FORESTRY METHODS. 405 



the bill advocated by the Minnesota Forestry Association two years 

 ago, or else under a plan such as suggested by me to the forestry 

 commission of Wisconsin. 



In this latter plan the cost of acquiring the lands that the state 

 should own is largely charged to the future, obviating present pay- 

 ments. The state takes the lands at their present sale value and 

 pays for them in scrip bearing three per cent interest, on which, 

 however, neither interest nor capital shall accrue until thirty years 

 have elapsed; then yearly payments of ten per cent of the accumu- 

 lated capital and compounded interest may become obligatory, to 

 be paid yearly until capital and interest is paid up, with the option 

 on the part of the state to cancel the debt at any time before or after 

 the thirty years. By this method the state avoids present expendi- 

 ture and begins payments when presumably the lands under care- 

 ful management may be in condition to furnish returns sufficient 

 to meet the payments, while the owners receive a negotiable paper 

 and avoid taxation, turning their unproductive property — such only 

 is contemplated in the purchase — into immediate available cash or 

 a safe investment for their heirs. 



This arrangement, which is based upon the idea that the state ac- 

 quires the property for the benefitof the future, is just to the owners 

 as well as the present and future citizens. 



The purchase of the truly forest soils by the state tor a forest re- 

 serve will also benefit the state in preventing poor deluded settlers 

 wasting their energy and means on lands which are not fit for agri- 

 cultural pursuits. Above all, keep politics out of the woods as much 

 as possible. 



It may be of interest to trace briefly the history of this movement 

 in New York. It centers largely, almost wholly, around the Adiron- 

 dacks, the mountainous section of the state, which had for many 

 years been a resort for seekers after pleasure and health and of 

 sportsmen, fishermen and hunters. 



The lumbermen, more than thirty years ago, had cut and floated 

 out the white pine, which formed a small portion of the mixed for- 

 est; then attacked the spruce, which usually forms about twenty 

 per cent of all the growth, and now, with the railroad development, 

 the hardwoods, too, are becoming an object of the lumbermen's 

 exploitation. 



As is usual with careless logging operations, with charcoal burn- 

 ers, and still more careless camping parties, fires came in and 

 ravaged large portions of the so-called "wilderness," destroying not 

 only the woods but the thin soil which covers the granite rock. Al- 

 though the proportion of the area thus laid waste was not as large as 

 one would expect from 'newspaper statements, nevertheless the un- 

 sightly and desolate areas were increasing, and voices became loud 

 as to the state's duty to stop further waste. 



A vigorous campaign began about twenty years ago, in which 

 especially the harm to the water supplies resulting from this forest 

 devastation was pointed out. This resulted in the establishment of 

 a commission of inquiry, in 1883, which reported in 1884, recommend- 

 ing action by the state. But the legislation proposed by the commis- 



