No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 477 



It has educated foresters to care for this land, now divided into 

 54 forests, each of which is in the care and administration of a 

 technically trained State Forester. 



Forest administration is dependent upon roads, trails, fire lanes, 

 telephone lines, observation towers, a protective force of forest 

 rangers, and an interested group of people in its neighborhood who 

 are willing to lend a hand at a moment's notice to prevent destruc- 

 tion by fire. The foresters and their assistants to date have built 

 over 3,500 miles of travelable roads, trails, and fire lanes. Ujjwards 

 of 250 miles of telephone lines are constructed. These connect 

 rangers' homes with forest headquarters, and these again with the 

 general telephone system of the State. Foresters are doing improve- 

 ment work and taking out undesirable material and selling it for 

 the best price to be obtained. The revenue of the Department is 

 largely derived from this class of sales. 



The foresters and their assistants have planted upwards of 18,000,- 

 000 seedling trees of good species, and have covered more than 8,500 

 acres, otherwise denuded, unprofitable land. 



The State Forests have been thrown open to become the camping 

 ground and recreation places of the citizens of the State. What are 

 known as permanent camp sites, under formal lease for a period of 

 ten years or less, may be had for a trifling annual sum. Temporary 

 camp sites are permitted without charge. In the case of the former, 

 there is exclusive use by the lessee of his camp site, with the privi- 

 lege of building upon it such a structure as meets the approval of the 

 Department.- 



The whole force of the Department is interested in carrying the 

 knowledge of its work to the people. Educational efforts are under 

 way in all parts of the State. Foresters and rangers take an in- 

 terest in the school children and afford them facilities for enjoying 

 the State Forests. The newly formed Bureau of Education within 

 the Department will collect statistics and information, and through 

 the newspapers, principally those in the counties and rural neigh- 

 borhoods, will keep the people informed of the weekly progress of 

 events. 



The Department of Forestry regards itself as the servant of the 

 people. It is ready at all times to afford such assistance with respect 

 to the scope of its business. It is particularly desirous of awakening 

 a greater and better sustained interest in farm woodlots. The 

 owner of any farm having upon it a woodlot which is in need of 

 improvement or other treatment, may, for the asking, have the advice 

 and direction of the Department in its handling. While our facili- 

 ties at present may be limited by lack of means and lack of men, the 

 desire to help is constantly with us. 



The Department has recently undertaken topographical surveys 

 of its forests and a complete delimination of its boundaries. The 

 latter has been going on for a number of years and boundary surveys 

 are in their incipiency but to date four forests have been satisfactorily 

 covered. With topographical work goes the taking of an inventory 

 or the making of a stock survey, so that it will soon be possible to 

 know what amount of material is contained within each forest, its 

 character and its value. 



