GOrER\ME\TAL WORK FOR COUXTRY LIFE 395 



lands belonging to the state; to guard against the 

 pollution of lakes and streams within the state; and 

 to foster and encourage the protecting and propaga- 

 tion of game and fish. On behalf of the people of 

 the State, the Connnission of Conservation may ac- 

 cept gifts and grants of land and other property for 

 any of the purposes contemplated by this act." The 

 investigation of the undeveloped natural water- 

 power of the State was also made the duty of the 

 Commission of Conservation, as well as to make a 

 report to the governor and legislature before Janu- 

 ary 15, 1923. 



The first appointments to the Conservation Com- 

 mission were not wholly reassuring as to the char- 

 acter of the work that was destined to be accomplished 

 l)y it; and it is still too soon to pass judgment on 

 this mooted point. It was hoped that somewhere in 

 the act provision had by implication been made for 

 a soil inventory, and, if not here, then in the act 

 creating the Department of Agriculture. This, too, 

 remains a matter of doubt. A backward step was 

 taken by the Conservation Commission when it dis- 

 continued the work of the topographical and biologi- 

 cal survey previously conducted bA> the Michigan 

 Geological Survey. Michigan cannot hope for ef- 

 fective work in this department until scientific and 

 administrative ability wholly replaces political con- 

 siderations in the making of appointments to the 

 Commission itself and in all departments of its 

 work. To this new Department of Conservation, 

 therefore, falls primarily the duty of promoting the 



