9 
while those lands which are too poor or are better employed in wood 
crops should be devoted to forestry use. Hence a segregation of the 
forest soils in quantity and general location at least is one of the first 
objects of such survey. ; 
The fact brought out in the following report that 7,000,000 acres of 
Northern Wisconsin are poor farm land, i. e., forest soil proper, neans 
that the State should as far as possible prevent the occupation of this 
area by farmers, since such ocecupation can only lead to pauperization 
of farmers and lands. It also means that this is the area from which 
the State can finally expect its forest supplies mainly to come, and also 
that this is the area of which probably the State must in the end 
become the owner. 
The forest cover being a condition of the earth’s surface which 
influences surrounding climatic conditions, especially the water drain- 
age in certain situations, it becomes necessary to be informed on the 
topographical and geographical distribution of the forest areas with 
reference to water courses, so that the State may protect the com- 
munal interest by measures for the preservation of favorable water 
conditions. Baneful influence of denudation upon water conditions 
having been brought out in this report, a closer investigation of the 
changes and of the areas specially concerned is indicated, so as to insure 
special attention in the forest policy of the State to these areas. 
FOREST SUPPLIES AS FACTORS IN WEALTH OF STATE. 
The next object of the forest survey should be to determine the posi- 
tion of the existing forest supplies as factors of the wealth of the State. 
This entails on the one hand a statement of the capital and labor 
employed in woodworking establishments, the quantities of wood mate- 
rials used for home consumption as well as export, and the economic 
conditions surrounding these industries and their relative importance, 
and on the other hand the amounts of standing timber available, the 
proportions of the more valuable kinds, the distribution of the forests 
whether in large or small bodies, a factor which influences their econo- 
mic importance, and their location with reference to highways and 
markets. We are concerned to know not only how much wood of 
various kinds is used or needed, how much exported and thereby bring- 
ing money into the State, but also where do the raw supplies come 
from, and how long can these supplies be relied upon to continue as a 
factor of wealth. 
It is, perhaps, proper to here point out especially that in our modern 
civilization the greatest prosperity of a State or community can only 
be secured by the greatest diversity of industries maintained within 
its borders. The State which relies upon agriculture alone, or upon 
mining, or upon any one or but a few industries, is bound sooner or 
later to retrograde. Hence, wherever, under naturally favorable con- 
ditions, a successful beginning in the development of an industry is 
