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been any trees cut off unless you see the tops and stumps; denuding 

 follows where railroads go and where fires go, where they make a 

 clean sweep of it; hard wood is no use at all in a primeval forest if 

 you cut it down, for it would sink in the streams instead of floating. 



Q. Your opinion is and was that $100,000 worth a year was taken 

 from the State land for some years before the organization of the 

 commission ? 



A. Yes, sir. 



Q. For how many years ? 



A. I suppose since they began to want any wood; they have been 

 stealing ever since they got up there. 



Q. Is it your opinion that there was $100,000 worth a year stolen 

 for ten years before the formation of the commission? 



A. Yes, sir. 



Q. How many acres did they have there at the time this commission 

 was formed? , 



A. Just about 700,000 all together; I think if we work judiciously, 

 and are allowed to do something in the way of selling soft wood, we 

 could get an income of $100,000. 



, Q. You think there was as much damage done there by fires as by 

 thieves previous to the formation' of the commission? 



A. Well, I don't know but what there was; you see some localities 

 there where it is all cleaned; take twenty-five miles square and there 

 is nothing but raspberries and huckleberry bushes; I will tell you 

 something more about our duties; it is our duty to plant those 

 denuded lots. 



Q. Have you done it? 



A. No, sir; the Legislature wouldn't give us any money to do it; we 

 want to do it. 



By Mr. Anibal : 

 Q. You would if you had the money ? 



A. I don't say that, but I say we would like to; we would make an 

 attempt to do it if we had the money. 



By Chairman Ryan : 



Q. Have you made any effort since you have been in office up to 

 feist fall to add anything to the State land ? 



A. Yes, sir; I tried to get the Legislature to favor the buying of 

 any cheap land for the last four years; when this $25,000 was appro- 

 priated I tried to get that to be interest instead of principal, so there 

 would be something to be paid each year, and we could have bonded 



