EEPOliT, 



INI'ROBUCJTION. 



HHhi Under'sigued, having "been appoiflted Commissioners, un'der th« pro- 

 Visions of a law of tlie State of Wisconsin, entitled " an act relating to tho 

 ^growth of forest trees," approved March 23, ISBY, to ascertain and report in 

 'detail to tli« legislature a't its next session certain facts and opinions relating 

 to the injift-ious 'effects of cleaning the land of forests upon the climate ; the 

 'the evil conse^iiences to the present and futui'e inhabitants ; the dutyof the 

 state in regard to the matter ; what experiments should be made to perfect 

 our knowledge of thfe gro'wth and proper managenient of forest trees ; the 

 best method of preventing the evil effects of theiT desttuction ; wh&t sub^ 

 ■Btitutes for wood can be found in tfhe state ; and gfenerally such facts as may 

 be deemed most useful to persons xiesirous of preserving or increasing the 

 growth of forest and other trees in this state — have complied with the duties 

 thus linposed upon them, as well as the liitited titoe and want of adequate 

 'means would allow, and now have the honor to su'bmit the following report: 



NBOESSiTT Of TREES. 



Both past history and present experience show that a country destitute xif 

 forests us well as one entirely ooVfered with them is only suited to the condi- 

 tion of a barbarous or semi-barbaTous people. Deprive a people of the com- 

 forts and conveniences derived directly or indi't^ctly from forest products, 

 and they soon revfett to barbarisifi. It is only *here a due proportion be- 

 tween the cultivatfed land iind the forests is maintained that man can attain 

 and enjoy his higher civilisation. 



It would seem to be the ;part of wisdoto in a state, as well as with indi'vid- 

 'uals, to profit by the expertence of othfers, in the present and in past time, 

 'to imitate their good works and to avoid their evil doings. 



For it seems to be esteiblished as a 'fiict that a country entirely covered ' 

 with dfense timber, as well as one destitute of trees, are.each inhabited by 

 savages. As heavy forests are remorfed and the country is brought under 

 culture, civilization advances until a certain breadth of plowing and pastur- 

 age is reached ; but if the removal of trees advances beyond that extent, so 

 that the country is denuded of its trees, barbarism equally ferocious as in 

 the timbered region again aets in. In the one case th6 savage men^ desti- 



