FOREST CONDITIONS IN TENNESSEE. 39 



PROPOSED LEGISLATION. 



The legislation in regard to forestry now on the statute books is 

 of a very scattered nature. In addition to the fire law, it consists 

 chiefly in giving investigative functions to three different depart- 

 ments the State Geological Survey, the Department of Game, Fish, 

 and Forestry, and the Commissioner of Agriculture. It is time to 

 consider what legislation is needed in order to unify and round out 

 a consistent and complete forest law. It is believed that forestry 

 education and forest fire protection are of sufficient importance to 

 warrant the creation of a new department or State Board of For- 

 estry. Accordingly, a plan of legislation is outlined upon this basis. 

 In case it does not seem practicable to adopt this policy, it would be 

 of great advantage to make a special appropriation for the con- 

 tinuation of forest investigations under the direction of the State 

 Geological Survey, either independently or in cooperation with the 

 Federal Forest Service. 



The proposed Board of Forestry should be so constituted that it 

 will be free from politics and fitted to take charge of scientific and 

 educational work. Therefore, it is suggested that the board con- 

 sist of the Governor, the State Commissioner of Agriculture, State 

 Geo ] ogist, State Game Warden, Director of the Tennessee Agricul- 

 tural Experiment Station, and two timber land owners, to be ap- 

 pointed by the Governor, one of whom shall be a manufacturing 

 lumberman. The members should serve without compensation ex- 

 cept for necessary expenses. 



This board should direct the promotion of the forest interests of 

 the State, and should make a biennial report to the Legislature 

 showing the nature and extent of the work accomplished. It should 

 employ a State Forester, who should be a graduate of a reputable 

 forest school, and a man of experience and ability in his profession. 

 His duties should include (1) the organization of a fire protective 

 force and the administration of the fire laws; (2) the administra- 

 tion of State forests for demonstration and experimental purposes ; 

 (3) educational work, such as lecturing on forestry and related 

 subjects before farmers' institutes and other public meetings, and 

 the publication of bulletins; and (4) scientific investigations with 

 a view to increasing the knowledge of the forest resources of the 

 State and to finding out the methods of forest management best 

 suited to local conditions in different sections. 



(1) The forestry law of 1907 provides for a system of fire pro- 

 tection under the office of the State Game Warden, giving the 



