18 STATE OP MICHIGAN. 



basins of our streams is the surest way to secure immunity from the 

 extremes of flood an ddrought.. In. this idea there is nothing antagonistic 

 to the best information we have with regard to the conditions which sub- 

 serve successful agriculture, for we find it not only desirable, but of great 

 importance, that a reasonable proportion of the land shall be perma- 

 nently in forest growth, that the best condition to subserve agricultural 

 firoperty shall prevail. 



Incidentally, the attention of the commission was called to one result 

 of a clean sweep of the forest from the areas drained bj' our leading rivers, 

 which permits in springtime the rapid movement of tremendous volumes 

 of water from the sources of these streams to the great reservoirs. This 

 produces erosion of the soil and carries great quantities of it to fill up 

 our harbors, which each year require large outlays that they may be of 

 service in connection with the carrying trade. 



You will observe from these illustrations that auxiliary questions arise 

 in connection with the investigations of the Forestry Commission of tre- 

 mendous moment in connection with the future of our State. The mem- 

 bers of the commission are impressed with the vital questions that are 

 involved in the duties with which they are charged. 



^Ye feel encouraged by the action of the last IvCgislature, which provided 

 a small forest reserve to be developed as an object lesson. We are im- 

 pressed, however, with the necessity of arousing the representatives of the 

 people to a thorough understanding of the far-reaching influence which 

 pertains to a business consideration of the vast area of tax lands which 

 have come into the custody of the State. The utilization of these lands 

 (or such portions of them as are found least valuable in the prosecution 

 of agriculture) for the purposes of producing valuable forest products, to 

 be used in the maintenance of our most important industries, and incident- 

 ally to conserve great values in the State, which, under our habit of forest 

 destruction, will be irrevocably lost, is of vast importance. 



Having this view strongly impressed upon our minds, we shall submit, 

 in connection with this report, certain suggestions concerning legislation 

 which will deal with these lands in a manner best calculated to subserve 

 the great interests bound up in the future of our commonwealth. The 

 Forestry Commission, after mature deliberation, is convinced that these 

 tax lands, which are subject to be deeded to the State under the statute, 

 should be turned over to the Forestry Commission for piu-poses of careful 

 inventory, appraisement and assorting. As a result of this work, those 

 which are suited to the purposes of agriculture should, through the State 

 land ofiflce, be placed on sale, the minimum price per acre being $5; that 

 the balance of these lands should remain under the control and manage- 

 ment of the Forestry Commission, to be handled as forest reserve lands, 

 to be treated as a permanent State investment. These lands should be 

 handled with reference to developing a crop of timber to be dealt with after 

 the most approved methods of forest management. In suggesting this 

 plan, the commission has not in view the thought of segregating immense 

 areas of land in any one region to be devoted entirely to the production 

 of forest products, but rather the setting aside of lands not well adapted 

 to the prosecution of agriculture, wherever they may lie, for the produc- 

 tion of timber. There are many subsidiary questions that arise in con- 

 nection with this plan, which must be worked out by legislation in such 

 a way as to recognize the rights and interests of all the people. 



