490 United States. 



The appointment of commissions of inquiry then 

 became fashionable. 



New Hampshire appointed such a commission in 

 1881, which reported in 1885, without result, and 

 another commission in 1889, whose report, in 1893, 

 led to the establishment of a permanent commission 

 of inquiry and advice, with a partial supervision of 

 forest fire laws. Vermont followed suit with a com- 

 mission of inquiry, in 1882, whose report made in 

 1884, remained without consequences. 



In Michigan the expedient was resorted to of con- 

 stituting the State Board of Agriculture a commission 

 of inquiry, whose report, published in 1888, had also 

 no consequences except those of an educational char- 

 acter. 



Similarly, the State of Massachusetts ordered the 

 State Board of Agriculture in 1890, to inquire "into 

 the consideration of the forests of the State, the need 

 and methods of their protection, " with similar results, 

 or lack of result. 



In New Jersey, the matter was referred to the 

 State Geologist, who, since 1894, has made reports on 

 forest conditions and needs. Similar reference of the 

 subject was made in the State of North Carolina, in 

 1891, and in West Virginia. 



The first more permanent State institution deliber- 

 ately established as an educational and advisory 

 agent was the Forestry Bureau of Ohio, in 1885, 

 which published a number of annual reports, but 

 eventually collapsed for lack of support. 



In the same year, three important States, New 

 York in the East, Colorado in the Middle States, and 





