12 



THE STATE REVIEW. 



tended to the museum of the Kent Scientific 

 Institute for the loan of specimens for the pur- 

 poses of illustration and decoration. 



The thanks of the association are extended 

 to the Kycrson library .for its friendly invita- 

 tion to visit and examine the many volumes 

 pertaining to the subject of forestry. 



The Michigan Forestry Association notices 

 with ncern the increasing scarcity of ( 



timber .supplies, which is rapidly approaching a 

 point where it will seriously interfere with 

 the healthy development of our state. 



The association also notices with great con- 

 cern the alarming increase in the import of 

 timber from far distant points, and heartily 

 regrets what appears to be a fatal policy, es- 

 pecially for a conservative agricultural state; 

 namely, to import one of the great necessities 

 of life, when there is ample opportunity to 

 produce this material within the confines of 

 our commonwealth. 



"The association is thoroughly aroused over 

 the present unsatisfactory condition cf our 

 forest lands and wild lands in general, and the 

 utter lack of any systematic effort to replace 

 the much-needed timber supply. 



"The association fully appreciates the dan- 

 gers of continued timber denudation in its ef- 

 fect upon the water supply, the climatic as 

 well as the aesthetic conditions of our state. 



"The association is fully aware of the wide- 

 spread appreciation among the people of our 

 state with regards to the need of immediate ac- 

 tion for the betterment of these conditions 



"This association; having been organized for 

 the purpose of furthering forestry in all its 

 phases, therefore resolves, 



"That the Michigan Forestry Association is 

 thoroughly in sympathy with the work of the 

 State Forestry Commission and recommends 

 most urgently a strengthening of this com- 

 mission by more ample appropriations for the 

 expansion of its work. 



"Resolved, That the existing laws concern- 

 ing the disposition of state lands, and espec- 

 ially the dealing with the tax-lands of this 

 state, are unsatisfactory and should be modi- 

 fied; and especially that a definite minimum 

 for land should be established by law, and that 

 a thorough examination of all lands previous 

 to their sale should be assured. 



"Resolved, That the state establish an ef- 

 fective system of protection of forest prop- 

 erty. That the present law with regard to 

 forest fires be modified, and that a provision 

 be made for co-operation between state and 

 private owners of timber lands. 



"It is the conviction of this association that 

 such protection can be accomplished only by a 

 regular patrol, and that the funds appropriated 

 for this purpose be expended primarily in the 

 prevention rather than in the fighting of for- 

 est fires. 



"Resolved, That a large area of land in 

 Alcona and Oscoda counties, known as the 

 Agricultural College lands, be withdrawn fron 

 sale and entry and that a reasonable appropria 

 tion be made for their protection and improve 

 ment by tree planting; such appropriation to 

 be expended through the Michigan Agricultu 

 ral College. 



"Resolved, That the existing law with re 

 gard to state homesteads be repealed. 



"Resolved, That this association is thor- 

 oughly in sympathy with every effort to main- 

 tain and improve the wood-lots connected 

 with settled farms, and that this association 

 recommends a liberal appropriation of funds 

 for a systematic campaign of education and 

 assistance for this purpose. 



"Resolved, That this association most heart- 

 ily appreciates and is in sympathy with the 

 efforts of other organizations, notably The 

 Federation of Women's Clubs, Boards 

 of Commerce, Granges and others promoting 

 forestry and allied improvements in our state. 

 ,olved, That this association highly ap- 

 preciates the great work of the press of the 

 state in the furtherance of forestry in Michi- 

 gan. 



"This appreciation is especially due the 

 orthern part of the state, finding expression 

 t the recent meeting of the North Michigan 

 J ress Association, where resolutions favoring 

 ctivity in matters of forestry were unani- 

 nously adopted." 



THE HOMESTEAD LAW. 



ROF. ROTH EXPLAINS REASONS FOR ITS 

 PROPOSED REPEAL. 



The committee reports were adopted, and 

 VLrs. .Schmidt asked for further explanation 

 egarding the proposed repeal of the home- 

 lead law, and Prof. Roth made clear the 

 ction taken, as follows: "When the act went 

 nto effect good lands were plenty, a condi- 

 ion that is not true now. Even as early as 

 878 men began to question the workings of 

 he homestead law, and to suggest modifica- 

 ions. They began to doubt whether it was 

 advisable to let farmers go onto land that 

 was not suitable for agriculture. We want to 

 give a poor man all the good land there is, 

 and give him a bonus besides, to settle up the 

 country, but for heaven's sake stop deceiving 

 he people by offering them lands that they 

 will starve to death on. The homestead law in 

 Michigan is a .humbug." 



Representative-elect Campbell explained the 

 11 workings of the homestead law at further 

 ength. 



Mr. Loud "I am conversant with 1,000 

 acres of this territory subject to homestead 

 entry, and know it to be mostly lands that 

 lave been thrown away by the lumbermen, 

 and absolutely worthless lands for the past 

 50 years." 



Prof. Roth "That's all right." 

 Mr. Ilubbell "I'll swear that they have 

 been worthless for 44 years that's as far 

 back as I can go." 



Prof. Roth "The records show that as 

 early as 1875 9,000,000 acres, or one-half the 

 whole northern part of the state, was 'in soak' 

 for taxes." 



Other instances of the injustice of the home- 

 stead law in its present workings were given 

 by Mr. Loud and Prof. Roth. 



Secretary Stevens was called on for a word 

 regarding the change in the state organ of 

 the association, and he replied as. follows: 



"The Michigan Investor Co., of Detroit, 

 bought out the State Review Pub. Co. a month 

 ago, and Mr. Carter, the editor, proposes to 

 continue the Review along the same lines. 



The Investor has been published successfully 

 for several years. The publishers request that 

 the association take charge of getting up the 

 forestry matter for each issue. I would ad- 

 >ntimiing in our present relations with 

 the State Rev! 



On motion of Mr. Carficld, the matter 

 referred to the executive board, with po 

 to act. 



"Prof. Roth proposed the followin 

 ment to the articles of association relatin 

 membership, which was also referred . 



"That the Active Membership list be con- 

 tinued as at present. 



at a Sustaining Membership list be cre- 

 ated, the payments being optional with mem- 



.iiiging from $5 to 



"That ,a Life Membership list be created, 

 whereby members by payment of $100 may 

 become life members of the Michigan Fores- 

 try Association." 



C. S: Udell, of Grand Rapids "In order to 

 start the ball rolling you may put my name 

 down for $25 for a sustaining membership." 



Mr. Garfield "You may add my name also 

 for $25." 



Mr. Loud reported for the committee on 

 nomination of officers for the ensuing year, as 

 follows: 



President John H. Bisscll, Detroit. 

 Vice-President C. S. Udell, Grand Rapids. 

 Secretary Henry G. Stevens, Detroit. 

 Treasurer J. J." Hubbcll, Manistee. 

 Board of Directors Mrs. Francis King, Al- 

 ma; Thos. B. Wyman, Munising; Henry N. 

 Loud, Au Sable; S. M. Lemon, Grand Rap- 

 ids; Mrs. J. C. Sharp, Jackson: C. D. Law- 

 ton, Lawton; L. L. Hubbard, Houghton. 



The name of Dr. Hubbard was added to the 

 original list of directors by suggestion of Mrs. 

 King, who is conversant with the valuable 

 work that he is doing in support of the for- 

 estry movement in the upper peninsula. 

 The report was adopted. 



On motion of Mr. Garfield the matter of 

 issuing certain forestry literature, as suggested 

 by Mrs. King, to aid in spreading the gospel 

 through the state, was adopted and will be 

 done as soon as the funds will permit. 



Prof. Roth moved the board of directors se- 

 lect someone to represent the association at 

 the February meeting of the state retail lum- 

 ber dealers in Detroit, and it was carried. 



Mr. Garfield "Now we are going away with 

 no prospects of meeting again for a whole 

 year. I think that we should have ad interim 

 a convention of the forestry workers. I move 

 you, Mr. Chairman, that the executive com- 

 mittee be authorized to arrange for such a 

 mid-year meeting in co-operation with the 

 State Forestry Commission in such a way that 

 our interests may be best advanced through- 

 out the state." 



The motion carried. 



Mr. Udell "I would suggest a number of 

 district, or old-fashioned revival meetings, 

 with splendid speakers, to arouse the people 

 on this important subject." 



Mr. Sargent invited the members of the con- 

 vention to visit the Kent Scientific Museum, 

 and its forestry exhibit, before returning home, 

 and the convention adjourned sine die on mo- 

 tion of Mr. Garlield. 



Michigan Forestry Association, 



The Michigan Forestry Association was organized in Grand Rapids August 30, ^905 having for its object the 



The State Forestry Commission-Charles W. Garfield, Grand Rapids; Arthur Hill, Sagmaw; William II. Rose, Lansing. 



