JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



Vol. XV DECEMBER, 1917 No. 8 



STATE OWNERSHIP OF FOREST LANDS 

 By Philip T. Coolidge 



The purpose of this article is to discuss State ownership of forest 

 lands as a governmental policy. 



FOREST RESERVES BY STATES 



At the outset a resume of the various State forest reserves may be 

 useful. Although the terms "forest reserve" and "State forest" seem 

 reasonably clear, it will be found that differences in the purposes for 

 which reserves have been created are responsible for differences of 

 opinion as to just what constitutes a "forest reserve" or a "State for- 

 est." It may be argued, for example, that a tract of land held by a 

 State primarily for purposes of recreation and under legal restrictions, 

 forbidding the cutting of timber either in accordance with the princi- 

 ples of scientific forestry or otherwise, is not a "forest reserve," but a 

 park. 



In order to view the whole subject clearly, the writer has endeavored 

 to list all areas commonly considered by the public as "forest reserves" 

 or as "State forests." For the essential facts pertaining to these re- 

 serves he is indebted to the forestry ofiicials of the various States. 



Neiv Hampshire has seventeen State forests, with a total area of 

 8,350 acres. Three of the reserves, amounting to 898 acres, were ac- 

 quired by gift prior to 1911. The Crawford Notch Reserve of 5,925 

 acres was acquired in 1911 at a cost of about $10 per acre. The funds 

 for the purchase of this reserve were secured by the sale of scrip bear- 

 ing interest at 33/^ per cent and maturing in 20 years. Of the other 

 reserves, some were acquired by gift and others by direct purchase. 

 The State Forestry Commission may cut and sell timber from the re- 

 serves consistently with the general practice of forestry. 



Vermont began acquiring State forests in 1909 and has now a num- 

 ber of tracts, comprising a total of 12,000 acres, including the Mt. 



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