360 



FORESTRY IX THE STATES. 



6 — Estimation of the yearly cut of timlier in the state. 



7 — Annual report to Board of Forest Commissioners. 



In a letter dated June 30. 1910, Mr. J. R. Welty. State Fire 

 "Warden and Forester of Washington, among other things says : 



""VTe have a State Board of Forestry Commissioners, com- 

 posed of the State Land Commissioner, ex-officio member, also 

 four electors of the State appointed by the Governor. 



"Our forestiy work consists prin-jipally in protecting the 

 forests -from fires. Our department has not gone into the refor- 

 estation of lands as yet: but I am taking up thi=. subject vith 

 the State Board of Forest Commissioners vith that oljject in 

 view. 



"There is organized in the state, the "Washington Forest 

 Fire Association, vith offices at Seattle, Washington, and the 

 Inland Forest Fire Association, wiih headquarters at Spokane, 

 Washington. They are composed of timber oviiers throughout 

 the state, and their object is to protect the timber from fires. 



"The Xational Government has a well organized force for 

 the protection of the Xational Forests in the State. 



"Our department works harmoniously with these organiza- 

 tions, and commissions their patrolmen and rangers, as Forest 

 Rangers at large, to serve without pay. It giv^s them power to 

 make arrests for violations of the Forest Protection Law. This 

 practically gives us one of the largest and best forces for the 

 protection of the forests of any of the states." 



WEST VIRGINIA. 



The citizens of the State of West Virginia remained inac- 

 tive on the subject of forestry until the forests of the greater 

 part of the state had been stripped of their timber and until the 

 opportunity to save a remnant of the virgin timberland was all 

 but gone. 



The history of the awakening of the people of the State to 

 the alarming condition resulting from a depletion of the forests 

 and to a lively interest in their protection dates back only about 

 4 years. Since that time much has been accomplished. The 

 most important steps are taken up in order below: 



