PREFACE. 



The law iuaugurating the Geological Survey provides for the 

 investigation of the timber as well as the mineral interests of the 

 State; and in carrying out this provision a systematic examination 

 of the forests was begun in 1891 and has been carried on since 

 that time. The plan adopted in this work embodies a fourfold 

 investigation : first, as to the existing forest resources ; second, as to 

 how these resources can be utilized to the greatest advantage with- 

 out involving the destruction of the forests; third, as to how the 

 waste lands of the State can be continuously restocked with valua- 

 ble trees, and thus our forest wealth perpetuated; and fourth, as 

 to what can be done to encourage the development in the State of 

 enterprises which will manufacture into finished products a larger 

 portion of our timber instead of shipping to other States our crude 

 materials for manufacture there. We have found, as will be 

 shown in this Report and others which are to follow at an early 

 date, that our forest resources are considerable ; and they are 

 now attracting lumbermen and capital from many sections of the 

 country. The lumbering industry in the State is already a large 

 one and is increasing in magnitude; indeed, already the timber 

 is being cut with such rapidity that we may fairly ask ourselves 

 the question, how long it will be before our forest wealth, like 

 that of many other States, becomes a matter of the past. And 

 we may also ask ourselves the question, whether it is possible that 

 these resources can be utilized now and at the same time our forest 

 wealth be perpetuated. 



A trained student in forestry will answer this latter question 

 in the affirmative, but the experience, of the past has too often 

 answered it in the negative. The cutting of the valuable tim- 

 ber frequently leads to the total destruction of the forest. The 

 trees are felled regardless of surrounding growth that may be 

 injured ; and the branches and the tops are left scattered among 

 the younger growth and thus add greatly to the destructiveness of 

 forest fires, which frequently follow during the first dry season. The 



