534 MINNESOTA STATE FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 



average of twenty-five large counties in Western Minnesota, in which 

 timber-planting may be regarded as an urgent necessity. These three 

 counties, with an area of about 1,198,280 acres, had, in all, but 1,279 

 acres of scattered timber, or about one-tenth of an acre of timber to 

 one hundred acres of prairie. 



The necessity of taking some measures for the encouragement of 

 j)lanting was urged upon the legislature by Governor Davis in the win- 

 ter of 1874, and a bill was introduced in the senate by Senator Donnelly, 

 providing for a system of forest-tree culture, and the appointment of a 

 State commissioner to supervise the work of p'anting a thousand miles 

 of the leading highways with quick-growing timber. This passed the 

 Senate, but was lost in the House. 



This delay did not dishearten those who realized the great public 

 necessity involved, and two years after the discussion resulted in a 

 manner somewhat differently from that first intended, but perhaps quite 

 as directly toward the accomplishment of its main purpose, iu the 

 organization of the 



Minnesota IState Forestry Association. 



This, the first, and hitherto the only State forestry association within 

 the United States, was formed at Saint Paul, January 12, 187G, in pur- 

 suance of a call signed by many leading citizens of the State, who 

 realized the importance of taking effectual measures for protecting the 

 existing timber resources of the State, and of making provision against 

 future wants. At the first meeting, held January 11, a committee, con- 

 sisting of Gen. George L. Becker, Ex Gov. William R. Marshall, 

 Leonard B, Hodges, Prof. Charles Y. Lacy, William Elliott, L. M. Ford, 

 and Prof. William W. Folwell, was appointed to draught a constitu- 

 tion, which was adopted the next day at an adjourned session, a's fol- 

 lows : 



Constitution of the Minnesota State Forestry Assodaiion. 



Article I. This society shall be known .as the Minnesota State Forestry Association. 



Art. II. The object of this association shall be the encouragement and promotion of 

 forest-culture by the collection and ditiusion of practical information on that subject, 

 and by the discussion of all questions pertaining thereto; to secure the general ob- 

 servance of Arbor Day throughout the State, and to promote the ultimate redemption 

 of the treeless regions of Minnesota. 



Art. III. The officers of this association shall consist of a president, one vice-presi- 

 dent from each Congressional district, a secretary, a treasurer, and an executive com- 

 ikiittee, consisting of the president, secretary, and five elective members. 



Art. IV. The presideut shall preside over all meetings of the societj', and deliver an 

 annual address on the subject of forest-culture in Minnesota. 



Art. V. In the absence of the presideut, his duties shall devolve upon the vice- 

 presidents in their regular order. 



Art. VI. The secretary shall record all transactions of the society ; shall collate, 

 edit, and prepare all work for the press; shall receive and answer all commuuicatiotia 

 addressed to the society; shall establsh and maintain correspondence with similar 

 associations, and secure by exchange their transactions as far as possible. He shall 

 give full and general notice of all meetings of this society through the public press of 

 the State. He shall report and submit to the annual meeting of the society all matter 

 that has come into his possession, which, with its approval, shall become a part of the 

 transactions of the society. He shall receive and pay over all moneys received from 

 members or otherwise to the treasurer, from whom he shall take a receipt therefor. 



Art. VII. The treasurer shall collect and be held responsible for all funds of the 

 society, and shall disburse the same only on the order of the execnUve committee. 



Art. VIII. The officers of this society shall be elected annually by ballot, and shall 

 hold their offices until their successors shall bo elected. 



Art. IX. Every member shall be entitled to copies of the transactions of the society, 

 as often as the same shall be published, .and it shall be the duty of the secretary to 

 forward the same to each member by mail, express, or otherwise, immediately after 

 publication. 



