Soil Survey Bill is Killed 



LAST November the people of the state of Minnesota 

 amended the constitution to make possible the setting 

 aside of non-agricultural state lands for state forests. 

 On March 18, the state senate acted upon the bill calling for 

 a soil survey, the preliminary step to taking advantage of the 

 amendment. The senate adopted the report of its finance 

 committee which was to the effect that the bill be indefinitely 

 postponed. 



The action of the senate means simply this: Although the 

 people of the state passed the amendment, the legislators do 

 not think that any steps should be taken at this time to take 

 advantage thereof. 



Forestry advocates and agricultural experts were of one 

 opinion that the first step was that a soil survey should be 

 taken by agricultural men. Those lands belonging to the 

 state that were found to be absolutely unfit for agriculture 

 could then be set aside for forests as provided in the amend- 

 ment the people ratified. 



Senator Holmberg introduced the bill in the senate. It 

 called for an expenditure of approximately $20,000 during the 

 next two years and a half. 



The senate finance committee, to which the bill was re- 

 ferred, decided that the measure could wait at least another 

 two years. 



Those who worked hard for the passage of the amendment 

 No. 9, may feel a sense of disappointment at the action of the 

 senate. It means that the proposition must lie as it is for at 

 least two years more. The house will undoubtedly let the 

 matter rest where it is. 



With the amending of the constitution, however, much was 

 gained. The amendment is there and can be taken advan- 

 tage of at a later date. 



A soil survey now is out of the question until another leg- 

 islature meets. 



