THE FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE STATE 

 FORESTER OF MINNESOTA 



By pRoi\ E. G. CiiKVNKV 

 Director of the Forest School, University of Minnesota 



^TT^E always look forward with intcr- 

 r I lest to the first report of any new 

 ^^'^^ undertaking to see what it prom- 

 ises for the future. This is especially 

 true in the case of the establishment of 

 a new department in the State Service. 

 Will it simply assume the titles given it 

 by law and proceed to spend the ap- 

 propriation allotted to it in the easiest 

 and least disturbing way? Will it be- 

 come a part of the political machine, — a 

 roosting place for lame ducks — using its 

 appointive power to secure the votes of 

 otherwise useless employees? Or will 

 it really be an efficient organization, 

 grasping the problems presented to it 

 with a broad comprehension of its pos- 

 sibilities, striving for the welfare of the 

 State and seeking to get value received 

 for every penny expended? 



That is the most important question 

 and it is answered in the first annual 

 report of the State Forester of Minne- 

 sota in no uncertain tone. The whole 

 report rings true to the note of efficiency 

 and service. All the men in the new 

 service are technically trained men or 

 experienced woodsmen holding their po- 

 sitions through efticiency. 



A mere glance at the nature of the 

 contents of the report shows the broad 

 conception which the forester has of his 

 duties ; fire prevention and fire fighting 

 in all its phases, including the education 

 of its citizens, the disposal of slash, the 

 protection of frontier towns, the build- 

 ing of watch towers, the improvement 

 of trails and portages, the construction 

 of telephone lines, the surveying and 

 mapping of tracts of absolute forest 



CLEARING RIGHT OF WAV I'OR RAILROAD THROUGH DENSK TIMBER— SLASH 

 BURNED GLEAN UNDER DIRICGTION OF RANGER— PULP WOOD WILL BE 

 HAULED OFF. 



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