324 FORESTRY IN THE STATES. 



happiness, the well-being of the people. The destruction of the 

 forests will bring floods and droughts; scarcity of timber and 

 lumber for building purposes will impose hardships unrivaled 

 in their direful effects; and even now wood for fuel in some 

 sections of Alabama is becoming alarmingly scarce. * * *" 



The law creating the Commission of Forestry, approved 

 by the Governor Nov. 30, 1907, provides among other things : 



1 — That it is the duty of the Commission to inquire into 



the condition of forests in the state and report on 

 the same, and to recommend desirable legislation in 

 reference to forestry. 



2 — That the Governor is authorized, upon recommendation 



of the Commission, to accept gifts of land to the 

 state to be held and administered as state forest 

 reserves. 



3 — That when the owner or owners of any land which has 



been denuded of trees, or any other land the 

 assessed value of which shall not at the time of ap- 

 plication exceed the sum of five dollars per acre, 

 shall contract in writing with the Commission of 

 Forestry to plant or grow upon the said land suit- 

 able and useful timber trees in such manner as they 

 shall prescribe to protect the said land from fire 

 and to maintain the trees so planted or grown upon 

 it in a live and thrifty condition for a period of ten 

 years and to cut or to remove from said land within 

 that time, no tree or trees except as permitted in 

 said contract; it shall be lawful for the state tax 

 commission and they are hereby authorized, upon 

 the recommendation of the Commission of Forestry, 

 to exempt such land from taxation for the period of 

 ten years next thereafter in which the said land is 

 to be so maintained. 



4 — 'That the County Game and Fish Wardens already pro- 



vided for by existing laws, be and are hereby 

 declared and designated, Forest Wardens, whose 

 duty it shall be to enforce the forest laws of the 

 state and to carry out the provisions of this and 

 other acts relating to forest preservation. 



