of management. An annual tax of five mills on the dollar is 

 permitted under this law for the purpose of procuring and 

 maintaining municipal forests. 



The state forester is now a member of the board of timber 

 commissioners. Chapter 383 provides that the governor, the 

 state forester the state treasurer, the state auditor and the 

 attorney general, shall make up the timber board. In passing 

 this law the legislature recognize the need of expert advice in 

 the sale and disposal of the state's timber. Heretofore, the 

 matter has been in the hands of the other four officers named. 



Itasca State Park Favored. 



One of the most important measures passed by the legisla- 

 ture in this field was the one providing for the purchase of 

 land and timber in Itasca state park. Chapter 531 provides 

 for the issuance of certificates of indebtedness amounting to 

 $250,000 for this purpose. The forestry board to secure by 

 "gift, purchase or condemnation," all lands and timber in the 

 park not now owned by the state. It was a surprise to many 

 legislators to learn that the state did not own all of the state 

 oak at the headwaters of the Mississippi. 



The management of Itasca State Park is placed in the hands 

 of the forestry board under the provisions of Chapter 559 of 

 the new laws. The board is authorized to appoint the cus- 

 todian of Douglas lodge and to lease the property upon such 

 terms as shall be agreed upon by the board and the persons 

 so employed. The board is given the right to prescribe the 

 rates to be charged to the public, etc. The board can also ap- 

 point a superintendent of the park. The sum of $250 was ap- 

 propriated for the building of a kitchen at Douglas lodge. The 

 forestry board is given general supervision and control over 

 the game and fish in the park, and is directed to take the nec- 

 essary steps for the protection of the same. 



In order to make the state park more attractive the sum 

 of $5,000 was appropriated for the purchase of a herd of elk 

 to be placed in a reserve there. The elk in Minnesota have 

 practically disappeared and the purpose is to reinstate the 

 species. The elk will likely be purchased from the govern- 



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