22 REPORT OF THE 



removed or destroyed." Hence, the matured trees must be allowed to decay or be 

 blown down instead of converting them into money and using the proceeds for 

 forest improvement ; insect blight and fungal diseases must be permitted to 

 extend their ravages unchecked ; and timber that has been scorched by fire or 

 uprooted by windstorms cannot be sold or removed, but must remain in a tangled 

 slash until some chance fire clears the ground and causes further destruction to the 

 adjoining woodlands. 



True, some forestry work might be undertaken in the line of reforesting or 

 replanting some of the burned or denuded areas on the Preserve, for this would not 

 violate any constitutional restriction. But it would be expensive, and could be car- 

 ried on only in a small Avay as an experiment. A special appropriation would be 

 necessary, and it is doubtful whether the Legislature would grant it. 



In view of the well-established fact that a State forest can be made to yield a 

 permanent annual revenue, without any diminution of its area or impairment of its 

 protective functions, it is hoped that the people may consent in time to some modifi- 

 cation of the law, so that the public woodlands may be managed in accordance with 

 well-approved forestry methods, becoming thereby a source of profit instead of 

 expense. 



Worl^ing Plans. 



In order that the public might better understand the methods referred to and 

 their proposed application to the management of the State forests, it was deemed 

 advisable to have definite working plans made for some particular tract, a detailed 

 description of which, together with explanatory maps, could be printed and circu- 

 lated among the people. A favorable opportunity presented itself in the general 

 offer made by the Forestry Division of the United States Department of Agricul- 

 ture at Washington, D. C, which advertised that it would send competent foresters 

 anywhere, free of charge, to make detailed plans for the care and management of 

 woodlands, the General Government agreeing to pay their salaries provided their 

 expenses were defrayed by the applicant for their services. 



As it seemed advantageous to have a careful examination and timber survey 

 made of some good township on the Preserve, the offer of the United States For- 

 estry Division to send competent men to do such work was accepted. At the same 

 time, through an arrangement with the finance committees of the State legislature, 

 an item was inserted in the annual supply bill by which $2,000 was appropriated for 

 the expenses of the United States foresters while engaged on the proposed work. 



The men and the money having thus been provided, the Superintendent of 



