28 EXTENSION 



THE NEW FORESTRY LAW. 



In discussing the new forestry law it may not be out of place 

 to briefly review the enactments that have gone before this and 

 which sought to deal with the forestry problem in our State. 



Our State constitution is unique in that it calls for the enact- 

 ment of laws to conserve the forests. 



In 1884 The State Forestry Association was organized. 



In 1885 a Forest Commissioner "soon without a salary," Mr. 

 E. T. Ensign, was the first and only person to fill this position. 

 The reports which he made while acting in the capacity of Forest 

 Commissioner were equal to any and superior to many that are 

 now being published in other states. Had Mr. Ensign received 

 the financial support in his work which its importance warranted, 

 the history of forestry in Colorado would certainly read differently 

 from what it now does. Under this law, the Count}' Commission- 

 ers and the road overseers were to act as conservators of woodlands 

 in their respective localities. 



In 1897, State forests placed under supervision of a department 

 of Forestry, Fish, and Game. Inside of two years, the forestry 

 part of this arrangement had been lost from view. 



In 1901 a law was passed relative to campers' and hunters' 

 licenses, for all persons outside their home county. 



In 1903, an Act was passed making the sheriffs and deputies 

 forest fire wardens in each respective county. 



In 1904, two political platforms are said to have contained 

 planks on State Forestry. 



In 1905, The State Board of Land Commissioners was en- 

 trusted with the sale of timber from State lands. 



In 1908, the Governor, upon request of the President of the 

 United States, appointed the members of the Colorado Conserva- 

 tion Commission. 



It has been largely through the efforts of this Commission that 

 the present forestry bill has been framed and enacted. This in 

 itself is, I feel, a sufficient guarantee that the men who are truly 

 concerned with conservation in our State are behind the matter 

 and will not see it come to naught. 



( Mrief Abstract of the Law See p^gc /). 



THE WORK AT PRESEXT OUTLINED. 



A. FIRE CONTROL. Pre-eminent among the duties imposed 

 upon tin- State Forester by this Act is the protection of the State's 

 forests from the fire menace. 



Although the law of 1903 makes it the duty of the sheriffs 

 of each county to fight the forest fires within their jurisdiction, 



