a time of the year when the soil can be examined, and who 

 shall make careful and clearly written notes on the ground 

 of the quality, character and value of the land, the character 

 Oi the surface, whether level or if broken, whether moder- 

 ately or very broken; whether stony or free from stones, aver- 

 age depth of black soil and character of sub-soil; presence or 

 absence of water, running stream or pond; whether timber 

 has been cut and removed or been damaged by fire; what 

 subdivisions contain merchantable timber; the different kinds, 

 quantities and value of such timber according to rough esti- 

 mate; also ( show what subdivisions are unfit for agriculture 

 and only fit for the production of timber; the facts showing 

 such conclusion, and whether on account of being sandy, 

 rocky or hilly. The State Auditor shall prescribe the form 

 of blanks and plats on which field notes and records shall be 

 made, and the manner and frequency with which they shall 

 be returned and filed. He shall pay the persons so employed 

 and any clerks necessary in carrying oh the work, such rea- 

 sonable compensation as shall be found necessary. 



Section 2. As the work hereinabove prescribed progresses 

 the State Auditor shall examine and revise the returns of the 

 examiners, and approve or reject the same, and designate 

 what agricultural lands are first-class and what agricultural 

 lands are second-class, and what lands contain merchantable 

 timber, and any such lands which he finds are only fit for the 

 production of timber, shall, if the contiguous tracts are of 

 sufficient area for economical administration for forestry pur- 

 poses, without further legislation by him be set apart and 

 become for the time being forest reserves, and be adminis- 

 tered by the Minnesota State Forestry Board or such other 

 organization as the legislature may prescribe. 



Section 3. To carry this act into effect there is hereby ap- 

 propriated the sum of sixty-five thousand ($65,000) dollars 

 or so much thereof as may be necessary. 



Mr. Boyle, Chairman of the Senate Public Lands Committee, 

 later informed me, to my regret and surprise, that the com- 

 mittee thought it not advisable to introduce the bill, and it 

 was not introduced. 



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