388 ECONOMICS OF FORESTRY. 



ing annual reports are described in the laws of 

 1895, namely, to (i) have the care, custody, control, 

 and superintendence of the forest preserve ; (2) 

 maintain, protect, and promote the growth of the 

 forests in the preserve ; (3) have charge of the 

 public interests of the state in regard to forestry 

 and tree-planting, and especially with reference to 

 forest fires in every part of the state ; (4) possess 

 all the powers relating to the preserve which were 

 vested in the commissioners of the land office and 

 in the comptroller on May 15, 1885 ; (5) prescribe 

 rules and regulations affecting the whole or any 

 part of the preserve for its use, care, and adminis- 

 tration, and alter or amend the same ; but neither 

 such rules or regulations nor anything contained 

 in this article shall prevent or operate to prevent 

 the free use of any road, stream, or water as the 

 same may have been heretofore used, or as may 

 be reasonably required in the prosecution of any 

 lawful business ; (6) take measures for the awaken- 

 ing of an interest in forestry in the schools and 

 the imparting of elementary instruction on such 

 subject therein, and issue tracts and circulars for 

 the care of private woodlands, etc. ; (7) print and 

 post rules for the prevention and suppression of 

 forest fires. 



In singular antagonism to these duties, especially 

 that which calls for the promotion of the growth 

 of forests in the preserve, stands a provision in 

 the state constitution, which was inserted in 1893, 



