FOREST POLICY. 



2. Physiography: Plains are unsheltered from the north. 

 There are low hill ranges near the Canadian line, i. e., Turtle 

 Mountains. The Missouri, after taking in the Yellowstone 

 River, runs eastward and then southward through the State. 

 The Red River of the North forms the boundary towards 

 Minnesota. 



3. Distribution: All river bottoms show disconnected 

 groups of burr oak (macrocarpa), sycamore, Cottonwood, box 

 elder and green ash. The low northern mountains contain cot- 

 tonwoods mainly. 



4. Forest ownership: Several thousand acres (40,000?) of 

 artificial forest planted under the timber culture act. 



5. Use: Hardwoods used for firewood. Near Canadian 

 line, wood is worth $1.50 per cord. Building timber obtained 

 from Minnesota. Twelfth census reports 4 saw mills of $2,000 

 average capital. Logs worth $1 on stump and $5 at mill. No 

 pulp and no leather industry. 



6. Forestry movement: An association formed in 1887 

 seems to have died since. The timber culture act gave rise to 

 enthusiastic but mostly unsuccessful planting. Arbor Day move- 

 ment since 1884. Much interest in forest planting maintained by 

 the press. 



7. Laws: A bounty of $2 annually to everyone planting 

 one acre or more in trees. A plantation of five acres exempts 

 a quarter section, plus $1,000 worth of improvements, from taxa- 

 tion for ten years. Usual prairie fire laws. Owner must fire his 

 land in March, April or May, and give 24 hours' notice of his 

 intention to do so to all people living within one mile. 



8. Reservations: None. 



9. Irrigation: Possibility of reclamation along main Mis- 

 souri River is limited. 



The irrigated area, in 1899, aggregated less than 5.000 acres, 

 yielding crops worth $28,000. 



Only $18,000 has been spent for irrigation systems up to 

 1899. 



FORESTRY CONDITIONS OF OHIO: 



I. Area: Originally entire State was wooded. Forest 

 area statistics are annually derived from data furnished by tax 



74 



