STORY OF ITASCA STATE PARK. 5T 



SUMMARY. 



The state property known as Itasca Park consists of: 

 I4,coo acres of land, partly donated by the U. S. Govern- 

 ment and partly purchased by the state. 



26,000,000 feet of standing pine, valued at $230,000.00 



Douglas Lodge and equipment, valued at 18,000.00 



Old Park House, valued at 1,000.00 



Total value exclusive of land $249,000.00 



Staivdiiig Appropriations. 



For the purpose of acquiring new land within the park 5,000.00 



For the salary of the superintendent 600.00 



There is no Hre protection; this is left to chance. A bad fire w^ould 

 destroy its value as a park. 



[t is noiv managed as follows : 



The Governor is in charge and appoints the superintendent. 



The Attorney General has charge of acquiring new land. 



The State Auditor has charge of the school lands within the park. 



It is proposed to place the park in charge of the State Forestry Board. 

 Governor Johnson has recommended this in his message to the legislature. 



The Board of Regents of the State University has asked the legislature 

 to provide opportunity for demonstration work in forestry on some state 

 land. It is proposed to do this in Itasca Park, which is well fitted for the 

 purpose. 



It is the belief of those well informed in forestry matters that in- 

 struction in forestry without field work is weak. Just at present our great 

 forestry problems need, more than anything else, young men who are edu- 

 cated in forestry. Education can do for forestry what it has done for agri- 

 culture. If Itasca Park is used as recommended the distinctive park feature 

 will not be disturbed. It would become a demonstration forest and a 

 forest experiment station. E.xperiments would also be made in determining 

 how quick-growing woods, such as cottonwood, willow and maple, can 

 best be treated to make them more durable and valuable for construction 

 purposes. 



The bill referred to carries appropriations as follows : 

 For forestry instruction and experimentation under the State 



University $5,000.00 



For firebreaks, nurseries, etc., under the management of the 



State Forestry Board 3,000.00 



Total $8,000.00 



The items for these appropriations are in detail as follows : 



Firebreaks $1 .000 . co 



Repairs on old Park House 500.00 



Furniture for old Park House 500.00 



Repairs on road 500 . 00 



Three teams and equipment 1,500.00 



Tools 300.00 



Clearing ten acres for nurseries and garden 300.00 



Seeds and plants 300.00 



Experiments in the impregnation of cottonwood and willow to 

 increase their durability in the soil and their value for struc- 

 tural purposes 1,000.00 



Improvement on the lake shore 200.00 



Salary of forester and teacher 1,500.00 



Tree planting and improvement cuttings 400.00 



Total ■ $8,000.00 



