THE PINE INVESTIGATION. 325 



NO ACTION TAKEN BY THE LEGISLATURE. 



No action was taken by the Legislature in the matter refer- 

 red to in this letter, and it was therefore determined to accom- 

 plish everything that could be done with such funds as were 

 available, and on March 29th, 1893, the following letter was 

 addressed to lumber companies : 



LETTER TO TIMBER COMPANIES. 



"No doubt you will be interested to know how the experiment regard- 

 ing the introduction of the European beetles is progressing. I have to 

 say that the specimens I brought over have survived the winter and are 

 now alive and in good condition. We have been corresponding with our 

 German collectors and have arranged to have as many more of the insects 

 collected and forwarded to us as the available funds will allow. I am also 

 making arrangements to carry on the work of distributing them during 

 the latter part of April and May. 



In distributing these beneficial insects, it is my desire to use special care 

 in placing them where they will most likely accomplish the greatest good 

 in the shortest time ; that is, in my opinion, where the destructive pine 

 bark beetles are just commencing their attack on a body of valuable tim- 

 ber which has heretofore been healthy. Therefore, you will aid us very 

 materially in maturing the plans for the campaign by informing us at 

 your earliest convenience of the points on your company's property which 

 in your opinion would be the most desirable for me to visit for the pur- 

 pose stated. 



Ill-health and accumulating duties in my department due to my ab- 

 sence in Europe prevented my visiting the properties of any of the con- 

 tributors last fall. However, if my health permits, I am determined to 

 spare no pains in carrying on the work this spring and to accomplish all 

 that is possible for us to do towards making the experiment a success. 



Owing to the widely separated forests to be visited in different sections 

 of the State, much time must necessarily be occupied in travel, there- 

 fore, any arrangements you can make which would expedite my investi- 

 gations in your forests will contribute largely towards our carrying on the 

 work to the best advantage. 



It will probably not be advisable for us to attempt to do much before 

 the middle of April, especially in the mountain districts, but it is my de- 

 sire to have the plans sufficiently matured that work will progress rapidly 

 after it is once commenced. 



While the Legislature failed to aid in this move, sufficient contributions 

 have been volunteered to enable us to accomplish considerable work, if 

 all goes well. 



Trusting that we may hear from you at an early date, I am," 



Respectfully, 



(Signed) A. D. HOPKINS. 



Satisfactory and encouraging replies to this letter were re- 

 ceived and in April, the companies were notified of the dates 

 on which I would visit their forests for the purpose 01 placing 

 the first colonies of the insests and giving instructions for the 

 placing of subsequent sendings as received from Europe. 



