with 60,000 feet of timber growing thereon, for $450, making a total 

 of $41,772.55 expended for land and timber. The land purchased 

 is estimated to contain a total of over 4,000,000 feet of standing 

 timber, mostly large, thrifty Norway pine, situated along the lake 

 shores and drives, where it is conspicuous and especially desirable. 



There still remain about 5,500 acres of private holdings within 

 the Park limits which the State should acquire as soon as may be. 

 Of this land the Pine Tree Lumber Company of Little Kails owns 

 3,300 acres, which it has offered to donate to the State, together 

 with all hardwoods growing thereon, and all the cone bearing trees 

 under eight inches in diameter, provided that the said Company 

 can have ten years, free from taxes on the timber, in which to re- 

 move it. At the appraiser's price for land and timber in Itasca 

 Park, it is estimated by experts that this is equivalent to a gift of 

 at least $33,000 to the State. The taxes exempted would probably 

 be less than $10,000 if held for ten years. As it is desirable to hold 

 this forest cover on the land for a considerable time, in order to 

 secure good seedage of the ground, we recommend that the Legis- 

 lature provide for the acceptance of this offer of the Pine Tree 

 Lumber Company. This Company will also permit the Forestry 

 Board to buy such groves of trees skirting the lake shores as may 

 seem most necessary for the best development of the Park. This 

 is a very important concession, as it is extremely improbable that 

 the State will purchase all of the standing timber within this area. 

 The Board has already arranged to purchase about one million 

 feet of standing timber in this way. 



The following is a financial statement of the total cost and the 

 present value of the State holdings within the Park: 



Dr. 



Amount paid to commissioners to Nov. i, 1908 $8,058.30 



For purchase of lands to Nov. 13, 1908 101,336.89 



Buildings in 1895-6 1,000.00 



House (Douglas Lodge) 1904-6 11,646.35 



Improvements, including outlay, Douglas Lodge 6,175.68 



Platforms 280.00 



Tree Planting 202.50 



Fire Protection 432.31 



Mary Creek 177-75 



Firebreaks 1,980.18 



$131,289.96 



