MICHIGAN ROADS AND FORESTS. 



of the bark and timber beetles. Here we have 

 to acknowledge that most of our information 

 comes from Dr. A. D. Hopkins, of the Division 

 of Forest Insects at Washington. For every 

 fact that the rest of us have discovered, Dr. 

 Hopkins has found a dozen, working as he has 

 been on this class of pests all his life. For 

 convenience we may divide the pests into three 

 classes, bark or engraver-beetles which work 

 just under the bark itself, ambrosia bettles 

 and the timber borers. The first named, en- 

 graver beetles, construct a tunnel in the layer 

 between the bark and the wood, and the female 

 lays her eggs along each side. The young 

 from these eggs tunnel sideways across the 

 brood chamber and finally settle down deeper 

 in cells, where they pupate and from which 

 they finally emerge from round holes through 

 to the outside. One finds these holes in the 

 bark when searching for infested trees. They 

 resemble holes made by a shot gun. Many of 

 these species work on dead or dying trees 

 only, but some of them are capable of work- 

 ing also On living trees and they do so on 

 slight provocation. However, they merely 

 kill the tree and do not injure the timber, as 

 far as I know. At least, not so seriously as 

 the ambrosia bettles, which tunnel right into 

 the solid wood. The name ambrosia beetle is 

 given this creature because it feeds on a pe- 

 culiar fungus growth which is planted and 

 cared for by the insect inside its burrow. The 

 effect of this growth on the timber is to black- 

 en the tunnels and stain the wood for some 

 distance in. Most timber marked with black- 

 ened holes that look as if they had been burned 

 in with a hot wire, are injured in this way. 



Sawyers and Flatheads. 



The third group, containing sawyers and 

 flatheads, lay their eggs in the bark and later 



burrow into the timber, 

 large white grub that 



A good example is ,a 

 sometimes works in 



timbers after they have been put in houses, 

 making a noise like the gnawing of mice. The 

 control of these bark and timber-infesting 

 pests varies with the habits of the species, but 

 in general we may say, remove the bark before 

 the engraver beetles have a chance to get in 

 and before the timber borers get started. Also, 

 if the trees once get infested with the bark 

 beetles, that are likely to kill the trees, cut 

 and make into lumber before the beetles come 

 out, or else sink logs in the water, or in some 

 way prevent the emergence of the beetles. 

 This applies in general. Each species may 

 need some slight variation from the general 

 treatment, owing to the -difference in its emer- 

 gence or to lumbering practice in vogue in 

 particular districts. 



"In closing, I will ask every one to send in 

 material which is suspected of harboring in- 

 sects so that we may help, if possible, by 

 advice; or if there seems no practical plan at 

 present, that we may try to work out such 

 facts as will lead to some practical plan." 



FOREST LAWS. 



A. C. Shaw, of U. S. Forest Service, Tells 



What Is Being Accomplished. 

 A. C. Shaw, of the United States Forest 

 Service, was next introduced to speak on the 

 general subject of "A Study of the Forest 

 Laws." He spoke substantially as follows: 

 "Prof. Chapman has told you that during the 

 Harrison administration, Laws of 1891, the 

 protection ofthe forest was provided for, and 

 how in 1892 the use of the forests was provid- 

 ed for, but its execution was not practicable, 

 and how it came about that the possible use 

 had been provided for. There are a few simple 

 rules that I wish to refer to, following the 

 suggestions of the president. It was found 

 that while we had pretty good laws to protect 

 timber and take care of reserves and make 

 them useful to the people, they were not ex- 

 actly fair to other interests. Large bodies of 

 timber were removed from the tax rolls. That 

 left the burden of the expense on the other 

 inhabitants. A law was passed that caused 

 10 per cent of the proceeds of the products in 



the county where the preserve is situated, logs 

 and other products of the forests, to be ex- 

 pended in that county. That will be, I think, 

 one of the objections in Michigan. Farmers 

 and other interests will object naturally to leg- 

 islation, unless you make some provision to 

 compensate them for any loss in taxes or for 

 any additional expense. I have no doubt that 

 the suggestions of the Commission will pro- 

 vide for that, that some portion of the pro- 

 ceeds shall be devoted to be applied upon the 

 payment of the county taxes. 



"There was another suggestion, and that is, 

 that in creating these national forests, neces- 

 saily a large amount of agricultural land was 

 included. They could not survey around a 

 particular tract. A provision was included, at 

 the suggestion of the president, that the lands 

 might be exchanged, lands found to be suit- 

 able for agricultural purposes excluded from 

 the reserve; and large bodies are to be ex- 

 cluded under that law because they are more 

 suitable for agriculture, and the land should 

 be put to its best use. A comprehensive plan 

 has been provided for the management of 

 these tracts, to the end that the reserves are 

 limited as near as possible to lands suitable 

 only for forest purposes. Of course the state 

 has a right, like any other owner of land, to" 

 get the most out of it; and if it holds the title 

 to land that will produce a greater permanent 

 income than if managed as forest, at any time 

 to take it from the forest. Delinquent tax 

 land, that Mr. Roth spoke of this morning, 

 should be treated in a way to get the most 

 proceeds out of it." 



.Mr. Shaw also took up the subject of the 

 slow growth of the forest, stating that those 

 of the private owners who were devoting time 

 and money in the establishment and protection 

 of forests were not expecting remuneration in 

 their lifetime, but are taking a step forward 

 in an effort to grow forests for the future gen- 

 eration. One idea is to encourage mining, and 

 a great many of the states are taking steps in 

 this direction. California has some fine forest 

 land. It has appointed a commission to make 

 an inquiry and report as to what can be done 

 toward the acquisition of these lands for the 

 purpose of reforestration. 



State Legislation. 



"Alabama has a special session of the legisla- 

 ture now in session to consider the foresl 

 question, embracing the forestation of foresl 

 lands. The legislature is very much interested 

 in the forest problems. There is likely to be 

 legislation providing some fair method of tax- 

 ation of forest lands. 



"Michigan is in a more favorable situation 

 than any of those other states. In the first 

 place, I think it can fairly be sajd that you are 

 better connected with the needed conditions 

 and have a great many men that for years 

 have been engaged in pursuits of that kind 

 If a plan could be devised, I think this state 

 should be able to produce those who woulc 

 do it. Another thing, your state favors an 

 adjustment of this kind. A great many of tht 

 states limit the power of redemption of the 

 property to a year. There have been somi 

 commissions appointed for this meeting, rela 

 tive to the exemption of lands from taxation 

 The people of your state seem to be willing 

 to place the same taxes upon the lands as the 

 other people have. They do not ask any spe 

 cial favors, but ask that they have the same 

 right, and be relieved from taxation pf the 

 growing forests. 



"It is in the power of your legislature to pass 

 such a law as that. They would hardly pass 

 a law that would exempt timber land entirel> 

 from taxation. A statute that could provid< 

 machinery that could determine the lands tha 

 were suitable for timber growth and thosi 

 more suitable for agriculture uses is what wi 

 need. 



"Men who are going to make an investmen 

 lasting fifty years want assurance that their in 

 vestments will be protected; want assuranci 

 that they have the encouragement of the legis 



lature. A law that will provide for such con- 

 ditions should be passed by the legislature. 

 The state has an interest in legislation that 

 will provide for such forestry. It is the duty 

 of the state to foster the industries of the 

 state. I do not want to be understood as forc- 

 ing my views upon the state, but I take great 

 interest in what is to be done, both by con- 

 gress and the legislatures of the states in con- 

 nection with this subject, and hope such action 

 will be taken as to produce results, and that 

 laws will be provided which will protect both 

 public and private interests, and will form a 

 basis' for intelligent action. 



(The proceedings of the closing session will 

 appear in the January number.) 



OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS. 



President, John H. Bissell, Detroit. 



Vice-President, R. Hanson, Grayling. 



Secretary, J. Fred Baker. Lansing. 



Treasurer, John J. Hubbell, Manistee. 



Board of Directors Mrs. Frances King, Alma; 

 ion. Arthur Hall, Saginaw; Prof. Filibert Roth. 

 \nn Arbor; Henry N. Loud, Au Sable; Samuel 

 .emon, Grand Rapids ; T. B. Wyman, Munising. 



MANISTEE RIVER POWER 



After more than a year spent in surveying the 

 amis of the Electric Land & Development Com- 

 pany, lying along the Manistee river between 

 Sherman and Walton, and in testing sites for five 

 dams, Engineer J. J. Hubbell, Jr., is now engaged 

 in surveying for railroad spurs to the site of the 

 first dam. 



This company, which is composed of Traverse 

 City men, has now about $80,000 invested in land 

 and surveys. They propose to construct a dam 

 as soon as possible. The first dam to be built will 

 be next to the lowest of the five available sites. 

 It will be known as the Tyler dam. 



Engineer Hubbell says that it will take fourteen 

 months to construct the first dam, working 24 

 hours a day with three full crews. Four other 

 such dams will extract all the power derivable 

 from this company's flowage rights. On a stretch 

 of river 26 miles long in a straight line, there is 

 a fall of about 125 feet. The total fall of the 

 river .from Sharon to its mouth, available for 

 power, is about 350 feet. 



Between the lowest site of the Electric Land 

 & Development Company and the storage basin 

 of the Buckley & Douglas water power produced 

 by a dam' near Sherman, there is a fall of only 

 twenty feet, so that comparatively little of the 

 river's power will be lost between these two 

 dams, when all are completed. 



The Manistee river is capable of furnishing 

 imense power. It can furnish electricity for every 

 power plant and railroad in that part of the state. 



It is probable that the city of Manistee will 

 have a water power electric energy before the 

 first of these big dams can be built, for arrange- 

 'ments are being made by Edward M. Deane & 

 Company of Grand Rapids to secure power from 

 the lessees of the Hamlin dam, which is located 

 at the mouth of Hamlin lake on Point Saublc. 

 eighteen miles south of Manistee. The dam is 

 already built, and it is believed that the power 

 can be transmitted to Manistee for use next year 

 for the running of street cars, and lighting of the 

 city, and for small power plants in factories. 

 Data as to the amount of power available is not 

 made public. Hamlin lake, however, makes an 

 immense reservoir, and there is a head of about 

 eighteen feet. 



