I. 



A NEW BOND ISSUE FOE THE FOEEST PEESEEVE 



With the appropriation by the Legislature of 1922 of the last 

 two and a half millions of the $7,500,000 bond issue authorized 

 in 1916 for the enlargement of the State Forest Preserve, the 

 question of providing for a continuance of the policy of Forest 

 Preserve extension now comes before the people. 



The policy of the Conservation Commission in acquiring 

 forest lands which has been followed for a number of years is 

 as follows: 



1. To protect steep slopes of forested mountains by 

 acquiring the land in order to prevent lumbering. 



2. To acquire forests which might be lumbered where 

 consequent to such operations, there will be an unusual 

 fire risk. 



3. To reduce administrative expenses and consolidate 

 ownership. 



4. To maintain and increase the health, recreational and 

 game interests. 



5. To reduce cost of litigation in protecting the state's 

 title to land in dispute. 



During the past few years land of various kinds and types 

 has been acquired. Large sums of money have been expended 

 in acquiring virgin forests on steep slopes, which are very ex- 

 pensive on account of the large amount of pulpwood which 

 could be taken therefrom; areas which are of particular use for 

 recreation purposes have been acquired at different elevations; 

 areas of burned land have been acquired at a nominal price 

 to consolidate ownership, save the expense of boundary line 

 surveys and solidify the state's ownership. Some areas have 

 been acquired with rights to cut timber of merchantable size 

 and thus assured the state large areas of desirable land at a 

 low price. 



Prior to the bond issue authorized in 1916, the state had 

 appropriated about $4,000,000 for land purchase for the Forest 

 Preserve. Funds became available under the bond issue in 1917. 

 Between that time and January 1, 1922, about $5,600,000 had 

 been expended or contracted to be expended under the bond 

 issue for land purchases, including cost of surveys, legal ex- 

 penses, etc. These figures are necessarily approximate, because 

 some of the estimated expenditures are for lands which are to 



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