AN APPROVAL 



By Hon. ADOLPH O. EBERHART 



goveknor of minnesota 



Editor of American Forestry. 



^^'^EPLYING to your letter of January 17th, containinji: a copy of resolu- j 

 j^^ tions adopted by the annual meeting of the American Forestry Asso- i 

 elation and asking for an expression of an opinion from me regarding i 

 them, I beg to say that the federal appropriation to which resolution number ' 

 one refers has resulted in great good to this State. We received |10,000 last 

 year under a co-operative arrangement, and this amount has enabled the , 

 State Forestry Service to do far more than the amount itself would indicate, 1 

 as it has made possible a larger field force throughout the fire season. The^ 

 great success of our Forestry Department in controlling fires last year was i 

 due in no small measure to this assistance. :fL 



With reference to resolution number two, no doubt Minnesota has suf-^ 

 fered greatly through an unfortunate situation of taxation of forest lands, i 

 In my opinion the custom of taxing growing or standing timber repeatedly 

 is unnecessary, as well as unfair. The state, as a whole, would derive the ' 

 same revenue through taxing the product after the timber is cut and by sol 

 doing would insure permanence of the timber industry. As it is now, the ': 

 owner of standing timber finds it expedient because of the taxes to cut his ' 

 timber as soon as possible, and in the cheapest possible manner, thus result- \ 

 ing in waste. The right way to tax forest property is to tax the land itself ! 

 annually in accordance with its real value. The crop should be taxed but ; 

 once, and that when cut. i 



As to resolution number three, while it is undoubtedly important in lo- ^ 

 calities where it applies, it does not particularly affect this State. 



As to resolutions four and five, both these subjects are thoroughly cov- j 

 ered by the operation of our reorganized Forestry Department, which is en- ', 

 couraging the co-operation of timber owners, and is also carrying on ai 

 educational campaign to bring about successful reforestation. 



THE 1911 INDEX 



The 1011 index for American Forestry is now ready and subscribers may 

 have it mailed to them by writing for it. 



Wireless telegraphy will become a factor in the prevention of forest fires 

 in Montana, if experiments planned by R. P. McLaughlin, forest supervisor, 

 are successful. It is propesed to establish a station and open communication 

 with the wireless plant at the Kalispell High School. If the crpei'iment is 

 successful several statio7is to be operated in connection with the telephone 

 system already in operation, will be organized. 



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