384 ECONOMICS OF FORESTRY. 



Usually, as a result of this associated private 

 effort, various states have appointed forestry com- 

 missions or commissioners. These commissions 

 were at first for the most part instituted for in- 

 quiry and to make a report, upon which a forest 

 pohcy for the state might be framed. Others 

 have become permanent parts of the state organ- 

 ization with executive or educational functions. 

 Such commissions of inquiry were appointed at 

 various times in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, 

 Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsyl- 

 vania, North Carolina, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, 

 North Dakota, Colorado, California; while com- 

 missioners or commissions with executive duties 

 exist now or did exist for a time in Maine, New 

 Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, 

 Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana, Kansas, North Da- 

 kota, Colorado, and California. 



Maine has an efficient forest fire law (chap. 26 of 

 Revised Statutes) based on that of the state of 

 New York, and a forest commissioner (created in 

 1 89 1, Public Laws, chap. 100) — the state land 

 agent of the state being ex officio designated as 

 such — to look to its execution. He is also to 

 create an interest in forestry and furnish useful 

 information on the subject. 



Two very interesting and instructive reports on 

 the growth of the spruce and on alHed subjects 

 are the result. 



New Hampshire had a temporary commission of 



