38 FOEEST CONDITION'S IE" LOUISIANA. 



relating to the conservation of the State's natural resources. It has 

 supervision of the department of forestry and of other departments 

 dealing with the natural resources of the State, and reports bien- 

 nially to the general assembly. The act carries with it an appropria- 

 tion of $1,800 a year. 



The second act creates a conservation fund to be used partly for fire 

 protection and to be derived from an annual revenue tax upon all per- 

 sons and companies removing timber and minerals from the land. It 

 also prescribes the methods by which those subject to the tax shal! 

 make reports on their business. Tax on lumbering is based on the 

 gross annual cut, at the following rates : 



One cent per thousand feet log scale on pine cut for sawlogs and 

 square timber. 



Three-fourths of a cent per thousand feet on hardwood timber cut 

 for sawlogs. 



One cent per hundred on stave bolts. 



Three-tenths of a cent each on telephone and telegraph poles. 



One cent each on piles. 



One-fourth of a cent per year for each cup or box on turpentine 

 operations. 



While this act became effective November, 1910, the operation of 

 the license tax has been delayed pending litigation brought by certain 

 lumber interests. 



The third act in 1910 strengthens the law of 1904, which estab- 

 lished the department of forestry, to consist of the register of the 

 State lancl office as ex officio State forester and one deputy State 

 forester educated in silviculture, and commissioned by the governor 

 on the recommendation of the conservation commission, which has 

 general supervision of all matters pertaining to forestry. The State 

 forester, however, has direct control and is required to prevent and 

 extinguish forest fires and to carry on educational work in the inter- 

 est of forest preservation. 



He is also authorized to cooperate with timber owners in making 

 plans for forest protection and management, to examine the State 

 timberlands and to recommend whether they shall be held as State 

 reserves, and to protect and manage all lands so reserved. Further, 

 he is to make a study of forest conditions and resources throughout 

 the State, to conduct experiments in tree planting, and in the effect 

 of grazing and turpentining upon the forest. As ex officio State 

 forester he receives a salary of $500 from the general fund. 



The deputy State forester is the chief assistant in carrying out 

 the State's forest policy. The act carries an appropriation of $2,400 

 for his salary and expenses, payable out of the conservation fund. 

 No deputy forester has been appointed, however, because there is 

 now no money available. 



