MICHIGAN 



ROADS ^FORESTS 



DETROIT, MICH., AUGUST, 1909. 



MICHIGAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 



The Michigan Forestry Association was organized in Grand Rapids- August 30, 1905, having for its object the promotion of a ra- 

 tional system of forestry in Michigan. The society is managed by the following roster of officers: President, John H. Bissell, of Detroit; 

 Vice-President, Morrice Quinn, Saginaw; Secretary, Henry G. Stevens, Detroit; Treasurer, W. B. Mershon, Saginaw, W. S. Board of 

 Directors S. M. Lemon, Grand Rapids; H. N. Loud, Au Sable; Thos. B. Wyman, Munising; E. C. Nichols, Battle Creek; R. Hanson, Gray- 

 ling; Geo. N. Brady, Detroit. 



A CLEAR STATEMENT 



FROM MR. MERSHON 



The I'ulilic Domain Commission of Michi- 

 gan made public the fact that it had requested 

 William B. Mershon of Saginaw to appear be- 

 fore it to explain why he expected to dispose 

 of certain young trees on the state forestry 

 ' ve. as the commission understood, and by 

 what right. 



Mr. Mershon in his reply to the commis- 

 sion, says : 



"The explanation is very .simple: Two years 

 the forestry commission realized that the 

 appropriation for carrying on the work of re- 

 foresting and taking care of the forest reserves 

 of the state was so small that it would not per- 

 mit of the raising of the trees and seedling.- 

 they had and caring for them; that already 

 the state had on hand more seedlings than it 

 could possibly set out; and that with the 

 planting of that year there would be sufficient 

 covered to use up all of the money avail- 

 -in protecting from tire and caring for 

 the same. At considerable expense seed beds 

 had been constructed that would become value- 

 less, and the supply of young trees for planting 

 on the lands in Michigan, whether public or 

 private, would soon be exhausted. The com- 

 mission did succeed in giving away or selling a 

 large share of the million or more seedlings in 

 tbe seed beds a year ago last spring; they all 

 were put out on Michigan lands and accomp- 

 < d one of the objects for which the for- 

 y commission was created. 

 "The Au Sable Forest Farm, a corporation 

 \vned equally by Messrs. C. H. Davis and my- 

 If of Saginaw; C. W. Ward, of Detroit, and 

 ! M. Squire, of Cleveland, made this offer to 

 :he state forester, which was accepted and ap- 

 proved by the forestry commission, namely: 

 That our forest farm would furnish sufficient 

 -eeds to fill the seed beds and pay the wages 

 of the men necessary to plant and care for 

 them until sai'd seedlings reached the age of 

 two years, at which time they would take them 

 md set them out on tbe Au Sable Forest Farm 

 'a nds on the Au Sable river. If the state 

 leeded some of the seedlings they could make 

 'in exchange in some way, that it would be an 

 '.pportunity for keeping the Michigan forest 



restive seed beds in operation, not going to 

 rack and ruin, and it would help defray the ex- 

 pense of the maintenance and the general costs 

 that are bound to exist anyhow, as there was a 

 superintendent, teams, etc.. that had to be 

 maintained whether seed beds were planted or 

 not. The seeds were bought from a dealer 

 down in the Adirondacks in Xew York, and 

 shipped up there in the spring of 1908. On 

 planting, it was found that there were more 

 -teds than enough to fill the beds, so the Au 

 Sable Forest Farm bought the lumber, lath 

 and wire netting to make the additional beds 

 and sent the same over to Higgins lake. The 

 -cedlings were a year old this spring and ordi- 

 narily about one to two inches in height. Next 

 spring, when they are two years old, they will 

 be large enough to transplant. Then the Au 

 Sable Forest Farm wants them for setting out 

 en their own lands, and not for selling or any- 

 thing of the kind, and expects to make an ad- 

 justment of all costs that have been incurred 

 by the forest commission or the public domain 

 commission cr dividing the seedlings \viib the 

 public domain commission on an equitable ba- 

 sis, and doing anything that will be just and 

 fair to both parties and accomplish what i- 

 earnestly desired to have done, namely the 

 setting out of just as many trees as possible on 

 Michigan lands under proper conditions and 

 by people that will insure that they are prop- 

 erly taken care of and will grow." 



quiries about land the state has to sell," say- 

 Commissioner Russell. "Xow all that we can 

 tell them is where the land is situated." 



The Public Domain Commission at its Aug- 

 i -t session authorized the sale of a number of 

 city lots in Muskegon, Oct. 5. This is the first 

 time that any land which had reverted to the 

 state for taxes has been offered for sale at any 

 (ther place but Lansing. 



All coal, mineral and gas rights on all of t he- 

 state lands are to be reserved by the land com- 

 missioner. This action is the result of action 

 by the Public Domain Commission at its last 

 meeting. 



William Kell}-, of the state college of mines, 

 was authorized to prepare a list of capable men 

 for the position of state forester. The appoint- 

 ment will be made next month at the meeting 

 of the board. 



President Doherty has appointed the follow- 

 ing committees: Executive and fire, Martin- 

 dale, Kelly and Beal; finance, Fuller, Russell 

 ;.nd Kelly; forestry, Bcal, Martindale and 

 Kelly; land sales and timber sales, Russell. 

 Fuller and Martindale; timber, coal, oil and 

 cas lands, Kelly, Beal and Russell; trespass. 

 Russell. Fuller and Meal; water rights, Mar- 

 tindale, Kelly and Fuller. 



Public Domain Commission. 



Another step has been taken by the Public 

 Domain Commission of Michigan towards in- 

 creasing the immigration of good citizens into 

 the state to take up the land which may be 

 offered from time to time. 



A resolution adopted provides ihat Land Com- 

 missioner Russell shall secure descriptions of 

 state tax lands, what can be raised on it. tin- 

 nature of the soil, and other like facts of in- 

 terest to a prospective purchaser. The effort 

 will be to make the description so complete 

 that it will serve to take the place of a visit to 

 the property. In this way the average man 

 who desires to purchase, but has not mone\ 

 enough to go to the land offered for sale, can 

 buy "unsight, unseen" and not be fooled into 

 getting rocky soil, or land under water. "Forty 

 per cent of our correspondence consists of in- 



WANT MORE FOREST RANGERS. 



An examination to fill vacancies in the rang- 

 tr force on 149 national forests in twenty-one 

 states and territories, including Alaska, will be 

 held on Oct. U.> and 20. From this examination 

 it is expected that 500 appointments will be 

 made. The rapid development of the national 

 I irests is making continually increasing de- 

 mands on those engaged in their care and men 

 with ability to serve in supervisory capacities 

 are in demand. The more responsible posi- 

 tions are filled by promotion from lower 

 grades. 



Only men who are at least 21 years of age 

 and not more than 40, temperate and in good 

 physical condition are eligible to take the ex- 

 amination. The salary paid to beginners is 

 $900 a year. 



