REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF FISHERIES, GAME AND FORESTS. 355 



The acquisition of lands has proceeded cautiously and slowly. Unfortunately, the 

 State did not embrace the opportunity, when it existed, of acquiring these lands at a 

 low price, and although purchases have hitherto been made in most instances at a 

 reasonable enough figure, the delay has had three undesirable consequences, namely : 

 first, to raise prices ; secondly, to allow a further decrease of virgin forest lands and 

 deterioration of the same by wasteful logging; and thirdly, to allow large tracts to be 

 bought up by private individuals and clubs for game preserves. While at first sight 

 the passing of lands into conservative private ownership does not appear objection- 

 able, inasmuch as the object of the State, namely — a conservative treatment of the 

 forest cover — may as a rule be expected from such owners, there is no absolute 

 assurance of the continuance of such conservative treatment. Besides, not only would 

 public ownership of the whole give more satisfaction to the people at large, but in the 

 administration of its property the State could only be benefited by a consolidation of 

 the same and the elimination of interspersed properties. Consolidation and uni- 

 formity of administration is perhaps more desirable in forest properties than in other 

 properties. Take alone protection against fires. A careless neighbor's neglect in 

 preventing the many causes of conflagration puts to naught the effort of the more 

 careful. Again, accessibility and means of transportation are of first importance, 

 while foreign possessory rights might often hinder the development of most desirable 

 means of transportation. 



Even now the State would not make a mistake, financially or otherwise, if it were 

 to settle the ownership question at once, and acquire without further delay the balance 

 of what it intends finally to own. 



Administrative Problems. 



The next problem is that of the administration of the property. At first a forest 

 commission of three unpaid commissioners was charged with this duty of the "care, 

 custody, control and superintendence of the forest preserve," and the law declared 

 that "it shall be the duty of the Commission to maintain and protect the forests now 

 on the forest preserve, and to promote as far as practicable the further growth of 

 forests thereon " ; also, to " have charge of the public interests of the State with 

 regard to forests and tree planting, and especially with reference to forest fires in 

 every part of the State." 



In 1893 the number of the Commissioners was increased to five, with additional 

 powers as to acquisition and lease of lands, and especially the specific power, with 

 certain restrictions, "to sell the standing spruce, tamarack and poplar timber, the 

 fallen timber and the timber injured by blight or fire." Another change was made 



