Merchantable Timber Worth $975,000,000 to the State. 



Among the interesting facts contained in the report is 

 the statement of Minnesota's forest resources. In spite of 

 the ravages of legitimate lumbering and inexcusable fire loss, 

 she still has the greatest forests of any state east of the 

 Rocky Mountains. They are spread over 28,000,000 acres and 

 contain approximately 75,000,000,000 feet of merchantable 

 timber, with a value to the people of the state equivalent to 

 $975,000,000. Quite a considerable portion of this is made up 

 of hard woods located in the southern portion of the state. 



This report as a whole is a very good record of the year's 

 work of the State Forest Service a virile record of the 

 achievement of things worth while and contains most val- 

 uable information. Its honest striving for the welfare of the 

 state and its pointed calls to the needs of the future should 

 enlist the sympathy and support of every true patriot. It is 

 a true, manly appeal which every one should heed. If the 

 forester can attain the goal he sets up for himself in this 

 first report, the conservation of Minnesota's forest wealth is 

 assured. There are a number of good photographs illustrat- 

 ing the text very well. 



Only Three Pitifully Small Tracts Controlled By Forester. 



It is to be regretted that more space in the report cannot 

 be given to the "State Forests." That, however, is not the 

 fault of the report, but due to the lack of "Forests." Out of 

 more than two million acres of forested land actually owned 

 by the state, only three pitifully small tracts are under the 

 control of the forester. Millions of acres are wasting away 

 in idleness, either in the possession of the state itself or of 

 private parties. Moreover, large areas of non-agricultural 

 lands are constantly reverting to the state for non-payment of 

 taxes, to be bought up by the speculator, who alone profits 

 in the subsequent sales and resales to unsuspecting purchas- 

 ers. These lands should be producing valuable timber crops. 

 It is to be hoped that the great state of Minnesota will soon 

 turn over some of them to the State Forester, so that they 

 can be cared for in a business like manner, thus adding, with 

 productiveness, to the wealth of the state. 



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