RERORT 



THE MINNESOTA STATE FORESTRY BOARD. 



TO THE LEGISLATURE OF MINNESOTA. 



The law of 1899 creating the State Forestry Board requires that 

 it shall report its doings and recommendations to the Legislature 

 at each session. 



The Forestry Board has been desirous of undertaking forestry 

 work in a way commensurate with the needs of the forestry situa- 

 tion, but has been handicapped by lack of means, and we feel that 

 the exigencies of the hour demand, and public sentiment will sup- 

 port, the coming Legislature in making sufficient appropriations to 

 put the work of this Board upon an effective basis. 



By act of the Legislature of 1907, Itasca Park was 

 Itasca Park, made a forest reserve and placed under the care of the 

 Forestry Board. This is a beautiful tract of 3,5 sec- 

 tions of land, located about Itasca Lake, the head of the Mississippi 

 River, and should be carefully preserved, so that future generations 

 may see in it a sample of the kind of forest vegetation that originally 

 covered a large portion of the State. It should also be made a 

 great demonstration forest and become an important game preserve. 

 The State's principal building in the park, known as Douglas 

 Lodge, overlooking Lake Itasca and in the midst of beautiful pine 

 forest, is built of logs in rustic style, contains a large sitting room 

 with open fireplace, and in all respects is well adapted to the enter- 

 tainment of visitors or guests. 



Soon after Itasca Park was made a forest reserve. 

 Land Purchase, the Forestry Board undertook to acquire by pur- 

 chase certain private holdings, but being unable 

 to agree with the owners, was compelled to resort to condemnation 

 proceedings to secure 497 acres, with the timber thereon, for which 

 it had to pay $41,322.55. It also purchased at private sale 40 acres. 



