TAX LANDS AND FORESTRY. 25 



statute under whicli this Commission is acting, that the report which is 

 called for would specifically define State forest reserves. But it will 

 become evident at once, upon consideration, that it is impossible for 

 this Commission to locate definitely the limits either of reserve dis- 

 tricts or of State forest reserves, because the first and essential condi- 

 tion that must determine the location of both is undergoing change from 

 day to day. Moreover, if the report of this Commission should define 

 reserve districts, it is quite certain that there would be a rush upon 

 the Land OflSce to acquire lands within those districts, either because of 

 the prospect of more adequate fire protection therein, or in order to 

 compel the State either to repurchase, or abandon the project of a 

 State reserve in that district. Moreover, the location and defining the 

 reserve districts and State forest reserves is a matter which ought not 

 to be determined solely by reference to the map. , Some considerable 

 examination in the field is highly desirable. It would seem an unwise 

 expenditure of money to make this examination, involving considerable 

 expense, in 'the face of the fact that, before the legislature meets, the 

 entire work may be made useless by a purchaser stepping in, and, under 

 the law in force, acquiring the land necessary to the creation of a re- 

 serve. No action can therefore be taken safely or wisely to definitely 

 fix the limits either of reserve districts or of forest reserves until after 

 the legislature shall have temporarily withdrawn all of the forfeited 

 tax land from sale or homestead entry. 



We therefore recommend that the Commission in charge of forestry 

 be authorized and directed to proceed with all convenient speed to locate 

 and define the boundaries of reserve districts, making selection (1) with 

 regard to the State land therein, which by reason of its lying in com- 

 paratively compact bodies is capable of being effectively and economically 

 administered; (2) with regard to having the State reserves as far as 

 practicable where they will contribute to the betterment of conditions 

 affecting streams and stream flow; and (3) with regard to bringing into 

 use for farms as much of the State land suitable therefor as is con- 

 sistent with the establishment of State reserves in manner aforesaid. 

 The statute should provide in substance as follows : All land within the 

 operation of this act and now owned, or which shall hereafter be ac- 

 quired by the State because of non-payment of taxes, and which is situ- 

 ated within any reserve district, is hereby designated as, and shall be, a 

 part of the State forest reserves; provided that not more than 20% of 

 the area of any county shall be included in the State forest reserves; 

 and provided that the Commission in charge of forestry may elect to 

 take over as a part of the State reserves any land in excess of the afore- 

 said limit which shall be acquired by the State, and, in lieu thereof, to 

 drop from the State forest reserves other land in the same county of 

 sufiScient area to reduce the State Forest Eeserves in the county to the 

 limit aforesaid. 



The Commission having (jharge of matters of forestry is authorized to 

 employ the necessary surveyors and others for the delimitation of re- 

 served districts; and to incur such expense for maps, surveys and other 

 purposes as may be necessary for the matters aforesaid in this section, 

 the same to be paid out of the general fund when audited and allowed 

 by the State Board of Auditors. 



