52 



taxation has done much to encourage tree planting, and what was missed 

 in our own law has been secured here by educating the people to a 

 Idealization of the importance of immediate action. 



The States of New York, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Minnesota and 

 Michigan, representing the most advanced position in forestry matters 

 and in accord with the best judgment of the foremost forestry experts in 

 the United States, have recognized the importance of the State in the 

 control of her forests and the dangers of leaving an industry so vitally 

 connected with the prosperity of her people wholly in the hands of private 

 parties. The aim of the most rational forestry legislation should be to 

 permit the State to obtain control of large tracts, located suitably to 

 influence the head waters of our streams and our agricultural interests 

 and secure permanency to our lumber industries, and then place the man- 

 agement of these in the hands of trained foresters who would secure from 

 them a financial profit to the State in addition to maintaining their highest 

 efficiency as forests. Then the maintenance of smaller tracts that may 

 be acquired from the nonpayment of taxes and adding to these, as occasion 

 presents, lands not especially suited for agricultural pui-poses. This 

 policy, in those States where its effects have been observed, has -received 

 the universal support of the people. Depredations interfering with the 

 best development of the State reserves can be controlled by positive legis- 

 lation that will fix responsibility and punish the guilty. Foi-est thieves, 

 fires, browsing on public lands, etc., could all be controlled ^ath ease. 

 In whatever is done the State must take its citizens into its confidence 

 and be prepared to defend each policy or line of action by careful figures 

 based on facts secured from the local conditions. The State should like- 

 wise avoid anything that savors of a monopoly in this enterprise and 

 should in every way encourage private capital to cooperate in the work. 



It would doubtless be out of place at this time to make suggestions for 

 radical legislation since the present forestry board will no doubt soon have 

 plans along this line based on the very careful study of the local condi- 

 tions. I wish, however, to commend to the consideration of our legislators 

 the very comprehensive and rational law before the Michigan legislature 

 last winter. This in my judgment is the most perfect plan of forestry 

 legislation that has been presented in this counti-y. This bill was prepared 

 by a foi'estry commission appointed in 1899, and was based on the needs 

 as discovered from a study of the conditions. 



