ill the State is agriculture but without wood agricul- 

 ture would stop. Considering all the wood used by all 

 other industries the farmer is still the largest wood 

 consumer. He uses fifty per cent of all the wood 

 and a major portion of our lumber. What a prob- 

 lem we have before us if we let timber depletion 

 overcome us. Even today we feel the effect of timber 

 shortage. Is it any wonder that a state importing 

 millions of dollars' worth of timber from points 1500 

 miles away should feel the effect of depending upon 

 other states for one of its important commodities? 



It is high time we took the forest question serious- 

 ly. Why not restore Minnesota to the place it once 

 held as a lumber producer? Why not make our idle 

 acres iwork and contribute once more to the wealth, 

 prosperity and beauty of Minnesota. We cannot get 

 along without wood yet we seem to have neglected 

 to do anything that would assure us of a future 

 supply. 



The first important step the State must take be- 

 fore forestry can be practiced is to prevent forest 

 fires. This takes money. A larger field force must be 

 available so, that fires may be put out when small. 

 This year over 900 fires were discovered and 

 none of them were uncontrollable. This suc- 

 cessful year was the direct result of having at 

 our disposal sufficient funds that could be utilized 

 in an emergency to combat just such a danger. This 

 successful year was not due to helpful weather con- 

 ditions, mut on the other hand conditions were more 

 ideal for great fires. The fires ^vvere more threat- 



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