THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART X. 591 



Therefore, on account of the crude provisions and lack of supervision it 

 was repealed March 3, 1891. It had already been much abused and given 

 rise to a great deal of fraud. The claims that were planted with trees 

 never amounted to anything. During the first seven years after this act 

 was passed 38,000,000 acres had been entered as tree claims. 



The passing of these acts was an aid to forest culture, but the 

 private interests of settlers in these treeless regions were a greater and 

 more wnolesome influencing factor. The establishment of Arbor day, 

 which was originated by J. Sterling Morton in 1872, did much to awaken 

 public interest especially in the treeless states. In the wooded states 

 Arbor day has had little influence on tree planting, as it leads people to 

 think that the forester's business is only to plant trees, while to a large 

 extent it is to care for the existing forests. 



The first association to advance forestry interests was started at St. 

 Paul, Minnesota, in 1876 by Leonard B. Hodges. This organization pub- 

 lished a tree planting manual. In 1882 a forestry congress met in Ohio, 

 which laid the foundation for the present American Forestry association. 

 This organization has been a great stimulus to forestry movements through 

 its official organ, the "Forester," which has recently united with "Irri- 

 gation" and become "Forestry and Irrigation." The "Forestry and Irri- 

 gation" is now the foremost advocate for the development of the un- 

 claimed west. 



Forestry association have been formed in the following states: Maine, 

 New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, 

 New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Wisconsin, North Da- 

 kota, Colorado, Washington and Iowa. In recent years a large number of 

 states have appointedd forest commissioners. These officers inquire 

 into and report on a proper forest policy. In certain states these com- 

 missioners have become permanent parts of the state organizations. 



Laws regarding the protection of forest property have been enacted 

 in nearly every state, but the efficient laws of this nature date from 1885. 

 The inefficiency of the laws prior to this time arose chiefly from the lack 

 of responsibility of carrying them out. New York was the first to rec- 

 ognize the need of official responsibility for the execution of the law, 

 therefore a force of fire wardens were appointed throughout the state. 

 Maine, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Minnesota soon 

 followed New York's example. At present Michigan, Maine, Wisconsin 

 and Minnesota have the best fire laws, but the law of Minnesota is the 

 most efficient law in the Union. The state auditor is the forest commis- 

 sioner, and he appoints a deputy known as the chief fire warden who has 

 charge of the fire warden service of the state. If the fire wardens are 

 unable to suppress a fire, deputies may be appointed. Penalties are pro- 

 vided for wilful, malicious or careless setting of fires. 



In 1888 the American Forestry association placed before congress a 

 bill providing for the withdrawal, entry or sale of all public timber land 

 unfit for agricultural use. This failed to pass, but modifications were 

 made from year to year till in the Fifty-first congress the following section 

 was passed calling for the withdrawal of the timber culture act; Sec. 24: 



