 50 20 100 200 300 280 242/35-20-14 1904} 40]1.25 50 715 240 955 905 243/35-20-14 1905} 160}1.00 160 240 960} 1,200} 1,040 BENZIE COUNTY. 244)14-25-13/C. C. Tuxbury............ 1908] 40|2.00 $80} $876} $200/$1,076) $996 245/14-25-13] “ = os Dake Bebe Gaya, eget 1908} 40]1.50 60 607 80. 687 627 249/29-25-15'A. H. Smith............. 1908} 40].... 74 145 320 465}, 391 254/27-26-13]M. M. Filer.............. 1908] 40/2.50 100 100 200 300/' 200 255,27—-26-13} “ OS» Sigtadeste wate dees tae 1908} 40/4.00 160 160 200 360 200 ‘256|27-26-13] “ BS iss ta cei anes ee Beta 1908} 40/3.00 120 160 200 360 240 \ KALKASKA COUNTY. 258] 18-25-6]Manistee L. Co........... 1902] 160]....) $120)$1,120| $320/$1 ,440/$1 ,320 260} 3-26—-5/Geo. R. Rancor.......... 1905} 40]1.00 40 640 40 680) 640 263] 15-26-5|Giles Hodges.............. 1903} 80/2.50 200) 1,200 80} 1,280} 1,080 264) 15-26-5|Geo. Rancor.............. 1905) 40/1.00 40 560 40 600 560, 265| 22-26—5|)Robert Babcock.......... 1903] 160].... 290} 2,120 160} 2,280) 1,990 EMMET COUNTY. 286| 24-35-4)Finn & Rae.............. 1904} 40/2.50} $100) $750) $200] $950| $850 293) 33-35-4|John A. Phillips.......... 1906| 40/1.50 60) 1,115 40] 1,155} 1,095- 297| 10-36-5|B. G. Byfoss. 1904; 40}1.00 40 300; 200 ape 460 308] 36-35-4/Chas. E. Sams .......... 1904} 120)1.00 120 313 480 793 673 311] 25-39-5|Emmett Lumber Co...... 1904) 40!1.00 40 500 40 540 500 321) 30-39-5}Wm. O’Neil.."............ 906} 111|2.00 222 460 111 571 349 322} 32-39-5/C. M. G. Koach.......... 1906} 70/1.25 87 255 70 325 238 124 THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, CHEBOYGAN COUNTY. Value. ' danea A oss |Appr No. as Purchaser. Yr. |Areal @ jAmt to per iB State.| acre, Timb’r| Land. | Total. 325} 1-33-1 E]/Wm. Gainer. 1906] 80)...... $380/$1,087| $240/$1,327| $947) $4.75 326] 12-33-1 E|/P. H. Sanger.......... 1907} 40] $1.00} 40 220 120 340 300! 1.00 327] 12-33-1 E/O. Buazzell.............. 1905} 40] 1.25} 50 695 120 815 765| 1.25 328 33-1 E\J. A. Wheeler......... 1905) 80)...... TO) 5c00 0a 240 240 170} 8.75 332) 23-34-41 E/H. B. Hitching........./1904; 40] 1.00} 40 320 40 360 320) 1.00 333] 23-34-1 E/D. B. Tinkerton....... 1907} 40} 1.50} 60 355 160 515 455] 1.50 E. 1.50} 60 300 40 340 280} 1.50 1.00; 40 790 40 830 790; 1.00 1.75) 260) 1,735 800] 2,535) 2,275) 1.50 7; 40! 1.75) 70 515 120 63. 565 339] 27-34-1 E/R. P. Holihan......... 1905) 40] 10.50) 420) 1,495 200} 1,695) 1,275) 10.50. 340] 27-34-1 si Me a hae 1905} 40) 6.00} 240) 1,495 80} 1,575] 1,335) 6.00 341} 27-34-1 E/T. M. Moroney........ 1904) 40} 1.50) 60) 1,150 40} 1,190] 1,130] 1.50 342} 27-34-1 E}Onaway State Bank..../1905} 40} 2.50) 100) 1,415 80} 1,495] 1,395) 2.50 343) 35-34-1 E/T. M. Moroney Sorte 1904} 80} 2.00] 160 240 400 64 480) 2.00 344) 35-34-1 E|Frank Wilton...... 1904! 40) 3.624] 145)...... 320 320 175 346 —34-2W| Walter Patterson.. 1906} 80; 1.00} 80 605 80 865 605} 1.00 347| 8-34-2W|J. L. Lester........... 1904; 40; 1.25; 50 505 40 545 495) 1.25 348] 10-34~2W) Mich. Pipe blo els Simca nace 1904} 40}; 1.00) 40 680. 40 720 680} 1.00 349] 10-34-2W| “ ‘ 1904; 40} 1.00; 40 290 40 330 290} 1.00 350} 10-34-2 e He 1904; 80; 1.00; 80 405 80 485 405; 1.00 351] 16-34-2W| Wm. C. Laird. 1906] 40} 1.50) 60 365 40 405 345] 1.50 352) 16-34-2 ie ae 1906] 40] 1.50; 60 210 40 250 190} 1.50 353] 16-34-2W = eee 1906; 40} 1.50) 60 400 40 440 380} 1.50 354) 16-34-2W a a 1906; 40} 1.50} 60 870 40 410 350] 1.50 355) 16-34-2W ig 5 1906) 40} 1.50) 60 420 40 460 400} 1.50 357| 36-34-2W/H. J. Butler. 1904; 40} 1.00} 40} 1,080 60) 1,140) 1,100) 1.00 358] 36-34-2W) “ ae 1904; 40; 1.00} 40 740 60 800 740| 1.00 359] 36-34-2W} “ MO gt 1906] 80} 1.00); 80 160 80 240 160} 1.00 360) 12-34-3W|Mrs. J. Simon. 1906] 40} 2.00] 80 200 80 280 200; 2.00 361] 12-34-3W|Wm. C, Laird... 1904) 40} 5.00) 200 475 40 515 315{ 5.00 362) 12-34-3W # fo 1905| 40) 2.50} 100 460 40 500 40); 2.50 363] 12-34-3W f “ 1904) 40; 5.00) 200 625 160 785 585} 5.00 364) 12-34-3W io Oe 1904) 40) 5.00) 200 655 200 855 655) 4.00 365) 12-34-3 # SB aetahogdenunh de 1904) 80)...... 360]...... 700 700 340; *4.50 366] 12-34-3W/Haac Lumber Co.... 1904) 40] 4.00) 160 365 200 565 405) 4.00 367| 12-34-3 is s tps dé 1904) 40] 5.00; 200 310 160 470 270| 5.00 373} 22-35-1 E/Chas. Fultz,........... 1904] 200} 1.38) 276] 4,436 720] 5,156) 4,880) 1.00 374| 23-35-1 E|/H. B. Hitchings....... 1904; 80) 1.50} 120 235 80 31 195} 1.00 377| 27-35-1 E/A. Murray............. 1906} 40} 1.50) 60 435 80 515 455) 1.50 379| 35-35-1 E/Chas. Fultz............ 1904|' 80! 3.60] 288] 1,345 480} 1,825) 1,537; 1.50 880| 35-35-1 E| “ aeerrororrrer 1904; 40} 2.00} 80 520 240 76 680} 1.50 381) 35-35-1 E| “ Wg peepee ke 1904; 80] 2.00! 160 460 480} 1,040 880! 1.50 382] 35~-35-1 BE} “ i ahs eile dog 1904} 80} 2.00; 160 595 480] 1,075) 915) 1.75 383] 35-35-1 EB} “ Ts Race maak sb 1904; 40) 2.25) 90 105 240 345) 255) 2.25 386] 6-35-2W|M. N. Griswold.........]1905] 40} 2.00) 80 120 40 160 80} 2.00 387} 6-35-2W|Wm. C. Laird......... 1905) 160) 2.00] 320 560 160 720 400} 2.00 389| 10-34-3W * Bt a emcaimiat eo 1905! 120] 1.00} 120 356 120 476 356} 1.00° 391] 15-35-2 ie Os ceva tines 1906} 40) 1.00) 40 115 40 155 115) 1.50 392] 15-35-2W|W. B. Patterson....... 1905| 80} 1.00) 80 720 80 800 720) 1.00 401) 5-36-1W/|Chas. Fultz............ 1904) 34) 1.50) 51 480 136 616 565] 1.50 402] 13-36-1W/|C. Chevelier........... 1905} 40) 1.00) 40 200 40 240 280} 1.50 403] 14-36-1W!|Chas. M. Horton... 1904; 40] 1.75) 70 300 120 420 350} 1.75 404) 14-36-1W|N. C. Hastings........]1906| 40) 2.00} 80 320 160 480 400) 1.75 405] 19-86-1W/|Burt Marquette........ 1906; 40] 2.00} 80 365 40 405 325) 2.00 406] 20-36-1W]|_ “ ag eats 1906] 40} 1.25) 50 662 120 782 732| 1.25 407| 20-36-1W|J. Jarvis.............. 1905) 40} 1.25) 650 200 40 240 190) 1.25 408| 30-36-1W|Burt Marquette........ 1905} 40) 1.50) 60] 1,185 80} 1,265) 1,205) 1.50 410] 30-36-1 ¢ pe fpoaitecags Gn 1905! 80} 1.50) 120] 1,215 80) 1,295] 1,175} 1.50 411) 32-36-1W|Wm. C. Laird... 1905} 40} 1.50}; 60 320 40 36 300} 1.50 412| 32-36-1W is Be edha,revaeh fod 1905} 40) 1.50) 60 680 40 720 660} 1.50 413] 32-36-1W # Mate elk ahs 4 1905} 80) 1.50) 120 360 80 440 320} 1.50 416 —-37-3W)Geo. Brill............. 1904; 40) 8.00] 320) 1,677 100] 1,777| 1,457| 8.00 417| 8-37-3W|Wm. F. Pew.......... 1904; 80|...... 250) 1,215 160} 1,375} 1,125) 3.12 418) 3-37-3W|John B. McArthur...../1904) 38) 2.50} 95 715 76 791 696} 2.50 419| 8-37-3W iy tera fs 1904} 40] 2.50) 100 540 20 560 460} 2.50 420] 12-36-3W|A. McCullen........... 1905) 40) 2.50} 100 315 40 355 255) 2.50 421| 12-36-3W|J. Brady.............. 1905} 40) 1.00} 40 342 40 382 342 422) 36-36-3W|W. C, Laird........... 1905} 40) 1.25) 50 200 40 240 190] 1.25 TAX LANDS AND FORESTRY. 125 CHEBOYGAN COUNTY—Continued. Value : Loss |Appr’d No.| Descrip- Purchaser. Y’r.|Areal @ |Amu to per tion. : State.| acre _ Timb’r} Land. | Total. 423) 10-37-1 E}Wm H. Blake.........{/1907| 40] $1.25] $50] $170 $40} $210] $160) $1.25 424) 18-37-1 E/Arthur Roberts.........|1907} 40] 1.50} 60 500 100 600 540} 1.50 425| 18-37-1 E « Burrell... cea ss 1907;| 40} 1.50} 60 674 60 734 674; 1.50 426} 19-37-1 EiCheboygan P. Co...... 1907} 40) 1.50) 60 155 60 215 155} 1.50 427| 19-37-1 i OS Benen ge 907; 40) 1.50) 60 485 40 525 465} 1.50 428] 21-37-1 E|M. B. Oles............ 1905) 40} 1.50} 60 305 40 345 285) 1.50 429) 22-37-1 E)/Wm. B. Blake......... 1907} 40] 1.25) 50 840 80 920 870} 1.25 430) 23-37-1 E/H. A. Blake........... 1907} 40) 1.25) 50 200 80 280 230) 1.25 431| 25-37-1 E/Chas. H. Cook 1904) 80} 1.00} 80 800 80 880 800} 1.00 432) 26-37-1 EjChas. Fultz............ 1904} 40! 1.00) 40) 1,315 40} 1,355] 1,315) 1.00 433| 34-37-1 E|L. Jenson............. 904) 40] 3.00) 120 195 40 235 115) 3.00 434| 24-37-1W|E. H. Lafrienere....... 1907| 40} 1.00) 40 655, 80 735 695} 1.00 435) 24-37-1W|R. Fredo.............. 1907| 40) 1.00) 40 335 80 415 375, 1.00 436| 24-37-1W]F. Fisher.............. 1906} 40) 1.00} 40 900 40 940 900; 1.00 437| 24-37-1WIE. H. Lafrienere....... 1907| 40) 1.001 40 835 80 915 875| 1.00 438] 25-37-1W) ee peer nt 1907; 40) 1.00] 40 350 80 430 390! 1.00 439| 26-38-1 E|F. Lawrence........... 1904; 40) 1.50] 60 325 40 365 305) 1.50 440; 26-38-1 E/Gus Norburg.......... 1904) 39) 2.50) 97 300 39 339) 242) 2.50 441) 26-38-1 E/M. B. Oles............ 1906; 40} 1.50] 60 220 40 260 200} 1.50 442) 26-38-1 E/T. W. Burrell.....:.... 1906) 40) 1.50) 60 450 40 490 430} 1.50 443} 26-38-1 E/F. Lawrence........... 1904; 40) 1.50) 60 935 40 975 915) 1.50 444) 26-38-1 E Be Beles ntdeilaroa sla 1904) 40) 1.50] 60) 1,010 40] 1,050 990} 1.50 445) 26-38-1 E Pe LS» Teduatepeenmdcte 1905} 11} 3.00} 33 160 11 171 138] 3.00 446) 27-38-1 E/M. D. Oles............ 1906} 23] 3.00) 69 320 23 343 274; 3.00 1.25} 200] 2,300 960} 3,260} 3,060) 1.25 1.50} 60 180 160 340 280! 1.50 I 2.00} 160 320 320 640 480| 2.00 i 1.00} 80 535 320 855 775} 1.00 | 1.00} 40 436 160 586 546} 1.00 ! 5.00) 200 670 80 750 550] 5.00 ! 2.50} 100 255 40 295 195| 2.50 3.00} 120 315 40 355, 235| 3.00 456b sees a) D2 480 312 792 671] 2.00 CRAWFORD COUNTY. 464) 1-25-1W|J. L. & S&S. R. R....... 1906] 40} $1.25] $50) $960 $40/$1,000} $950] \ 465) 1-25-1W|Harry Cox............ 1907} 40) 12.00] 480) 1,800 40} 1,840] 1,360 469] 26-25-1W|Geo. Hartman......... 1903} 80} 1.25) 100 520 80 600 500 ' 470} 36-25-1W|M. Hansen............ 1903) 40) 4.50) 180} 1,000 40) 1,040 860 a 126 THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, "ROSCOMMON OCUNTY Value 4 5 Oss No. | Descrip- Purchaser. Y'r.|Area] @ | Am’t. to _ Gon: State. 2 Timb’r| Land. | Total. 536) 6-22-2W|Paul Lux..................0. ene 40/2.25 $90} $520 $40] $560| $470 537| 6-22-2W)Hattie Becker................ 1905} 40/2.25 9 520 40 5 4 540] 18-22-2W|Paul Lux..................0. baw 40/1 .00 40 400 40 440 400 541] 18-22-2W!| “ ee kha eye ecenenseSh es teense eee EEE ....| 40/1.00 40 100 40 140 100 542] 18-22-2Ww| “ SO po accn auatiahaes Aaualal qed Wao ....| 40/1.00 40 280 40 320 280 543) 18-22-2W) “ Oe es mn iateeiieiata as-is tere ....| 40/1.00 40 954 40 994 954 553] 8-22-4W|Wood & Menthorn............ 1906} 40/3.00 120 600 40 640 520 560| 138-23-3W|S. Graham................... 1904} 401.00 40 80 40 120 80 561] 18-23-3W|C. E. Shoemaker............. 1906} 40/1.00 40 160} « 40 200 160 563) 17-23-3W|Paul Lux.................... 1904) 4013.25 130] 1,480 40} 1,520] 1,390 564] 20-23-3W] “ " 4904} 4011.50 60 40 8 566] 21-23-3W 40|7.00 280] 1,974 40| 2,014!) 1,734 567| 27-23-3W 40/1 .00 40 56. 40 6 5 568] 35-23-3W 40/1 .00 40 920 200} 1,120) 1,080 569] 35-23-3W 40/1.00 40 50], 200 250 210 570| 35-23-3W 40/2.25 90 140 40 90 571| 35-23-3W 40/5.00 200) 1,590 40| 1,630) 1,430 572) 35-23-3W 40/4.00 160 5. 40 573| 2-23-4W ....-{ 80/1.00 80} 1,890 80] 1,970) 1,890 574) 2-23-4WIC. 8S. ee 40/1 .00 40 850 40 850 575| 2-23-4W|J. L. Stodard................ 1903} 40/1.00 40} 1,160 40} 1,200} 1,160 577| 2-23-4W|J. Cavenaugh................. 1904} 40/1.00 40 +185 40) 1,225) 1,185 578} 2-23-4W|Chas. Brooks................. 1903} 40/1.00 40 160. 40/ 1,00 960 579| 2-23-4W|J. McDonald................. 1903} 40/1.00 40 860 40 0 860 580] 3-23-4W|Paul Lux..! 1904} 80/2.00 160| 4,325 80} 4,405) 4,245 581] 3-23-4W| “ Oe ds ey 80\2.00 160 ,, 80| 4,320] 4,160 582) 3-23-4W . 80|2.00 160} 3,010 80| 3,090] 2,930 603} 19-24-4W eae ....) 40/1.25 50| 1,055 40) 1,195) 1,045 608] 23-24-3W|J. B. Willett as 40/1 .00 40 200 25 210 614) 25-24-3W. 40/1 .00 250 290 250 MISSAUKEE COUNTY. 650) 12-24-5W/F. Wright.................... 1903} 40) 75 $30/$1 , 200 $40/$1 ,240/$1 ,210 _651| 2-24-7W/L. F. Pitz..............2.00. 1902] 160].... 280) 4,400 800] 5,200} 4,920 TAX LANDS AND FORESTRY. 127 Record of Transfers of Tax Homestead Lands. MUSKEGON COUNTY. Descrip- Selling Sold before pur- No. | “tion. Purchaser. Year.) Area.| @ |Amount. price. chased of State. 3]13-10-16]John L. Bolan........ 1904 20) $1.00 $20 $400) 11 days. 4)13-10-16}Geo. J. Cropp.........] 1904 20) 1.00 20 240 ss 5 Pe a a acon aa al) O04 20) 1.00 20 240 6)14-10-16/John L. Bolan........ 1904 10} 1.00 10 120 6b/21-10-15} des amet 1904 40} 1.25 50 480) 11 days. NEWAYGO COUNTY. 31/12-11-12/C. W. Florence........| 1907 80 $50 $40 $800 32 11-14|0. K. save] 1905) 2,684)... 2... 1,480) 13,419 33) 4-12-11) W. B. 1905 1,25 50 34/13-12-11/A. E, 1904 40} 1.00 40 200 35) 1-12-12/H. A. 1907 0; 1.00 40 400 36 12-12/Max_Gl 1907 160} 1.50 240} 600) 15 days. 37| 7-12-12|M. F. 1906 80} 2.00 160 360 38]16-12-12/W. B. ms 1905 40] 1.00 200 39/16-12-12/M. F. ee 1906 80| 1.50 120 360 50}15-13-11]Hugh French. . 1903 107} 1.25 134 2,000} Flowage rights, 61| 3-13-13} W. W. Taylor........]...... 40 50 20 200 62/28-13-12/L. L. Johnson........ 1906 80) 1.00 80 63]28-13-12|J. Terwilligar......... 1905 40} 1.00 200 64/ 28-13-12} “ rox t= pakatat teats 1905) 80} 1.00 80 400 65|/21-14-11|F. W. Riblet......... 1903} 480]...... 1,000 1,500 66 14-11) W. W. Taylor........)...... 1,360]...... 1,850 5,000 68) 24-14-11 : <) Vseenenea|aiaasel. /B0l Sa sace i 90 20 69/29-14-11/0. K. Bullard.........] 1906 40 50 20 600 78) 9-14-13|T. 8S. Sherwood....... 1905 160 50 80 560 81 14-13 # Bes S Kats souetnsasts Wuntteuelds ts 120}...... 130 1,200 ' LAKE COUNTY. 143) 6-17-11/E. T. Merrill.......... 1904-6] 1,300 $75) $975) $6,500 144) 6-17-11/B. E. Burley.........]...... LD8 | cock noes 147 1,500 145| 7-17-11|Frank P. Campbell....| 1907 160 75 120 1,000 151]10-17-12| Mary Topping... seee-+| 1906 560| 1.00 560 1,500 °154|20-17-12|_ “ MT penne 1906 80} 1.00 80 1,000 159| 1-17-13|/F. W. Sadler......... 1904 40| 1.00 40 200] 8 days. 169)28-17-13) “ ar rerrre 1904 80 50 40 560. 188|34-17-14| “ © ageais hand 1904 205 50 103 1,230 189)34-17-14, “ ee ee 1904 6} 1.30 8 200 201)18—18-13 es Hare eS Shaye 1904 160 50 80 555 207/14-18-14 is Ok apne eh es 1904 160 50 80 400 208/22-18-14| “ were errr 1905 40 50 20 200 218/23-19-13|Sadie Greene.......... 1905 160 50 80 400 219/24-19-13]F. W. Sadler......... 1904 160 50 80 350 210/26-18-14| . Ee ts trig alate 9.18 1905 120 50 50 400} 6 months. 2211T 18 &19| oun eeeges 1904-5) 3,661 50 1,841 6,760 228] 5-20-13] “ Baha Res 1906 160 50 80 800 229) 8-20-13|John Pollak........... 1905 80 75 60 640 230/13-20-13|F. W. Sadler......... 1905 320 50 160 1,020 231/15-20-13} “ Seka ak ea 1905 320 50 160, 1,020 238] 1-20-14/Geo. A. Hart......... 1906 80 50 40 304 240/22-20-14] . “ ats chan sne 1906 g0} 1.00 80 640 197| 1-18-13/F. W. Sadler......... 1905 646 75 482 3,200} 9 months, 16 days KALKASKA COUNTY. A, AMMCiss 6 54 ease es 1904 80} $1.00 $80 $475 367 1626-8 A. E, Imler........... 1906 40) 1.00 40 300] State trespass agent 128 THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, CHEBOYGAN COUNTY. Descrip- Selling Sold before pur- No. tion, Purchaser. Year. | Area.| @ |Amount. ries shassdl ot State: 329} 31-33-1W/H. J. Butler........ 1904 80] $1.00 $80} . $300 330 33-2 |Butler_ & McPhee....1...... 80]...... 110 900 356} 34-1-2 . J. Butler..... 1904 240} 1.00 240 1,267 370 35-1 E|F. D. Hughes.......]...... 80} 1.25 100 500 371) 5-35-1 E\Chas. Fultz......... 1904 40| 1.00 40 250 394) 28-35-2W|Wm. C. Laird.......| 1904 40} 1.00 40 200! Timber deed. 395] 35 and 3. es Se gammene 1905 320]...... 450 3,500) Timber deed 399] 30-36-1 E|Chas. Fultz....... 1904 40} 1.00 40 250 400} 30-36-1 E} “ wo nye gigs 82 1904) 40} 1.00 40 175| Timber deed. CRAWFORD COUNTY. 467| 25-25-1W|L. J. Miller. 1906 120 $50 $60 $600 473| 36-25-1W|G. Hartman 1907 240 75 160 720) 474| 5-25-2W\L. J. Miller. 1906 240]...... 280 1,325 476} 5-25-2W!_ “* ae 1906 80 75 60 400 477| 20-25-2W|Wm. Johnso: 1905 40 50 20 400 478| 29-25-2WjI. W. Richardso! 1904 20 75 15 500. 479) 30-25-2 |W. R. Jones... 1906 400 75) 300 5,040 480| 33-25-2 |Myrtle Hellen.. 1906 20 75 15) 00 483] 7-25-3W/L. J. Cotton... 1906) 80) 1.00 80 500 487| 17-25-3W|John Roof.......... 1905 80} 1.00 80 662) 488] 24-25-3W|Gus Lynch......... 1906 40) 1.00 40 375 490| 31-25-3W|H. E. Nichols.......] 1905 480} 1.00 480 2,500 493) 425-4 |C. 8. Clark......... 1903 80] ssw ae 130 2,000 495} 12-26-1W/C. G. Longear...... 1905 80 25 20 1,500 496| 14-26-1 |Walmer Jorgerson...; 1905 80 25 20 1,600) 499| 20-26-1W|E. Purchase........ 1903 40} 1.25 50 700 / 500 26-1WIN. 8S. Potter........ 1903 640]...... 250 3,500 502} 25-26-3W/L. J. Miller......... 1906 160 50 80 1,280 505] 25-26-3W| Walmer Jorgerson.. 1904 80 75 60 2,000] County treasurer. 511] 18-27-1W|C. S. Clark......... 1904 80 25 20 1,200 512] 26-27-1WiGeo. K. Force...... 1905 80 25 20 1,500 518] 33-27-1W|C. S. Clark......... 1905 160 25 40 2,000 519] 34-27-1W| “6 fo eee 1905 40 25 10 600 522) 35-27-1W ie BE neds Suaeetigntes 1904 40 25) 10 1,000 523) 35-27-1W a So Leeglp eeeetordnat’s 1904 80 25 20 1,500 524] 35-27-1 E me fe. a hy, ete 1904 160 25) 40 4,000 525| 36-27-1W|Harry Solomon......} 1903 160 25) 40 1,200 ROSCOMMON COUNTY. 532 22-1W|John Carter. 1903] 1,080 $75 $810} $12,000 534 22-1W|_ “ is 1903) 1,280 75 960 6,400 538 22-2W|John Becker. . 1903 760|...... 820 5,000 554| 25-22-2W/|St. Helens D. 1906) 160} 1.00 16 1,600 545 22-2W " ae 1906} 1,920) 1.00 1,920} 19,000 558 23-2W|M. O. Robison.. 1903 800} 1.00 80 ,70 562) 23-3W|I. Richardson. . 1906 620| 1.00 620 7,000 588] 31-24-2W|I. H. Richardson....| 1904 40} 1.00 40 100 586| 29-24-2W|N. E. Hollen....... 1906 80) 1.00 80 960 MISSAUKEE COUNTY. 616 21-5W|T. W. Breckon...... 1906 640 $50 $320] $3,500 620} 22-21-6 |H. DeBree,.........+ 1903 160 50 80 1,800 630] 1-22-5W|John J. Cuff........ 1907 40 75 30 600 637| 10-23-6 |A. S. Frey.......... 1903 160) 1.00 160 2,400 TAX LANDS AND FORESTRY. 129 Record of State Tax Homesteads. Newaygo County. No. 97. N%,S E 4, 22-15-18. Entry July 2, 1906. Brinnial Rob- bins. No buildings at present and cannot find evidence of any ever having been built. Kalkaska County. No. 257. NW 4%, N W ¥, 18-25-6. Entry Sept. 11th, 1903. William Harold. This man Harold never lived on this homestead; no house or buildings. Timber cut and removed and Harold’s whereabouts un- known. Was a fraud from the start. No. 268. WiofNEY,WYKSEY,SEYUSEY, and NE. Sw %. 240 acres, 11-27-5. David James. Entry Sept. 10th, 1907. Never taken for a home as he has not lived on it since he proved up. Timber sold for $9,552.50, land for $1,000. No. 271. S W % and E &% or S W 4, 31-27-6. Orville Walker. Lumbered winter of 1906-7 by Walker. Aug. 20th, 1907, he sold bal- ance of timber to Gow and Campbell for $1,300. Homestead now de- serted. No. 2738. N 1%4N W 4, 12-27-7. Wm. J. Little. After timber was removed, Little sold to A. Cross, Feb. 17, 1906, for $45.00. Value of timber on this 80 was $500.00. Emmet County. No. 287. SE ¥%4 or S EY and lot 1 28-35-4-W. Entry Norman Rick- ford. All timber, valued at $650, cut off. Small board shanty on this homestead and it does not look as if this man intended to make a home. Probably will be deserted soon. No. 288. SWS W ¥, 28-35-4. Ben Arnock. Deed Dec. 3, 1906. Timber cut off, valued at $680. No one living here now. Looks as though he has deserted. Small shanty. No. 289. NESE ¥ and lot 1, 29-35-4. Frederick E. Hill. Deed Feb. 26, 1902. Timber now standing, value $670. Small frame house and about 20 acres clear. No. 290. Lots 1 and 2, 30-35-4. Daniel M. Gallagher. Deed March 26, 1902. Timber cut, valued at $500. Homesteader is not living on this land. Evidently taken for timber value. No. 292. N 14N E ¥, 382-35-4. David K. Moore. Deed Feb. 26, 1902. Value timber cut $960. Small board shanty. Will probably be deserted, as not much value is placed on land. Taken for timber only. Looks as though already deserted. No. 294. W1ILN W 14, 34-35-4. Archie Moore. Deed Sept. 13, 1906. Value of timber standing, $1,065. This man Moore places no value on the land. Only taken for timber. Asks $1,000 per timber, or timber and land. No. 296. SE4,N E ¥4, 3-36-5. Henry Williams. Homesteaded spring 1903. Without proving up he commenced to log and now has practically lumbered all of this forty. Timber removed in 1904-5-6-7 17 130 THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, valued at $1,000. Jan. 10, 1908, Land Office reports total trespass col- lected to date $16.95 on the basis of 1,800 feet of pine. No. 309. Lot 1, Sec. 28, Lots 1-2-3, Sec. 24, and NWY%4N WY, Sec. 26, 39-5. Homesteaded by Edward Loway. Certificate No. 2118, May 31, 1898. Value of timber standing Dec. 3, 1907, $465. Never were any buildings on this homestead. No. 312. NEYSEYandSwWYyNEY and lotin EU, 25-39-5. Certificate 4314. Charles Harvey. Harvey claims to have house and barn on this homestead, but it is on Sec. 30, town 39-4. He has never lived in this house. No house of any description on this homestead. The house on 30-39-4 has not even a chimney. Crawford County. No: 508. N1448 E \, 33-26-4. James Phippney. Proved up Aug. 2, 1907. Sold Sept. 27, 1907, to Rasmus Hansen, lumberman, for $1,500. Roscommon County. No. 592. E1448 E 4, 2-24-38. Entered April 18, 1902, by Samuel Lennox. Deserted. No. 598. W14L8S E 4, 224-8. Leonard Ware. Old log house and barn. Deserted for some time. Deed dated Sept. 4, 1902. No. 601. Lot 5 and E%SE y,, 18-24-38. Wallace Schram. Deed July 18, 1904. Situated on Higgins Lake. Deserted. No. 6066. NWYNEYand NEYN W Y, 23-24-38. Wm. Snell- grove. Deed July 14, 04. Evidently starved out and has deserted. Missaukee County. No. 642. SW 14,8 W Y, 18-23-7. Deed Feb. 12, 1908, to Ernest Ward. Abandoned. No. 648. N 14258 ¥%, 15-23-7. John G. McNabb. Deed Nov. 11, 1904. Sold Dec. 5, 1904, to W. S. Combs, for $900. Value of timber, $1,050. No. 6445. NE YS W 4, 18-23-7. Geo. B. Brown. Deed July 6, 1904. Sold Aug. 24, ’04, to E. A. Benthien for $400. Timber standing, valued at $600. Deserted. No. 653. S E 4, 7-24-7. Wm. H. Cunningham. Deed, April, 1902. Lumbered by Mitchell Bros. of Cadillac, to the value of $2,800. Evi- dently taken for timber, as Cunningham has deserted and there is no one living on the place. No. 654. N W 4, 10-24-7. Lewis F. Pitz. Deed Nov. 18, 1902. This homestead was taken for the timber, and Mr. Pitz never complied with the homestead law by building a house or clearing the land. He built a small hut about 10 feet square which was evidently never intended for a home and was never occupied. Timber cut by Kelley Shingle Co., valued at $6,490. Still on the land timber valued at $2,300. The above report has been given our careful consideration and repre- sents the conditions as they exist, and as we have found them. (Signed) O. PERRY BURGESS. Detroit, June 27, 1908. (Signed) GEORGE WILSON. TAX LANDS AND FORESTRY. 131 APPENDIX 8. DRAFT OF STATUTES PROPOSED FOR IMMEDIATE ADOPTION TO CARRY INTO EFFECT THE GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. Proposed Statute for Utilization of the Taw Land for State Forest Re- serves, for Private Timber Reserves and for Settlement. The People of the State of Michigan enact: Section 1. This act shall not extend to or include any land situated within the limits of any city or village, or any land situated in the platted portion of any township within one mile of the corporate limits of any city or village; provided, that no State forest reserve created by the operation of this act shall be affected by the subsequent incorpora- tion of a city or village. Execpt as aforesaid, this act shall extend to and include all State tax land now subject, or which shall hereafter become subject, to purchase upon the records in the Auditor General’s department, and which shall have been bid in to the State at one or more tax sales, and shall not have been redeemed or purchased within the year after the tax sale allowed by law for redemption, and which shall, according to said records, be delinquent for taxes for five or more years: provided, however, that any disposition thereof made hereby, or in pur- suance of the terms hereof, shall be subject to any lawful action that may thereafter be taken upon any application, made within the year of redemption aforesaid, to pay the taxes or redeem the said land; and shall be subject to any decree or judgment that may be rendered in any suit or proceeding, commenced within the time allowed therefor by law, to set aside the taxes or remove the cloud on title occasioned , thereby. This act shall, except as aforesaid, extend to and include all the tax homestead land not heretofore disposed of, and all tax home- stead land heretofore disposed of, but which shall revert to the State for non-compliance with the terms of entry or sale. All State land in- cluded within the operation of this section is hereby withdrawn and reserved from sale, entry or other disposition except as hereinafter provided. Section 2. All State tax land which under the terms of section one, is now, or shall hereafter come, within the operation of this act shall be deemed to be abandoned, and the title of the State thereto shall be: deemed to be absolute and indefeasible; and the Auditor General shall forthwith deed the same to the State of Michigan as to an individual, and deliver the deeds thereof to the Commissioner of the State Land Office, who, after causing the same to be recorded in the proper register of deeds office, shall keep the same on file in his office. The records aforesaid in the Auditor General’s department showing such facts as ‘bring any land within the operation of this act and the said deeds, or either of them; or certified copies thereof, shall, in all cases, be sufficient proof of such abandonment and of the title of the State; and shall be 18 132 THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, deemed conclusive thereof except as to such land as shall be shown to have been in the actual possession of some person claiming adversely at the time of the decree under which the title of the State is acquired. No person shall be held to have possession constructively, or by implica- tion, of any land within the operation of this act beyond the limits of the parcel which (described as the smallest sub-division according to government survey) includes the land shown to have been in his actual ' possession as aforesaid. , Section 3. No suit, action or proceeding shall be instituted or main- tained, nor shall any defense be entertained or given effect, in any court, to invalidate, annul, or otherwise impair, the title of the State to any land, within the operation of this act, or to any land which has hereto- fore been constituted forest reserves, or to establish or enforce title thereto adverse to the State, by reason of any defect, jurisdictional or otherwise, in any of the proceedings on which the title of the State in any manner depends, unless such suit, action or proceeding shall (if it relates to land to which the State now has title as against the original owner), be commenced, or such defense shall be pleaded in an action commenced, within six months after this act takes effect; or (if such suit, action, proceeding or defense relates to land to which the State shall hereafter acquire title), unless the suit, action or proceeding shall have been commenced within six months after the State acquired title against the original owner: provided, however, that this section shall not bar any person having actual possession as aforesaid claiming adversely ; and provided further, that this section shall in effect be cumulative, and shall not exclude or impair the effect and operation of any existing statute for the perfecting or protection of the title of the State, or its grantees. Section 4. The commission having charge of forest reserves may in- stitute and maintain suits in the circuit court in chancery of the county (such court being hereby given jurisdiction thereof) to quiet title and to establish and declare the validity and priority of the title of the State to any forest reserve land as hereafter defined which is, or is claimed to be, in the actual possession of any person claiming title adversely to the State as aforesaid; and the Commissioner of the State Land Office may bring like suits (said courts being hereby vested with jurisdiction thereof) affecting any land within the operation and effect of section one of this act other than forest reserve land; to which suits all per- sons may be made defendants who have, or claim, any interest or title in or to any parcel of land adversely occupied as aforesaid; and all pro- ceedings in such suit shall be according to the usual course and prac- tice in cases in chancery, except that, at the time of entering appearance, any defendant may in writing demand a severance of the cause so far as it affects land in which he claims an interest; and the case shall thereupon be severed by the court in such manner as will keep before it the parties necessary to enable it to render a final decree adjusting the rights of all parties interested in the land in question; and except also that any party entitled under the laws of the State to a trial by jury, may (and, if he wishes to secure a trial by jury, shall) demand in writing, at the time of demand for severance of the case, that the same be tried as a case at law with a jury: and thereupon the same shall TAX LANDS AND FORESTRY. 133 be so tried; provided, however, that a final decree shall be entered by the court as a court in chancery. Costs may be awarded, and appeals may be taken, as in chancery cases. The copy of a subpoena served shall contain, or be accompanied by, a notice that the suit: affects the defendant only as respects his alleged right to the particular land described in such notice, and is brought to establish and declare the validity and priority of, and to quiet the State’s title to, the said land. Section 5. The commission having charge of State forest reserves shall proceed with all convenient speed to locate and define the boun- daries of districts, to be known as reserve districts, that include land within the operation of section one, in such quantity and so located as to be desirable in their judgment for State forest reserves; such reserve districts to be located also, as far as practicable with a view to securing reserves that will contribute as much as possible to the betterment of con- ditions affecting streams and stream flow, and with regard also, so far as consistent with the foregoing, to bringing into use for farms as much of the State’s holdings of land aforesaid as is suitable therefor. All land within the operation of this act and now owned, or which shall hereafter be acquired by the State because of non-payment of taxes, and which is situated within any reserve district, is hereby designated as, and shall be, a part of the State forest reserves; provided, that not more than 20% of the area of any county shall be included in the State forest reserves; and provided, that the commission in charge of forestry may elect to take over as a part of the State reserves any land in excess of the aforesaid limit which shall be acquired by the State, and, in lieu thereof, to drop from the State forest reserves other land in the same county of sufficient area to reduce the State forest reserves in the county to the limit aforesaid. The aforesaid commission is authorized to employ the necessary sur- veyors and others for the delimitation of reserved districts; and to incur such expense for maps, surveys and other purposes as may be neces- sary for the matters aforesaid in this section, the same to be paid out of the general fund when audited and allowed by the State Board of Auditors. As soon as a reserve district is located the boundaries thereof shall be certified by the commission to the Commissioner of the State Land Office and to the Auditor General, and thereupon it shall be the duty of the Auditor General and Commissioner of the State Land Office forth- with to prepare and file in the State Land Office a list of all land located in such reserve district and which is within the operation of section one of this act. Upon the filing of the said certificate in the State Land Office showing the boundary of any reserve district, all land therein which is within the operation of section one of this act shall be, and become a State forest reserve and all the provisions of this act re- lating to State forest reserves shall thenceforth govern the same. It shall be the duty of the Commissioner of the State Land Office to pre- pare forthwith and furnish to the county clerk of each county, in which any State forest reserve is, in whole or in part, located, a list or other description in duplicate in such form as will be suitable for readily informing the public, of all the land in the county that under this act 134 THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, and the aforesaid action taken in pursuance thereof, has become State forest reserve. Such list shall also contain separately a description of all land in the county subject to sale under section nine or to entry as a private timber reserve under section ten of this act, and shall briefly state in substance the terms and conditions of such sale or entry as prescribed by this act, including the terms of section twelve. It shall be the duty of the county clerk receiving such list or description to im- mediately post up one copy of the same securely and permanently in his office, in a conspicuous and public place, and to forthwith make proof by affidavit of so doing upon the other copy and thereupon transmit the same by registered mail to the Commissioner of the State Land Office, who, upon receipt thereof, in due and proper form, is authorized to pay such clerk for reimbursement and fees the sum of one dollar. The Commissioner of the State Land Office shall have the aforesaid list or description, as furnished to the county clerk, printed for distribution and shall furnish the same to such person as shall apply and to each newspaper published in the county, and to such other persons as he shall deem it advisable to notify or as the commission in charge of State forest reserves shall at any time request him to notify. The Commissioner of the State Land Office shall, once in each year, cause to be printed in a newspaper published in the county, a brief de- scription of such land within the operation of section one, as is subject, by the terms of section ten, to entry as private timber reserves, and of such other land, if any, as is subject to sale under section nine, but not to entry under section ten; and shall briefly state the terms and conditions of sale or entry as herein prescribed. It shall also be the duty of the Commissioner of the State Land Office to print annually, in each county, in a newspaper published within the county, a description of all parcels of land in that county sold under section nine or entered under secticn ten within the year, and to state the name of the purchaser, the price of the land and the appraisal of the value of forest or wood products, and the said commission’ shall, within the powers conferred and the means provided by general appro- priation or otherwise, manage, care for, protect and administer such forest reserves in such manner as it deems, best fitted to secure the maximum of reforestation thereon by natural processes; and shall from time to time, within the powers conferred and monies provided, acquire, as far as possible, definite knowledge of all land in such reserves, its characteristics, conditions and ability to reforest naturally without arti- ficial aid, and shall prepare and submit to the legislature reports thereof, and whenever it shall be found that the best interest of the State re- quires that such reserves or parts thereof should be planted, or other artificial means be employed to reforest, an estimate of the cost thereof, and such specifications, plans and outline of the work as it deems proper, shall be submitted to the legislature for its approval and for the appro- priation of the necessary monies. Whenever the commission in charge of State forest reserves shall certify that, in order that any State forest reserve may be made more compact and unbroken, or to promote economy and efficiency in its care, protection and administration, it is desirable and for the best interest of the State to exchange any lands in such re- serve, for any other lands of substantially equal area within the opera- TAX LANDS AND FORESTRY. 135 tion and effect of section one, which are located in the same reserve district and not otherwise disposed of, such exchange shall be effected by written notice from the said commission to the Commissioner of the State Land Office; and it shall be the duty of the said Commissioner forthwith to withdraw from sale the land necessary to consummate such exchange. : Section 6. The commission having charge of State forest reserves may recommend to the legislature for adoption, from time to time, plans for economical and effective methods of reforesting defined tracts or areas of denuded, waste or brush lands within their jurisdiction, having regard to the special characteristics, surroundings or conditions of each parcel or tract. It may also, from time to time, submit plans for pro- tecting and bettering, through the forest reserves and improved forest conditions, the water supply and stream flow of important streams; of securing economy in administering the affairs of the State connected with the public lands and matters aforesaid; and it may, for the purpose aforesaid, and within the monies appropriated and available therefor, cause examinations, surveys, maps and plans to be made of the lands within the forest reserves and fire districts and showing their rela- tion with respect to important streams and lakes and their water sheds and drainage areas. The commission having charge of State forest re- serves may co-operate and contract with the United States Bureau of Forestry of the Department of Agriculture or with the United States Geological Survey in the making of necessary investigations and obtain- ing data for the purpose of formulating plans and recommendations as aforesaid; but it shall not incur liability by any such contract in excess of monies that have been appropriated and are then available there- for; and the sum of five thousand dollars is appropriated annually for the purposes specified in this section, the same to be paid out of the general fund on vouchers of the said commission, to be audited by the State Board of Auditors. Section 7. The commission having charge of State forest reserves may ‘make such rules and regulations, and establish and maintain such ser- vice, as it deems best fitted to promote the reforestation of the State reserves and the preservation and protection of the forest growth thereon from fires and trespass; to govern the meetings and actions of the com- mission, and the conduct, duties, compensation and term of office of its agents and employes, except as otherwise provided by law; and to pro- vide for the removal and sale of dead or matured timber when the best interests of the forest reserves will be promoted by the removal thereof: and it shall have full power and control over all property belonging to the State, acquired for forest reserves, or for other matters within its jurisdiction; and shall have, in respect to the forest reserves established under or by the operation of this act, all powers and rights, and shall be subject to all duties and obligations, now vested in, or imposed upon, the Michigan Forestry Commission respecting the lands heretofore con- stituted forest reserves, so far as the said powers, rights, duties and obligations are not inconsistent with the terms of this act. ; All employes of the State whose official duty concerns the public lands, forest, fire protection or game and fish interests, shall, as a part of their official duties, give aid, so far as practicable, in the enforce- 136 THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, ment of the laws of the State concerning the forest reserves; and all officials, branches and departments of the State government shall, upon request, render assistance as aforesaid, and furnish for the use of the commission having charge of the State forest reserves all information, records, documents, maps and papers within their power and control. Section 8. No land within the effect and operation of this act shall be assessed or taxed so long as it is owned by the State; but whenever any such land shall be disposed of under the provisions hereof, it shall again become taxable and shall be assessed and taxed in the same man- ner as other land owned by individuals.. In lieu of taxes the State shall annually pay upon all land held in the State forest reserves the sum of ten cents per acre; the amount thereof for each township in which State forest reserves are located, and the total amount for the whole State, shall be computed and fixed by the Auditor General and be paid only on his warrant in manner hereinafter prescribed. The Auditor Gen- eral shall fix the amount as aforesaid on or before the.............. GAY Of sc xcaisws eves eae wees in each year, and on his certificate to the State Treasurer this amount shall stand as an emergency forest fire protection fund for the year following; and be avail- able and used only in emergency and for payment of the necessary ex- penses in excess of the ordinary appropriation available for fighting and putting out fires on any forest, waste or brush lands: and one-half of the unexpended balance of the said fund, shall on the expiration of the year aforesaid be alloted by the Auditor General to the several: town- ships containing the land for which payment is made in lieu of taxes as aforesaid, such allotment to be pro rata according to acreage in each township. One-half of the amount so alloted to each township shall be paid to the proper township officer in payment or reimbursement for ex- penditures or liabilities actually incurred by the township within the preceding year in the building or improvement of roads and bridges, ad- joining or passing through the fire districts aforesaid, or the building or improvement of which the commission in charge of State forest re- serves shall request or approve in advance of the work: and the other one-half of the amount alloted to the township shall be paid to the treasurer of the township for use in the said township for local purposes as it may determine; provided, that no payment shall be made as afore- said except on proper vouchers verified by a person having knowledge of the facts, and by an officer or agent of the township having super- vision of, or authority in, the particular work, and approved by the township board and the said commission. The balance of the monies payable by the State under this section shall, after expiration of the year aforesaid, be available to meet the appropriations for forest fire protection, any balance to go into the general fund. Section 9. All State lands within the operation of section one, ex- cept the State forest reserves aforesaid, shall be subject to sale by the Commissioner of the State Land Office at a price to be fixed by him, not less than $5.00 per acre, and the value of all saleable timber, forest and wood products thereon. Such appraisal to be made at the expense of the applicant in detail and under oath upon application being made to purchase. The appraisal of all lands applied for and the timber thereon shall be filed and kept open to inspection in the State Land Office. The TAX LANDS AND FORESTRY. 137 provisions of section 131 of the General Tax Law, being section 3953 of the Compiled Laws of 1897 as amended governing homesteads shall apply, so far as the same relates to applications and proof and to the issuing of deeds and their effect, provided that no application shall be granted or deed issued, until the payment of the purchase price afore- said. All monies received by the Commissioner of the State Land Office from the sale of lands herein mentioned shall be deposited in the State Treasury and shall be credited to the State, county and township re- spectively wherein such lands are located, in proportion to the amount of taxes due to each upon the land at the time of the deeding thereof by the Auditor General. Section 10. Such parcels or descriptions of the lands subject to the operation of section one and not made State forest reserves under or pursuant to the terms of this act, and which have been heretofore deeded to the State by the Auditor General, may, if not applied for under sec- ticn nine within one year from April 1, 1909; and all such parcels or descriptions thereof as shall hereafter be deeded to the State by the Auditor General, may, if not applied for under section nine within one year from the said deeding thereof, be applied for and taken up at any time as private timber reserves under a contract and subject to terms such as are prescribed hereinafter; provided, however, that where appli- cation shall be made under this section for any parcel or description, which, within one year thereafter shall be applied for under section nine, priority and precedence shall be given to the application made under section nine; provided also, that the aggregate total acreage in any county of private timber reserves under this act and of the State forest reserves shall not together exceed twenty-five per cent of the area of the county, which limit may be extended to thirty per cent by the board of supervisors of any county; and provided, that notice of applications for private timber reserves under this section shall be printed in a news- paper published and circulating in the county (or if none, then in a newspaper published and circulating in an adjoining county) within thirty days after the application is made and again within sixty days of the expiration of the year aforesaid, which notice shall describe the land and give the name and residence of the applicant and date of ap- plication and such other facts as are material; and provided further, that no person other than one who has at the time of application been an actual resident of the township at least six months shall be entitled to apply for or take up a private timber reserve under this section, and that not more than 160 acres shall be taken up under this section by any one person; and provided further, that the applicant under this section shall make proof, satisfactory to the commission having charge of the State forest reserves, of actual residence in the township as re- quired above, and of ability and intention to guard, protect and preserve the land applied for as a private timber reserve as required herein and by a contract which shall embody the terms and provisions of this sec- tion and bind the purchaser, his heirs and assigns and the said land thereto in such form and with such further provisions as the commis- sion having charge of the State forest reserves shall deem necessary in order to fully protect the interest of the State; and the said contract shall among other things bind the purchaser and his assigns to keep and 138 THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, preserve the said private timber reserve as such and in forest growth for not less than twenty-five years; not to start fires or to permit them to be started for the purpose of burning over such land or land adjoin- ing, or for any purpose or at any time forbidden by law, and to use due care and diligence to keep out and prevent’ the spread of fires upon said reserve; not to use or permit the use of said reserve during such period, not exceeding fifteen years, as the commission shall deem necessary, for any purpose destructive of the young forest growth and that in their judgment will materially interfere with natural reforestation; that live trees and forest growth shall not be cut or removed within fifteen years and that matured trees may thereafter be cut, only provided all tops, limbs and brush be gathered, piled and burned by the holder of the re- serve and provided that notice shall first be given to, and the cutting be done under the direction of the said commission and that the young trees and forest cover be saved so far as reasonably possible and that all work to the end aforesaid be done in accordance with any general rules and regulations prescribed therefor by the said commission. At the expiration of the said twenty-five years, the purchaser, his heirs or assigns shall be entitled, in case of full performance of the con- tract, payment of the acreage fee aforesaid and production of a certifi- cate as aforesaid, to a deed, the same -to be executed and have effect as provided in section nine, and the entire purchase price of the land em- braced in the said timber reserve and the amount appraised as the value of timber, forest and wood products shall be remitted. In case of violation going to the essence of the said contract under which any private timber reserve is taken up under this section, or in case of the destruction by fire, act of God or otherwise of the forest growth on the same, all interest and right of the holder or owner of the reserve shall thereupon absolutely cease and terminate without judicial or other proceedings being taken; but if the said destruction shall have been wilful or voluntary or by the act or procurement of the holder or owner of the reserve, or any other person it shall constitute trespass. and the liability therefor, both civil and criminal, and the rights of the State as respects the same and as respects the timber, forest or wood products, cut or removed, shal] be the same as in case of a wilful trespass committed without color of title. Section 11. All Jaws for the regulation of the conduct of persons or corporations in order to preserve or protect State forest reserves from fire, trespass or other injury, and all laws for perfecting the title of the State of any lands within the operation of this act, shall apply to the private timber reserves taken up under this act so far as the same are applicable and not inconsistent with the terms hereof. Suit in chancery for an injunction to compel performance or to pre- vent breach of the terms of the contract or of any law or lawful rule or regulation for the protection and preservation of the said private timber reserve of the forest growth thereon and of the rights and interest of the State therein may be maintained by the commission having charge of the State forest reserves in the county of Ingham or in the county in which the land is situated of which suit said courts are hereby given jurisdiction; and the aforesaid contract shall include a provision con- senting hereto and binding said land and the purchaser or holder and. 17 TAX LANDS AND FORESTRY. 139 his heirs and assigns, and shall authorize a decree pro confesso in such suit in case appearance therein is not entered. Payment of the same sum annually per acre as section eight provides shall be paid by the State upon the State forest reserves and produc- tion of a certificate from the commission showing that a private timber reserve is still kept as such and in forest growth and that the terms of the said contract affecting said reserve have been duly kept and per- formed without breach of any material stipulation going to the essence of the said contract, shall entitle the holder of such private timber re- serve to a receipt in full for all taxes thereon for the preceding year. Section 12. Every grant, conveyance or transfer of the title of the State to, and every contract made by it affecting any land within the operation and effect of section one which lies upon, includes or is bounded or crossed by any lake, river or stream or which is located within the flowage area thereof hereinafter mentioned, shall be subject to the fol- lowing stipulation binding upon the land and upon all grantees and assigns thereof as follows, to-wit: All such parts of the land included in such grant, conveyance, trans- fer or contract as will be flowed by any present or future work, dam, or operation for impounding, diverting or controlling the waters of any lake, river or stream in order to develop water power or to furnish water supply, or to regulate stream flow or for any other purpose are conveyed by the State, only to the extent that the grantee and his successors in title may use, possess and enjoy the same for all purposes except for the purpose of flowage as aforesaid, the right of flowage being reserved to the State; subject, however, to the agreement that such right of flowage shall not be used by the State or conveyed or granted to any person ex- cept either with the consent of said grantee of the land or his successor in title then owning the same, or upon condition that compensation by the grantee of such easement or reserved right shall be made to the said then owner of said land in the same way as though he were the absolute owner thereof without restriction or reserved right aforesaid; and pro- vided further, that any grant or conveyance by the State of the easement or right of flowage shall be held and deemed to be subject to the reserva- tion and agreement that the same is and shall forever remain subject to such rules, regulations, restrictions and requirements as the State may at any time see fit to impose for the protection and betterment of public welfare. Section 18. Whenever land returned delinquent to the Auditor Gen- eral has been sold at tax sale and bid in to the State, the bid, interest, title or right of the State shall not be sold or disposed of to any per- son, but the Auditor General shall, prior to the time for redemption al- lowed by law, receive from any person claiming to be the owner by the original title, the full amount of all unpaid taxes thereon, together with all interest, expenses and charges, and shall execute and deliver to the person making such payment a full discharge and acquittance of the said land from the lien of such taxes and a release and cancellation of the right, title or interest of the State by virtue of the tax proceed- ings: but neither this provision nor the certificate of the Auditor Gen- eral shall be held or deemed to vest in the owner of the original title any right, nor shall the payment aforesaid or the certificate of the Audi- 19 140 THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, tor General vest in any person any title, right or interest based on the tax proceedings. PROPOSED FOREST FIRE LAW. Section 1. The State Game, Fish and Forest Warden shall have charge of the prevention and suppression of fires and shall direct and have gen- eral control of all officials and employes herein provided for. He shall hereafter be known and designated as State Forest Warden. Section 2. The State Forest Warden shall divide those portions of the State to which this act applies and which he shall deem to require forest fire protection, into districts as he may deem advisable but not exceeding twenty-five in number, and shall appoint for each of such districts a deputy, who shall receive a salary to be fixed by the State Forest Warden, but not exceeding one thousand dollars a year and his necessary expenses, payable monthly. Such deputies and all wardens and employes shall be subject to the orders and direction of, and to re- moval by the State Forest Warden, and shall hold office during his pleasure: provided, that such Forest Warden as well as all deputies, wardens and employes shall be under the final control and direction of any commission or other authority that shall by law be vested with jurisdiction and control over the forest, game and fish interests of the State and the public domain. All deputies and appointees of the State Forest Warden shall have full power as, and be subject to the perform- ance of the duties of fire wardens under this act. ‘ The State Forest Warden shall also be State trespass agent, and his deputies shall be assistant State trespass agents. The State Forest War- den may make use of fire wardens as trespass agents as he may deem expedient; and they shall, subject to his control, have the same powers and duties as under the laws now in force. All powers and duties vested by law in the Commissioner of the State Land Office for the protection of State lands from trespass and other depredations, are hereby trans- ferred to the State Forest Warden. It shall be the duty of such deputy forest wardens to familiarize themselves by personal investigation with the locality, and condition of the cut-over lands, prairie lands and other lands in their respective districts where fires are most likely to start and spread, and to take such precautions as they shall deem reasonable and proper to prevent the starting or spreading of fires in such districts, and in doing so, may enter upon lands and remove or destroy brush, rub- bish and other dangerous combustible material, wherever necessary. It shall be the duty of such deputy forest warden to caution all sports- men, settlers and others of the danger from fires in the woods, to ex- tinguish all fires left burning by any one, if within their power; and to give notice to any and all parties interested, when possible, of fires rag- ing and beyond their control, to the end that the same may be controlled and extinguished. In case of fire such deputy forest wardens shall have the power to employ assistance in emergencies to extinguish or control fires. It shall be the duty of said deputy forest wardens, whenever pos- sible, to go to the place of fire, take personal charge of and direct all efforts to exstinguish and control the same. Each deputy forest warden shall have general charge of all fire wardens in his district, and shall have authority to mass such fire warden force as may be available, at any TAX LANDS AND FORESTRY. 141 special point in his district, to suppress fire. He shall make annual report to the State Forest Warden and such other written and verbal reports as he may require, which annual report shall show in detail each fire occurring in such district, stating the cause of the same, the method used to control or extinguish such fire, amount of property destroyed and the number of lives lost, and such other facts as the State Forest Warden may require. Section 3. In any district or locality where he deems it necessary, the State Forest Warden may maintain a service for watching for, re- porting the outbreak of, and checking, incipient or other forest fires, which service may, in the discretion of the State Forest Warden, be by patrol during times of danger, by observation or watch towers, or other- wise, as is deemed most effective and economical; and for this purpose the State Forest Warden may, with the approval of the commission hav- ing charge of State forest reserves, appoint at such compensation as he shall fix, local fire wardens to serve temporarily in times of danger, in any district where he deems that they are needed for preventive measures to guard against the starting or spreading of forest fires. He shall have authority to mass such fire warden force as may be,available at any special point to suppress fires. He shall co-operate with any police or military force of the United States government which may be detailed to guard the national domain from fire. He shall investigate, or cause to be investigated by said deputy game, fish and forest war- dens, the damages done from time to time by forest fires, and the causes of such fires, and include the same in the annual report to be made by him to the Governor. : The State Forest Warden may at times or seasons deemed especially dangerous, designate the supervisor of any township, and the sheriff, under sheriff and deputy sheriffs, or any of them, fire wardens within their respective township or bailiwick. It shall be the duty of any super- visor, sheriff, under sheriff, deputy sheriff or other person designated or appointed fire warden, to promptly report any and all fires in clearings, fields, forests, brush, cut-over or waste land to the State Forest Warden or his deputy in charge of the district, and to take prompt and effective measures to suppress the same and to promptly obey the orders and directions of the State Forest Warden or his said deputy respecting his course and proceedings in reference to any such fire. In default thereof he shall be subject to removal from office by the Governor of the State and be subject to prosecution for a misdemeanor and on conviction thereof shall forfeit his office and be liable to a fine of not less than twenty-five nor more than one hundred dollars. Section 4. The State Forest Warden shall provide and officially sign an abstract of the penal laws of this act, with such rules and regula- tions in accord therewith as he may deem necessary, and on or before the first day of March of each year he shall forward as many copies as he considers needful to the several deputies and fire wardens in the State and to all railroad companies, and it shall be the duty of said deputies and fire wardens to post up such abstract as warning placards in twelve conspicuous places in their respective districts, and of said railroad companies to post up the same in a conspicuous place in each station in the portion of the State within the operation of this act. 142 THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, Section 5. During a dry and dangerous season, when forest fires are prevailing or are liable to break out, the State Forest Warden shall use such additional means under his command as he may deem necessary to prevent omsuppress fires, gnd the expenses thus incurred shall be paid by the Sta hich exp ures for such emergency in any fiscal year shall not wen e thousand dollars, to be paid out of the general fund upon t dér of the State Forest Warden. Section 6. It shall be the duty of each deputy and fire warden to take precautions to prevent the setting of forest fires, and when his district is suffering or threatened with fire, to go to the place of danger to con- trol such fires, and each deputy and fire warden shall have authority to call to his assistance in emergencies any able bodied male person over eighteen years of age, and if such person refuses, without reasonable justification or excuse, to assist, such person shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars or imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed three months. Section 7. The State Forest Warden, his deputies and the several fire wardens created by this act shall have authority, and it shall be their duty to enforce the provisions of this act, and to arrest, without warrant, every person found violating its provisions, and to take the offender before a magistrate and make complaint against him. Any per- son who hinders, obstructs or interferes with, or attempts to hinder, obstruct or interfere with any fire warden or other officer in the dis- charge of any of the duties required of him or them by this law shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction therefor, shall be fined not less than ten nor more than fifty dollars, together with costs of suit, and in default of payment therefor shall be confined in the county jail until said fine and costs are paid, provided that said im- prisonment shall not exceed thirty days. It shall be the duty of the deputy and fire wardens of any district to co-operate with the deputy and fire wardens of any adjoining district, and in the absence of the deputy of that district, the deputy of the adjoining district shall direct the work of control and extinguishment of fires. Section 8. Each employee not serving under a contract for compensa- tion fixed by the State Fire Warden shall receive for his actual services rendered under this act two dollars per day: but no payment shall be made to any claimant under this act until he shall have presented an itemized account and made oath or affirmation that said account is just and correct, which account shall be certified by the deputy in charge of the district and approved by the State Forest Warden, and when so certified and approved shall be forwarded with the original oath to the Auditor General, who shall audit the same and issue his warrant for payment thereof by the State Treasurer from the general or other proper fund available therefor. Section 9. Any person who wilfully, negligently or carelessly sets on fire, or causes to be set on fire, any woods, grass lands or other com- bustible material, whether or not on his own lands, by means whereof the property of another is injured or endangered, or any person who wilfully, negligently or carelessly suffers any fire set by himself to dam- age the property of another is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be TAX LANDS AND FORESTRY. 143 punished by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars, or by imprison- ment in the county jail not exceeding three months. Any person who maliciously sets on fire, or causes to be set on fire, any woods, grass lands or other combustible material whereby the property of: another is destroyed or life is endangered, shall be pud#iShed with, a,mtfe of not over five hundred dollars, or be imprisoned in the Stage.prigon for a term of not over ten years, or both such fine and imprisonment. Section 10. Any person who shall kindle a fire on or dangerously near to forest, brush or grass lands, and leave it unquenched, or who shall fail to extinguish a camp fire before leaving it, or who shall be a party thereto, and every person who shall use other than incombustible wads for firearms, or who shall carry a naked torch, firebrand, or other ex- posed light in or dangerously near to forest land, causing risk of acci- dental fire, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding one hundred dol- lars or imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding three months. Fires for the purpose of clearing lands, disposing of brush, waste mater- ials and the like, shall not be started or allowed to burn on any woodland territory within the operation of this act except with the consent of the fire warden or his deputy, in any year between the first day of April and the first day of July, nor between the first day of September and the first day of November; and during any other dry and dangerous sea- son when forest fires are prevailing, or are liable to break out, the starting or maintenance of such fires shall be unlawful within such other dates as the Governor, on request of the State Forest Warden, shall officially pro- claim or give public notice of. Any person who shall set, start or main- tain any fire during a closed season in violation of the foregoing shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction be fined not less than ten nor more than one hundred dollars, or imprisonment in the county jail not less than twenty nor more than sixty days, or both, in the discre- tion of the court. Any person who, between April 1 and December 1, shall set, start or maintain fires on his own or other lands for the above or other purposes, except for cooking food or warming the person, shall, before so doing, give one day’s previous notice of intention thereof to the nearest fire warden or to the deputy in charge of the district, and of the exact place and time when such fires will be set or started, and in default shall be liable to arrest for failure to give such notice and shall be sub- ject to a fine of five dollars or ten days in the county jail, or both for each - offense; and also shall be liable, in case such fire shall be or spread be- yond his own premises, to a fine of fifty dollars or to imprisonment in the county jail for thirty days or both; and in case of damage done to the. property of another, shall be liable in a civil action for treble damages, in which suit, failure or omission to give notice as aforesaid shall be deemed to be negligence and sufficient basis for damages. Section 11. Every person who shall wilfully deface, destroy or re- move any warning placard posted under the requirements of this act shall be liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars for each offense, or imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding three months. Section 12. It shall be the duty of all railroad companies operating any railroad within this State to use efficient spark arresters on all their engines and to keep their right of way, to the width of fifty feet on each side of the center of the main track, cleared of all combustible materials and safely dispose of the same within said limits of their right 144 THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, of way between the fifteenth day of April and the first day of December. No railroad company shall permit its employes to leave a deposit of fire or live coals, or hot ashes, in the immediate vicinity of woodland, or lands liable to be overrun by fires, and where engineers, conductors or trainmen discover forest or other fires or that fences or other materials along the right of way, or woodland adjacent to the railroad, are burn- ing or in danger from fire, they shall report the same promptly at the next telegraph station that they pass, and the operator shall by wire or telephone immediately notify the nearest fire warden or the deputy in charge of the district, or the State Forest Warden. In seasons of drouth, railroad companies shall give particular instructions to their employes for the prevention and prompt extinguishment of fires, and they shall cause warning placards, furnished by the Forest Commis- sioner, to be posted at their stations in the vicinity of forest and grass lands, and where a fire occurs along the line of their road they shall concentrate such help and adopt such measures as shall be available to effectively extinguish it. Any railroad company wilfully violating the requirements of this act shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and be punished by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars for each such offense, and railroad employes wilfully violating the requirements of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and be punished by a fine of not less than five dollars nor more than fifty dollars. But this section shall not be construed to prohibit or prevent any railroad com- pany from piling or keeping upon the right of way cross ties or other material necessary in the operation or maintenance of such railroad. Section 13. It shall be the duty of each and every owner of thresh- ing or other portable steam engine to have efficient spark arresters on - such engine at all times when in use; and no person in charge of such engine shall deposit live coals or hot ashes from his engine in any place without putting them out or covering them with at least three inches of earth before leaving them. All persons violating the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon con- viction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not less than five dollars nor more than fifty dollars. : Section 14. Nothing in this act shall be construed as affecting any right of action for damages existing independently of this act. In addi- tion to any penalties provided by the United States or the State, any person whose property is injured or destroyed by such fires, may recover, in a civil action, double the amount or damages suffered, if the fires occurred through wilfulness, malice or negligence. Persons or corporations causing fires in violation of this act shall be liable to the State in an action of assumpsit to the full amount of all damages done to State land and for all expenses incurred by the State fighting such fires. Section 15. Woodland territory within the terms of this act shall be construed to mean forest, Swamp, marsh, cut-over and brush land, and the term forest fire shall be deemed to extend to and include fires thereon. Section 16. All monies received as penalties for violating the provi- sions of this act shall be paid into the State treasury and be credited to the general fund. Section 17. The State Forest Warden shall annually, on or before TAX LANDS AND FORESTRY. 145 the first day of December, make a written report to the Governor, to- gether with an itemized account of the expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions of this act, which report shall include such statistics and facts as he has obtained from the deputies and wardens of the State, and from other sources, together with his suggestions relative to the preservation of the forests of the State and the prevention and ex- tinguishment of forest fires. Section 18. This act shall apply and be in force only within the ter- ritory within this State lying north of the north line of township twenty north. Section 19. All acts and parts of acts inconsistent with this act are hereby repealed. Proposed statute for concentrating the State’s business and admin- istrative interests connected with the public domain, forests, game and fish, and with the furnishing of protection from forest fire and trespass. . Section 1. There shall be a commission, to be known as the Public Domain Commission, to consist of five members, none of whom shall hold any other State office; two of the members to be appointed by the Gov- ernor from a list for each appointment of not less than five persons, to be submitted by the Board of Regents of the State University; two members to be selected in the same manner from a like list to be sub- mitted by the State Board of Agriculture; and the other member to be selected and appointed by the Governor. The term of office of the mem- bers of the said commission shall be as follows: The term of office of the members first appointed on nomination of the said Board of Regents shall be one and three years, respectively; and that of the members first appointed on nomination of the State Board of Agriculture shall be two years and four years, respectively; and that of the member first selected and appointed by the Governor shall be five years; and the term of office of the successors, of all the said members, except when ap- pointed to fill unexpired terms, shall be five years. Appointments to fill vacancies shall be for the unexpired term and all appointment of suc- cessors or to fill vacancies shall be made in manner above provided. Section 2. Said commission shall have power and jurisdiction over, and have the management, control and disposition according to law of, the public lands; of forest reserves and forest interests; of all the in- terests of the State in connection with stream protection and control; of the protection of game and fish; and of forest fire protection. All matters within the jurisdiction, custody and control of the Commissioner of the State Land Office, of the State Game, Fish and Forestry Warden, and of the Michigan Forestry Commission, and all authority, power and discretion vested in either by law, are hereby transferred to, and vested in, the commission aforesaid, which is hereby created a body corporate. The members shall be reimbursed all their expenses, but shall not re- ceive any compensation for time or services. Section 3. The affairs of the State under control of the commission shall be managed through sub-departments under administrative heads, who shall be chosen by the commission, and perform such duties as shall be prescribed by law or by the commission. The duties and terms of 146 THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, service of all officers and employes of the commission, or of any sub- department, and all salaries and compensation of employes and officers shall (except as prescribed by law) be subject to the direction of the commission. Section 4. The State Game, Fish and Forestry Warden now in office shall continue therein and serve out the term for which he was appointed unless removed by the commission; but said office shall be a depart- mental office and under the commission as hereinbefore set forth, and its incumbent shall be designated State Forest Warden. Section 5. The duties of the Commissioner of the State Land Office shall be as under the laws now or hereafter in force, but subject to the supervision, control and direction of the said commission, and such other duties as said commission shall from time to time require. If the proposed new Constitution is adopted, substitute as section 5 the following: The office of Commissioner of the State Land Office is hereby abolished upon the termination of the term of office of the present incumbent; but the commissioner now in office shall perform the duties of his office but as a sub-department head under the supervision, control and direc- tion of the said commission. The duties of said commissioner shall, on the termination of the office, be performed by the chief clerk of the com- mission, to be appointed by the commission. PROPOSED STATUTE FOR TEMPORARY WITHDRAWAL OF TAIK HOMESTEAD AND STATE TAX LANDS WHILE THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COM- MISSION OF INQUIRY ARE UNDER CONSIDERATION BY THE LEGISLATURE. All tax homestead land not heretofore disposed of is hereby withdrawn and reserved temporarily, until further direction, from entry, sale or disposition, except in fulfillment of existing contracts. All State tax land is hereby reserved temporarily as aforesaid from sale or disposition; provided, however, any person claiming to be the owner of any such land by the original title, may pay the full amount of all delinquent taxes, together with all interest, charges and expenses, and on payment thereof receive from the Auditor General a discharge and acquittance of the land from the lien of the said taxes, and a re- lease and cancellation of the right, title and interest of the State by virtue of the tax proceedings, but neither this provision nor the certifi- cate of the Auditor General shall be held or deemed to vest in the owner of the original title any right, nor shall the payment aforesaid or the certificate of the Auditor General vest in any person, any title, right or interest based on the tax proceedings. The Auditor General and Commissioner of the Land Office shall pre- prepare forthwith a list or lists of the lands withdrawn and reserved as aforesaid and forthwith cause the same to be platted on a map or maps and submit the same for the information of the legislature . B et ite ad ae eee ‘“ ) i i. 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