68 Third Annual Report of the 



The Forest Preserve is, at the present time, somewhat of a 

 luxury. It is difficult to compute its cost because nearly one-half 

 has been acquired through the non-payment of taxes. It is fair 

 to assume, however, that it represents an investment of approxi- 

 mately four million dollars. The interest on this amount at 5 

 per cent, is $200,000 per year. The taxes which the State pays 

 upon this land amount to $150,000 per year. The cost of fire 

 protection and administration is approximately $15,000 per year; 

 therefore, the total annual carrying; charge is not less than 

 $365,000 per year. The cost of fire protection at the present time 

 is not over one-half of a mill per dollar of valuation, which is 

 insufficient. None of these charges is reducible. 



The utilization of the ripe timber would change this deficit of 

 $365,000 per year into a net revenue of $635,000. 



During the past few years there has been agitation for legis- 

 lation tending towards State control of cutting of forests on pri- 

 vate land. There is no doubt that some operators are sacrificing 

 their forests for present needs, and are cutting trees of too small 

 sizes, a practice which results not only in a loss to themselves but 

 in injury to the State. Their argument is that they have large 

 mills and investments which require the raw material. The regu- 

 lation of cutting on private lands would necessarily reduce the 

 supply which the mills are securing at the present time. If their 

 argument holds, the securing of a supply of raw material from 

 State land would enable them to lumber their lands more conserva- 

 tively and thus, instead of having State lands with large and 

 overmature forests and, at the same time private holdings which 

 have to a certain extent been severely cut, the result would be that 

 the entire territory would be lumbered conservatively, better 

 forests would be maintained over larger areas, and the entire pro- 

 duction of timber would be increased. 



The Constitution also prohibits the leasing of camp sites. 

 There are in the Forest Preserve over 400 miles of suitable camp- 

 ing sites around lakes and ponds. There is enough for the rich 

 and the poor, the transient and the permanent camper. If a 

 portion of these shores could be leased, a large additional revenue 

 would be secured and, at the same time better fire protection would 

 result. It has been demonstrated beyond a doubt that a perma- 



