MICHIGAN 



ROADS ^FORESTS 



DETROIT, MICH., NOVEMBER, 1909. 



MICHIGAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 



The Michigan Forestry Association was organized in Grand Rapids August 30, 1905,fiaving 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. 



Proceedings Annual Meeting 



Michigan Forestry Association 



f r. 



started the planting of forest trees in many 



Xntr. As most of the papers are to appear Commission, of which he was president from Parts of the state. 



wing story to the salient features in each. its beginning in 1898. Mr. Garfield reviewed Fourth The creation of the temporary 



only bnef reference ,s made m the fol- the histQry of tfae fifst commission of 1898> ; ts ,, Comm j ssion of Inquiry/ , an inves ti ga tion en- 



The annual meeting of the Michigan Fores- make up, its work, and its abolition by act of terprise which collected information and made 



try Association was held November 9 and 10 in the legislature after two years' effort. He a complete study of the forestry situation in 



the Guild Hall of St. Paul's Episcopal Church ^f at '"^ on the men of the "early days" our state, reporting this to the legislature of 



of forestry in Michigan, especially Dr. W. J. 1908-09. The composition of this commission 



Beal, of Lansing; Hon. Robert Graham, of was entirely of well-known business men and 



f Grand Rapids, Prof. Spalding, of the University farmers, and their report was well received 



Bea of Lansing; of Michigan( and H on. Arthur Hill, of Sagi- and developed an interest in the forestry and 



( . , 



Edward W. Barber, of Jackson; Hon. J. naw In discussmg the WO rk of the commis- land po i icy o f the state, such as had never be- 



- sion, Mr. Garneld called attention to the mod- f or e existed. In fact, there is no record to 



;. Wheeler secretary of est means at Jts disposa , an(J thfi , ack of show that , islativc body in the United 



the Beard of Commerce of Jackson; L. H. ...tt,,,-.-*., -p- c-iirl- c- ^- j- i j 



authority. He said. States at any time displayed an interest at 



Kit-Id, the great merchant of Jackson; Rev. ... T . , 



. , .-, Work of the Forestrv Commission all comparable to that shown at Lansing last 



Dr. MacDuff, of the Episcopal Church; Mrs. >"* ^ or 



John C. Sharp, of Jackson; Mrs. Weaver, of The successes or results accomplished by J 



Charlotte; Mrs. Mautner, of Saginaw; Mr. and this commission, supported as it was by the Fifth. The passage of a number of second- 



Mrs. W. E. Williams, of Pittsford; Mr. Charles Forestry Association, serve to indicate what ary laws, dealing with fire protection, the cre- 



W. Garfield. of Grand Rapids; Professors has been accomplished in Michigan in the ten- ation of a Forest Reserve for the Agricultural 



K.;th. Mulfnrd and Hill, of the University of year campaign. Categorically, but not in College, etc. 



Michigan; Prof, and Mrs. Satterlee, of Lansing, chronological order these results are: p ar R eac hi n g and Important Results. 



I 'resident Bissell opened the session with his First. The creation of the "Commission of 



nnual address, in which he set forth the activi- Public Domain" made up of one member of the In addition to these far-reaching and im- 



the association, its experience in the Board of Regents of the University, one .of the P orta nt results, there are a number of others, 



year, its present status and outlook. Board of Agriculture, and one of the Bpa^d-of . the existence of which everyone knows and 



Mr. Bissell was followed by the "Grand the School of Mines. In addition, there are on se es, though they elude measurement or exact 



old Man" of Jackson, Hon Edward Barber, this board, three elective officers, the State location. Of these the most important are: 



editor of the Patriot, who in his address of wel- Land Commissioner, Auditor General and Sec- First - The sentiment in favor of forestry, 



me delivered one of the best dissertations on retary of State. This commission .h^s/full among the people. While there is no claim that 



..nervation and forestry ever presented to an jurisdiction over all State Lands and iporest this is due entirely to the Forestry Commis- 



\inorican audience. It was a delight and an Reserves and also the Water and ' Mineral sion and the Association, yet in a large meas- 



nspiration to hear this venerable historian and rights on these State Lands. There is a pro- ure this is true nevertheless. That this senti- 



,>hilosphtr of Michigan review the evidence in vision demanding the setting aside of at least ment is bv far the most important of all 



(he case: tell of the ruin brought upon many 200,000 acres of lands for Forestry purposes results was shown clearly in the work of the 



'f the Old World Districts by the destruction and the Commission is given ample power to legislature last winter. 



i.l neglect of the forest and the soil and to administer these properties. Second. A complete change of front of the 



ihrough more than half a century the Second. The establishment of schools of state press. As late as 1898 few papers cared 



:vil effects which the ruthless clearing away forestry at both the University of Michigan and to say a friendly word for forestry; today they 



if forests have brought about in our own the State Agricultural College, where today a11 sa y it, and our Michigan Press, city and 



itate. His long residence at the Height of over 300 young men receive instruction in this country alike is ever ready to demand a ra- 



-ands of Southern Michigan and his intimate subject. tional land and forestry policy. 



cquaintance, especially with the Grand River T'-ird. The establishment of a forest re- In conclusion, Mr. Garfield welcomed the 



'alley, make Mr. Barber's statements those of serve in 1903 and the continuance of this since Commission of Public Domain, represented by 



n authority of the first order. that time. This Reserve, the large nursery and Hon. J. E. Beal and Hon. A. J. Doherty, its 



I Hon. Charles W. Garfield, of Grand Rapids, plantations, the fire lines, the proper disposal president, and bespoke for the new commission 



iext proceeded to speak of the former Forestry of timber, all have had an immense value as an earnest, unstinted support of the assoeia- 



