24 Third Annual Report of the 



If it were possible to classify the Forest Preserve by areas, part 

 to be protective, and part to be used for wood production, the 

 needs of the present and the future would be far better conserved 

 than can be done under the terms of a Constitution adopted two 

 decades ago, excellent in its intent, and which admirably served 

 its purpose, but which should now be modified to meet greatly 

 changed economic and general conditions, and especially to 

 coincide with modern thought along the lines of scientific forestry. 



Cutting should be confined to selected trees, under State in- 

 spection, and all sales should be by competitive bidding. Such a 

 plan would yield a direct revenue to the State of $1,000,000 per 

 annum (250,000,000 feet, the annual forest crop now going to 

 waste, at an average of $4 per thousand stumpage), to say nothing 

 of increased business and employment to labor; and so far from 

 injuring the forests, we now know scientific forestry and selective 

 cutting to be their salvation. 



Utilization of Ripe Timber 



Estimating the fixed carrying charges to the State of the 

 Forest Preserve at $365,000 per annum, the proposed utilization 

 of ripe timber would wipe out this deficit and substitute a net 

 annual income of $635,000. 



We therefore renew our recommendations of last year, for the 

 utilization of ripe timber; and also for the removal of dead and 

 down timber within the Forest Preserve. 



Leasing of Camp Sites 

 For like reasons — benefit to the Forest Preserve, better admin- 

 istration, and revenue possibilities — we renew our recommenda- 

 tions for the leasing of camp sites within the Preserve, and for 

 the assembling, under the jurisdiction of this Commission, of the 

 130,000 acres of State land, in small, scattered parcels, at present 

 serving no useful purpose to the State or to any department 

 thereof. Much of this land might be judiciously reforested, while 

 other parcels might be leased. 



Reforestation 



The total number of trees supplied to private owners and to 

 State institutions for reforestation, since 1908, when the State 



