S D wt Book. 'S^ REPORT of the Wisconsin Special Legislative Committee on FORESTRY of the Senate and Assembly Made to the Members of the 1915 Session ot the Wisconsin Legislature Pursuant to CHAPTER 670 OF THE LAWS OF 1013. I ; / REPORT of the Wisconsin Special Legislative Committee on FORESTRY of the Senate and Assembly Made to the Members of the 1915 Session of the Wisconsin Legislature Pursuant to CHAPTER 670 OF THE LAWS OF 1913. ^[^ PERSONNEL OF COMMITTEE AND ASSISTANTS Members Senalors: A. PEARCE TOMKINS, Chairman, Ashland, Wis. HENRY A. HUBER, Stoughton, Wis. W. L. RICHARDS, Milwaukee, Wis. Assemblymen: AXEL JOHNSON, Secretary, Turtle Lake, Wis. R. J. NYE, Superior, Wis. H. M. LAURSEN, Shell Lake, Wis. E. J. KNEEN, Bangor, Wis. O. F. ROESSLER, Jefferson, Wis. , * f • Clerical Force A. V. GRUHN, Reporter, Racine, Wis. G. H. RAWLINSON, Clerk, La Crosse, Wis. JOSEPH STEVENS, Washburn, Wis. ERNEST DOPP, Superior, Wis. GEO. L. COTT, Shell Lake. Wis. i^. Of o^ >^A29 i$5 / TABLE OP^ CONTENTS Page Adoption of Report ' Bill: Relating to Consolidation of Departments f>7 Bill: Relating to Taxation of Private Timberlands fi3 Committee Findings; Summary of "^ Consolidation of State Board of Forestry with other Departments . . . (ifi Change in Fire Law •'J8 Findings of Committee; Summary of 75 Financial History of State Board of Forestry 31 F"ire Law; Change in 58 Introduction 9 Investigation; Methods of 13 Letter of Transmittal 8 Methods of Investigation 13 Personnel of Committee and Assistants 3 Private Timberlands; Taxation of f>2 Report; Adoption of 7 Report and Findings of Committee 34 Summary of Committee Findings 75 Summary of Work and Financial History of the Slate Board of Forestry . . 22 Taxation 60 Taxation of Private Timberlands 62 Transmittal, Letter of 8 Work of the State Board of Forestry 22 Letter of Transmittal Honorable Sirs: On behalf of the Special Legislative Committee on Forestry, appointed under Chapter 670 of the Laws of 1913, I transmit herewith their report. Very respectfully yours, (Signed) A. PEARCE TOMKINS, Chairman. To the Members of the Wisconsin Legislature for the Session of 1915. Dated, Ashland, Wis., Jan. 4, 1915. IIoLcl Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, January 4, 1915. Mr. Roessler moved that tlie report herewith sub- mitted by the Chairman be adopted as the final re- port of this Special Legislative Committee on For- estry, the same be filed with the secretary of state with the request that he have printed two thousand copies thereof; that no bill defining the extent of the proposed permanent reserve or a method of disposal of the agricultural lands be submitted at this time but that such bill be offered separately to the Legislature at a future date, the report to contain a statement that such a bill will be so offered; and that the Chairman be authorized to affix the signatures of the members - of this Committee now present on said report. The motion was seconded by Mr. Nye and upon roll call the vote was as follows: Aijes — SENATORS Ruber and Tomkins. ASSEMBLYMEN Johnson, Nye, Kneen and Roessler. Noes — None. Total Vote — Ayes, G; Noes, none. Approved: (Signed) A. PEARCE TOMKINS. Chairmon. J'.i INTRODUCTION A storm of protest was raised in Northern Wis- consin by the statement in the report of the State Forester for the years 1911 and 1912 that the present state forest holdings of 400,000 acres should be in- creased so that the reserve would consist of between one million and one million and a half acres in order to block up and consolidate the present State lands. The same report claimed that the State should pur- chase at least 800,000 acres more in the permanent forest reserve area and it recommended that the Legislature pass a bill defining the boundaries of the reserve as follows: Commencing at the southwest corner of T. 38, R. 3 E., Price county, thence east along the south line of T. 38 to the eastern boundary line of Forest county, or the southeast corner of T. 38, R. 14 E.; thence north along the east line of R. 14 E., to the Wisconsin-Michigan boundary line, or the Menominee river; thence west along the Wiscon- sin-Michigan boundary line to the northeast corner of section 13 in T. 44, R. 4 E.; thence south on the east line of R. 4 E. to the northeast corner of T. 43, R. 4 E.; thence west to the northwest corner of T. 43, R. 4 E.; thence south to the northwest corner of T. 41, R. 4 E.; thence west to the northwest corner T. 41, R. 2 E. ; thence south to the southwest corner of T. 41, R. 2 E.; thence east to the northwest cor- ner of T. 41, R. 2 E.; thence east to the northwest corner of T. 41, R. 3 K.; thence so Mi to the souih- west corner of T. 38, R. 3 E., or th. point of begin- ning, excepting from the same the following: — 1. Lands within the limits of any village or city. 2. The following townships or portions of town- ships: (a) T. 39 R. 6, E. (b) The south half of T. 40, R. 6 E. (c) The east tw^o-thirds of T. 38, R. 9 E. (d) The south two-thirds of T. 38, R. 10 E. (e) T. 38, R. 11 E. (/) T. 40, R. 10 E. (g) T. 41, R. 10 E. (h) The north two-thirds of T. 41, R. 11 E. The announcement of the above policy, together with the misunderstanding brought about by a lack of knowledge of the intention of those interested in forestry, engendered such a feeling in the north- eastern part of Wisconsin, particularly in the counties of Forest, Iron, Oneida, Price and Vilas, that every pressure possible was brought to bear upon the mem- bers at the last session of the Legislature to stop further purchases by the Board. This seemed partly to have grown out of a misunderstanding, not as to the location of the lands to be taken as a permanent forest reserve, but as to the character of the lands so to be used. A large delegation was present at the hearing on the bill creating this Special Joint Com- mittee and a great deal of interest and bitterness was displayed by the people of the district affected. An examination of the j)ages of the report of the State Forester* will show conclusively that it never was the intention of the Forestry Board to take any but non-agricultural lands. The following was the language used by him: "The i)ro{)osed act should clearly point out that it is the intention of the state .to eventually acquire all the unoccupied and non- agricultural lands suitable for forestry within the boundaries of the forest reserve." This will also be seen from the following quota- tions from the reports of the State Forester: "It is one of the tenets of forestry that no land should be held permanently under forests which is more suitable for agriculture, and every parcel of land within the state forest reserve will be examined with this in mind, so that land which is valuable for agriculture may be withdrawn and offered for sale. By such careful selection, the creation of an adequate state forest reserve will in no way retard the devel- opment of northern Wisconsin, but, on the other hand, the state's forest policy of cutting conserva- tively, and so always having something to cut, will in a few years give to all the settlers near the re- * Report 1911-1y State fc»r L -f f>f Forest Rangers and Patrf)lnien Vilas County Value Cabin in Sec. 28, 41-7 E $ 50 Cabin in Sec. 12, 42-8 E 300 Cabin in Sec. 14, 43-7 E 100 Total $450 Iron County Value Cabn in Sec. 32. 42-4 E $100 Forest Nurseries Two forest nurseries are maintained, one at Big Trout Lake, Vilas county, and the other at Toma- hawk Lake, Oneida county. The nursery at Big Trout Lake contains approximately 8 acres, and has an annual average output of 1,000,000 trees. The average cost of raising the young trees of all species including everything — value land, clearing, fencing, seed, salaries, labor, depreciation, etc., is as follows: 1 year seedlings $ .78 per thousand 2 year seedlings .90 per thousand 2 year transplants 1.72 per thousand The Tomahawk Lake nursery was started in the spring of 1914, and will produce its first planting stock in 1916. It contains 3 acres and the annual output will be between 400,000 and 500,000 trees. It is expected that the cost of producing the trees will be approximately the same as at the Trout Lake nurserv. REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE 25 Forest Plantations Approximately 1,000 acres of land in the forest reserve which had been cut and burned over before it was acciuired by the State and which was not re- stocking naturally, have been replanted with the fol- lowing species, viz: White pine, Norway pine, Nor- way spruce, Scotch pine, and Western yellow pine, the first two species largely predominating. Some 1,110,200 trees were used in the planting operations, and it is estimated that at least 85 per cent of all the trees are growing and are in a fine healthy con- dition, and this is more than sufiicient to assure a good, heavy stand of timber. The average cost of the plantations, including everything — cost of trees, transportation, salaries, wages, etc., has been $4.98 per acre. Sale of Nursery Slock In order to encourage the reforestation of lands from which the timber has been cut and which are not suitable for farming, the policy has been adopted of selling planting material to citizens of the State, at a small cost. During 1914 there were sold to citizens of the State for reforestation in Wisconsin 24,000 trees at an average price of $3.50 per thou- sand trees. It is expected that this demand for state nursery stock will increase rapidly. Surveying Island and Lake Lots Congress granted to Wisconsin as additions to the forest reserves, all unsurveyed islands in inland lakes North of town 33. In this way 637 islands have been added to the forest reserve, and nearly the entire time of one of the forest rangers is taken in surveying these islands and the lake frontages which are being laid off in lake lots. The forest ranger detailed to this work receives $85 a month. Locomotive Inspection The passage of Chapter 494, Laws 1911, gave Wisconsin one of the strongest and most practical 26 REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE laws in the country for reducing the number of for- est fires set by railway locomotives, donkey, traction and portable engines. One inspector is employed and each season he inspects between 600 and 700 locomotives, and sees that the railroad rights of way are kept clean and free of inflammable material. The inspector is paid $5 a day and his traveling expenses. Cruiser and Trespass Agent One timber cruiser is employed and this man also acts as trespass agent. His duties are to look after the 88,822 acres of land owned by the State outside of the forest reserve, to prevent timber trespass and to report on all sales of land or timber. He receives $5 a day and his traveling expenses. Care of State Parks The Legislature in 1913 gave the care and super- vision of the State Parks to the State Board of For- estry and made the following appropriations for their maintenance and improvement for two years: Park Acreage Appropriation Peninsula State Park 3,700 acres $18,000 Marquette State Park 1,671 acres 8,000 Devil's Lake State Park 1,040 acres 10,000 Interstate State Park 550 acres 2,000 Total 6,961 acres $38,000 Camp for Convalescent Consumptives The State Board of Forestry is co-operating with the State Board of Control in establishing a camp for convalescent consumptives on the shores of Tomahawk Lake, in Oneida county. The patients will be given work both in the forest nursery at Tomahawk Lake and in forest planting. Forest Ranger School The State Board of Forestry is co-operating with the University in conducting a course which trains REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE 27 men for the work of forest rangers. From January 6 to April 14 the instruction is at the University. From April 16 to August 1 the students are given instruction and work on the forest reserves, and when working for the State they are allowed $40 per month and board. Game Preserve In co-operation with the Game Warden's depart- ment 218 acres of forest reserve land near Big Trout Lake, Vilas County, have been enclosed in a game proof fence and stocked with deer. The Government has offered to give Wisconsin 50 elk and it is expected that these will be received early in 1915, and placed in the game preserve. By liberat- ing the deer and elk as their number increases the forest reserve will be kept stocked. Study of Farm Woodlots In cooperation with the U. S. Forest Service, a study of farm woodlots is being made in order to assist farmers in the better management of their woodlands, including the cooperative marketing of their timber. Sixteen counties have been com- pleted, and within two years it is hoped to com- plete the work for the entire State. Two of the forestry assistants are now devoting their entire time to the w^ork. They receive $50 per month and their traveling expenses. Study of the Taxation of Timberlands In cooperation with the U. S. Forest Service, a report has been issued on "The Taxation of Forest Lands in Wisconsin." The main purpose of the study was to determine the extent of the burden now carried by timberlands as a result of the pres- ent methods of taxation, and what influence, if any, such methods of taxation have or will have on the practice of forestry by private owners. The U. S. Forest Service paid the salaries of the foresters in 28 REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE charge of the work and Wisconsin paid their travel- ing expenses. The cost to Wisconsin of this study was $612.51. Study of the Wood-Using Industries In cooperation with the U. S. Forest Service a re- port has been issued on the "Wisconsin Wood-Using Industries." The study was made with the idea that by gaining a knowledge of the needs of the manu- facturers and of the timber resources of the State, a rational forestry policy could be outlined so that the producing and consuming industries dependent on wood may be perpetuated and enlarged. The U, S. Forest Service paid the salaries of the foresters in charge of the work, and Wisconsin paid a portion of their traveling expenses. The cost to Wisconsin of this study was $107.25. Fetlerai and Stale Fire Protective Work Congress under the provisions of the Weeks Law, authorized the U. S. Forest Service to cooperate with the various states in protecting timberlands upon the headwaters of navigable streams from forest fires. The act provides, however, that no part of the ap- propriation shall be used in any state that has not established a forest fire patrol system of its own, and therefore only a few states were able to qualify. Wisconsin's application for assistance in protecting the headwaters of the Wisconsin and Chippewa rivers was approved, and for the last four years the Wis- consin State Board of Forestry has been allowed $5,000 each year to employ Federal patrolmen. From about May 1 to December 1, twelve Federal patrolmen are employed to assist an equal number of state forest rangers in protecting all lands from fire within the forest reserve. During the last two seasons the Chicago cv: Northwestern Railway has contributed over $900 each year to employ forest patrolmen, and lumber companies and private indi- viduals have also cooperated in this all-important work of prevention. : ^ REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE 29 Lookout Towers For forest fire protect on, four 55-foot steel look- out towers have been built on some of the highest hills within the forest reserve. From all the towers the country can be seen for 10 miles in almost any direction, and during dangerously dry weather the observers report immediately by telephone any fire or smoke that may be seen. The average cost of the towers has been $136.90. Cutting Stubs Old dead stubs are one of the most proliiic means of spreading forest hres, as the fire ciuickly runs up the dead bark to the top of the tree, and a slight wind will carry the burning bark for long distances. Such old stubs have been cut back for six rods on each side of over 125 miles of roads and fire lines at an average cost of less than $6 per mile. Slash Burning Where the slash from old lumbering operations is heavy, and especially where it adjoins timber or other valuable property, it is necessary to pile and burn it so that it shall not be a constant meance to the forest reserve. Over 1500 acres of dangerous slashings have been destroyed at an average cost of $5 per acre. Roads In order to make the forest reserve easily acces- sible to the forestry force, to the few settlers who live in this region, and to the thousands of tourists, and also to serve as fire lines, there have been con- structed 248 miles of dirt roads, at a cost of $32,734, or an average cost of $131.58 per mile. Fire Lines To control the spread of forest fires, the forest re- serves have been gridironed with a system of roads 30 REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE and fire lines. In this way the reserves have been split up into blocks and through this system it is comparatively easy to conhne a forest fire to a small area. There have been built 141 miles of fire lines at a cost of $11,939, or an average cost of $84.67 per mile. Telephone Lines The telephone is the most important aid in forest fire prevention and fire fighting, as the headquarters camp and all the ranger cabins and lookout towers are connected, and help can be promptly secured as soon as a forest fire starts. There have been built 76 miles of telephone lines at a cost of $2,731, or an average cost of $35.93 per mile. REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE 31 SUMMARY OF THE FINANCIAL HISTORY OF THE STATE BOARD OF FORESTRY FROM ITS ORGANIZATION TO DATE. Appropriations for Adiiiinistration Purposes: 1903- 4 $4,045 1904- 5 5,500 1905- 6 9,800 1906- 7 9,800 1907- 8 9,800 1908- 9 9,800 1909-10 9,800 1910-11 9,800 1911-12 --- 35,000 35,000 1912-13 1913-14 35,000 Total $173,345 Gifts of Land to the Forest Reserve: Nebagamon Lumber Co., 4,321.07 ac. at $10.00 $ 43,210 Federal Government, 19,950.57 ac. at $5.00 99,752 Federal Government, 637 islands 204,566 Total Value of Donations $347,528 Total Value of Donations to the Forest Reserve $347,528 Total Appropriations for Administrative Purposes 173,345 Excess Donations over Appropriations $174,183 Purchases of Forest Reserve Lands: Acreage purchased from $2.00 or less to $2.56 60,217.62 acres Acreage purchased from 2.68 to 3.50 56,972.54 acres Acreage purchased from 3.75 to 4.60 38,451.95 acres Acreage purchased from 5.00 to 6.50 3,270.67 acres Acreage purchased over 6.50 90.77 acres Total Acreage Purchased 159,003.55 Acreage of Lands Purchased and Donated: Total acreage purchased 159,003.55 Total acreage donated 24,271.64 Total 183,275.19 32 REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE From the above it will be noted that the donations of land comprise over 13^ per cent of the total acreage of all lands acquired. Keforestation Fund Congress in 1906 granted to Wisconsin 20,000 acres of land as an addition to the state forest reserve and the act provided that the scattering and agricultural land can be sold, but that all income from the lands can only be used for reforesting the forest reserve. Out of the "Government "Reforestation Fund" is being paid the cost of the reforestation work in Wis- consin, and there now is a balance of $16,000, which will pay for the work for several years, and there will be more income from the same source in the future. CoikH t ions of Gifts The above act of (Congress provides that if the forestry work is ever abandoned in Wisconsin the state must return lo the Federal government the balance of the 20,000 acres remaining unsold, and must also refund to the government all moneys re- ceived under the grant and not used in reforestation and the interest which has accrued on the fund. This would mean that at the present time we would lose some 14,000 acres of land and would have to pay back to the government approximately $15,000. The gift of land from the Nebagamon Lumber Company and also the gift of 637 islands from the government have the same conditions attached, namely, that they must be returned to the donor in case the state gives up its forestry work. Therefore, as will be seen from this statement, Wisconsin would lose by abandoning its forestry work all donations or $347,538.00. The total appropriations for administrative pur- poses have been $173,345.00; the purchases of forest reserve lands amounting to 159,000 acres at an average price per acre of $3.32 makes a total of approximately $528,000.00; all of which makes a REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE 33 total expenditure of approximately $700,000.00. De- ducting therefrom the value of donations, $347,- 000.00, leaves a total investment of about $353,- 000.00. To off-set this the State owns 327,450 acres of land and 637 islands donated by the National Gov- ernment, and in addition, the value of all forestry improvements. Certainly, the investment to date has proved most satisfactory. Since the large purchases by the State during the last few years the claim has been made that a great part of the lands so acquired for forestry purposes are good agricultural lands, some even placing the proportion as high as seventy or eighty per cent. If this be true, certainly the investment has been a good one, the average price which the State has paid being only $3.32 per acre. It is well known that lands of agricultural worth cannot be purchased in Northern Wisconsin at even double that figure, so certainly the State has lost nothing on account of these purchases, but must have made a good invest- ment. J4 REPORT OP' SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE REPORT AND FINDINGS OF COMMITTEE Two questions upon which the Committee were to report to the 1915 session of the Legislature are pre- sented in the law creating it: First, what areas of hind now held as forest reserve and those parts pro- posed to l)e included within such reserve within the counties of Forest, Iron, Oneida, Price and Vilas are better adapted to agricultural than to forestry purposes. Second, whether the best interests of all persons concerned, especially the taxpayers of the State, will not be better promoted by devoting State lands to other than reforestation purposes. Having this in view the Committee have deemed it one of their duties to make a general study of the subject of forestry and to submit their views upon this subject. To many this will seem strange when all of the leading countries of the world and nearly all of the older states of the Union — in fact, all of those in the northeastern part of our country — have been for many years and are now engaged in the re- forestation of those lands located within their bor- ders which are not suited to agriculture. We cannot believe it necessary that the people of Wisconsin be shown that the general policy or idea of forestry is sound and a success commercially. Mr. Simon B. Elliott, member of the Pennsyl- vania Forestry Reservation Commission, and author of "The Important Timber Trees of the United States," in the latter work, says: "All will agree that lands suitable for agriculture should be reserved for that purpose; but it is equally true that land not so suited, and which has borne a crop of trees, can and should once more be devoted to that use; and there is a large area of that kind of land in this country." He also added in an interview: "It is not good policy to permit attempts to be made to induce settlers, with a view to home-mak- ing, to go on lands not suited to agriculture. Aside from the moral feature involved there inevitably REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE 35 comes failure and the desertion of such regions, all tending to the injury and discredit of the State. No State has ever profited by attempts to induce settlers to go on land for the purpose of home-mak- ing where the region is not adapted to profitable agriculture. To avoid this the State would best secure such land and, where practicable, devote it to tree growing, thus converting what otherwise would be practically a barren waste into a productive one." The only question pertinent to this matter would seem to be whether any of the lands within the pro- posed forest reserve can be better and more profit- ably used for the benefit of the people of the State by planting to trees and by encouraging the growth of the natural reproduction thereon. Oftentimes in discussing the general forestry ques- tion with the average citizen he is prone to say, "Yes, such conditions might apply to Germany; such conditions might apply to the mountainous regions of Pennsylvania or New York; such condi- tions might apply to the Southern States where the growing season is long; but in Northern Wisconsin where the growing season is short, the lands and conditions are different — -forestry cannot be carried on success- fully." Authorities on the subject, however, claim an entirely different state of affairs. Wisconsin con- ditions are ideal for the growing of trees. We do not labor under the handicap of the European for- ests which have been restored and made productive. And we have one great advantage over them; we are not limited to a few inferior kinds or species of trees. Wisconsin can grow white and norway pine, and these are recognized as the most productive and most profitable trees of forest growth. When we speak of reforestation we have in mind both the natural reproduction and the artificial planting or growing of trees. In the first, nature is simply encouraged in her effort to re-establish the native species of timber. This is too well known to need much explanation. By the establishment of a forestry protection system, consisting of foresters, 36 REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE with forest rangers, telephone lines, lookout towers, fire lines and roads, the young and growing timber is protected from the onslaughts and ravages of fire. By artificial reforestation we mean the growing of the young trees in the nurseries, the transplanting of the same on the cut-over lands and their protection by the methods heretofore mentioned. That artificial reforestation will become a source of profit to the State has been proven beyond doubt, not only in such countries as Germany, the Scandi- navian Peninsula, Denmark and France, but also by experimental plantations carried on in the United States. The Germans claim an average annual net revenue of $3.50 per acre from their planted forests. There can be no question of ultimate profit if prop- erly managed for the manifest reason that by the time a forest planted now becomes mature, our present naturally grown ones will have become so exhausted that the market price of all forest products must be that of the cost of growing trees from the seed plus a fair proht, just as the price of wheat, corn or any other product of the soil is and must be that of its cost with reasonable proiit added. De- mand and supply will regulate price here as well as elsewhere. The Alonaghan plantations near Mount Alto in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, afforded one of the best opportunities for the Committee to see results obtained from the planting of white pine. This plantation was made on an old cultivated field. The best results cannot be obtained from such planting. Foresters all agree that where there is a growth of other varieties for protection such as aspen, pin cherry and the like, the pine growth is much more sturdy. This planting was made in April, 1902, for experiment only. The young trees were two years old when set out, at a distance of four feet. A photograph taken in 1904, two years after planting, shows them less than six inches in height. A later photograph, taken in December, 1906, shows a maximum height of 31.50 inches with i-Pa [.^^''W^"i< *^^^w#fi#^ii^ REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE 37 practically every tree growing. Measurements were made in October, 19()(), and prior thereto which show the following facts: Number of trees measured, 3,558. Average growth in the year 1906, inches 12.085; average growth in the year 1905, inches 6.9; average growth in the year 1904, inches 5.8; average total height year 1906, inches 33.5. At the time of the Committee's visit in August, 1914, the average height of these trees was about twelve feet and the highest exceeded fifteen feet. Photographs are shown herein of this plantation in 1904, 1906, 1912 and 1914. While many other plantings of white and norway pine equally as promising were visited by the Com- mittee, we believe them to be the best illustration of what can be expected along these lines because we were able to secure photographs of them at various stages of their growth. Figures in the ofiice of the State Forester show that the cost of planting in Wisconsin has averaged $4.98 per acre while members of the Pennsylvania Forestry Commission stated that it had cost them about $9 per acre. Wisconsin plantings have been made with about a thousand trees to the acre while the Pennsylvania foresters have used almost double this amount. A further item of cost in the latter State is by reason of the added expense of growing nursery stock. On the heavy soils where their nurseries are located the planting, care, and cultiva- tion of the seedlings is much more difficult and ex- pensive, and the setting out of the. trees in the for- ests on the heavier soils makes necessary a great deal more work. Another thing of interest in connection with this is that the work now being done and which it will be possible to do in the next few years with just the two Wisconsin nurseries — the one at Big Trout Lake, the other at Tomahawk Lake — in the way of artifi- cial reforestation is being paid for by. the Federal Government and, therefore, imposes no burden on the people of Wisconsin. The Government, in mak- 38 REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE ing its grant of 20,000 acres provided that the money received from the sale of scattering- lands or from the sale of timber, or from, in fact, any source connected with the handling of the said gift, could be used only for reforesting the permanent forest reserve— that is, in the up-keep of the nurseries and the cost of plant- ing. At the present time, as has been stated, the nurseries are turning out approximately one million trees per year. This is suflicient to plant about one thousand acres. At a cost of $4.98 per acre, which includes the cost of the seed, cost of raising the plants, and cost of transplanting, this means a total expenditure of about $5,000 a year. The depart- ment now has on hand in this Federal fund over $16,000, sufficient to carry on the work and take care of the out-put from the nurseries for three years, and it is stated that by that time considerably more than this amount will again be in their hands. So, the cost of artificial reforestation in Wisconsin will be borne by the Federal government for many years to come, and as much as a thousand acres a year can be planted, making the only cost of such work to the people of the State their initial investment in accjuiring the land and the expense of fire protection. Even on the very poorest lands in Connecticut, light sandy soil which has been farmed for genera- lions, both the white and norway pine plantings wxre doing well. This was true everywhere, even on the very poorest soils, and from their observations the Committee is well satisfied that there is no reason for attempting to plant scotch or western yellow pine any more than for experimentation on the lands in the forest reserve. White and norway pine will grow on any of it. In the cut-over territory in the forest reserve cjuicker and cheaper results can be had by the en- couragement of natural second growth. By the arti- ficial planting under the improved methods of to- day no inconsiderable areas can be replanted with white .and norway pine which in the end will be profitable to the people of the State and serve as REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE 39 an encouragement to the owners of private lands and educate them so that they will become inter- ested in the replanting of their lands. In the East- ern States the demand is already taking the output of the State nurseries, and in New York the Fores- try Department complain because they have too little left for the replanting of their own lands. Millions of small trees are now being purchased from their nurseries and planted upon private es- tates. From 1908 to 1913 their total sales aggre- gated 12,014,635 trees, sufTicient to reforest approxi- mately 12,000 acres. This work is only in its infancy. Each year as the people become educated as to the returns which may be expected from such work the demand will increase and it will require hundreds of acres of nursery beds to keep up with the advancement. Already demands have been made upon the Wisconsin Forestry Board for nursery stock. The Dupont Powder Co., operating in Bayfield county, attempted to procure white and norway transplants for the replanting of their cut-over lands. On account of our output of only one million trees for 1914 and by reason of the necessity for planting State hold- ings, this request was refused. There is no intention on the part of the State Board of Forestry of Wisconsin, or, in fact, of the Forestry Departments of any of the States, to enter into competition with commercial nurseries. At the present time, however, these nurseries have been unable to supply the millions of trees required for private planting, but as soon as they are able to do so and furnish the stock at a reasonable price, the States will be glad enough to retire from this side of the work and devote their planting stock to reforesting State lands. The commercial nurseries up to date have only been able to keep up with the demand for the ornamental stock, whereas in Germany they can supply planting stock by the tens of millions. It will only be a few years when private individuals in Wisconsin will take up this 40 REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE work and many thousands of acres of our cut-over lands, unprofitable for agriculture, will be devoted to the growth of pine. Nothing will so stimulate and encourage this interprise as the example the State Forestry Board expects to set forth in plant- ing State lands. In the last few years a number of private owners have expressed it- desire to reforest their lands — large holders who have wailed until the soil survey of their district was completed, so they would know upon expert advice which lands were non-agricultural. In a way, the task given this Committee to de- cide which of these lands are best adapted to agri- cultural use is an impossible one. The only way this can be determined in detail is by a soil survey and a thorough cruising of these lands, forty by forty, by competent judges of farm lands. This would demand many months of hard labor and could not be undertaken by the members of this Com- mittee. All we could do was lo« visit as much of the territory as possible, getting a general idea as to whether any of the lands were unfit for farming and whether the agricultural development of Wis- consin might be hindered by the taking of some of these lands from the market' and by their use for reforestation purposes. The question as to just what lands are available for reforestation is a debatable one. It is hard in this day and age to specify what are agricultural and what are non-agricultural lands. In the wild unsettled areas of Northern Wisconsin one is liable to be greatly deceived, and while at this time he might say that some of the lands were non-agri- cultural, or might better say not profitable from an agricultural standpoint, a few years may work a mighty change — a wonderful change — and the demand be such that practically all of these lands would be required for agricultural purposes. Nevertheless, the lesson as learned in some of our sister States of the East may be a guide to us in this. In the Blue Mountains of Potter Countv, REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE 41 Pennsylvania, Wisconsin's famous violinist, Olc Bull, conceived the idea of establishing a colony of Norwegian immigrants. He attempted to pur- chase several thousand acres, went so far as to build himself a castle, and many of the families moved upon the land with the intention of carving out farmhomes. True, on account of a defect in title he became discouraged and gave up the idea. But now, after • fifty-two years, these lands are still unoccupied and vacant with no prospect whatever of their ever being used for farming. The soil in the valleys is a rich red and yellow shale; the cli- mate much the same as in the Northern part of Wisconsin, and still, in thickly settled Pennsyl- vania this land is really of less value and can be purchased at a lower price than some of the poorest cut-over lands in our State. During the last half dozen years the State of Pennsylvania has started a forest reserve in this county, bought up these lands at prices under $5 per acre and is now replanting them. While this is a mountainous region, there is much of the land in the broad valleys which could be profitably used for farming if there was a demand for it. It has stood for many years since the removal of the tim- ber, blackened and barren. Now, by artificial planting and the protection of the natural growth Pennsylvania expects to make it bear timber with profit to the commonwealth. The soil in this county is heavier than anything in our proposed forest reserve, and by reason of that they cannot expect as good results from the natural second growth of pine. On account of the heavy nature of the soil the pine seed has no op- portunity to germinate and the hardwoods get such a start that only in a few places is there any show- ing of pine whatsoever. This condition does not apply in Warren county. New York. In the territory adjacent to Chester- town where the soil is of a light sandy character, which soil largely predominates in all parts of the 42 REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE Adirondack Forest Reserve, the natural reprodcu- tion of white pine is wonderful. Here vast areas have reforested themselves with as fine a growth as ever stood on these lands. If Wisconsin is to continue its Forestry work and have a forest reserve, the question of its location is first lo be considered. There are millions of acres of undeveloped land in Northern Wisconsin. Just what percentage of these will ultimately be used for agricultural purposes cannot at this time be determined. Many things must be taken into consideration in determining this. Even the very poorest of lands if located adjacent to good tillable soil can be profitably used for grazing and pastur- age, but where there are large areas of poor or un- profitable agricultural lands it would seem that these might best be used for forestry. In the lands held by the State there are, of course, some good agricultural lands. Generally speaking, however, the average State holding does not com- pare favorably with the land that is held by specu- lators or by those who are engaged in farming. In- variably, in their investigations, the members of the Committee found the State lands about the poorest in the locality inspected. We believe the report of the soils survey now being made will bear out the opinion of the Committee in this regard. The Forestry Department has refused to make a num- ber of purchases by reason of the agricultural value of the lands. In fact, they have had several farms offered at very low prices. So it is not altogether an accident that the State owns the poorer lands. Naturally, the better lands have gone into the hands of the actual settler more rapidly and the owners have not been so anxious to dispose of them at low prices. The eye of the State and Nation for many years has been turned to that area in the Northeastern part of the State situated in the counties of Forest, Iron, Price, Oneida and Vilas, having in view its adaptation to forestry purposes. All the State REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE 43 and National soil surveys for many years have shown a considerable area of light sandy soil of inferior agricultural quality in this district. While there are other places in Wisconsin with soil of this nature which could, no doubt, be better used for forestry than for farming, if we are to have a forest reserve at all the selection in a general way has been well made. There is no section of the state where so large an area of sparsely settled lands can be found. The State Forester's records show that in a district equal to twenty-two townships within the reserve, an area of five hundred square miles, there are now but twenty-one farmer settlers. And this report from the office of the State Forester the Committee found upon investigation to be true; that while there were other people living within this district, they were either resorters, shackers, or trappers — at least, not making their living at farming. Certain it is, that in carrying on the work of reforestation by the encouragement and protection of the natural second growth, in order to make it profitable the land must be held in considerable areas by reason of the expense of maintaining the roads, fire lines, telephone system, and other things necessary to the conduct of the work. Still, if the poorer lands in some of the better settled portions which are surrounded by farms and improved lands could be used for this purpose, the aid of the set- tler in keeping back the fires and protecting the tim- ber would be of no little help. For that reason it would seem that the poorer lands in all parts of Wisconsin which will grow white and norway pine should be acquired for this purpose and every effort made to have them replanted to trees, whether in the hands of the State or of private owners. Future commercial interests of the State may de- mand its extension into other sections. While climatic conditions may be discouraging to settlement— a hindrance in growing certain crops — we do not consider them germane to the question 44 REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE here submitted. On the better lands of this terri- tory farming can be engaged in with profit so that such conditions simply limit the Held of operation and confine the farmer to the growth of particular crops, yet with the opportunity for fairly good re- turns. In their investigation the Committee saw many different kinds of land; some of the very lightest sand; some sandy loam; and some clay loam. They also found large areas which were very rough, covered with gravel, stone and huge boulders, yet anyone who would condemn all the lands in the pro- posed forest reserve by reason of these observations would be unfair to this section of the Stale. Never- theless, there are large areas — in fact, a major por- tion of the lands which the Committee have had an opportunity to investigate — which they believe to be better adapted to forestry than to farming. Most of these lands will not be called into use by tillers of the soil for many years to come. There can be no good reason why, if these lands are used by the Forestry Department, it will in any way interfere with the agricultural development of Northern Wisconsin. Neither is there any reason why the settlement of the good agricultural lands should interfere with the forestry policy. There is ample room for both, and the development of the one should but assist in the development of the other. Wherever forestry is being carried on, in other States or in other countries, it is conducted hand in hand with the agricultural advancement. The farmers of Pennsylvania are ardent supporters of the Forestry Commission. There should be no dispute between those inter- ested in the general welfare of Northern Wisconsin, whether interested in making it a rich agricultural region or interested in the reforesation of its poorer soils and rough lands such as cannot be profitably used for farming. Agricultural writers, even those who are interested in the agricultural development say that twenty-fiv^ per cent of all the lands in REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE 45 the Northern half of the State are unsuitable for the growing of crops. If there are, as is said, 13,000,000 acres in the Northern part of the State still undeveloped, and twenty-five per cent of it is non-agricultural, then we have three and one quarter millions of acres upon part of which, at least, the State can conduct this work. Large areas are covered with swamp, some of which cannot even be used for tree planting, while others naturally reproduce themselves with such species as tamarack and spruce. Certainly so large an area as this should satisfy the most ardent ad- vocate of silva-culture, yet it shows that a few hundred thousands of acres devoted thereto will create no dearth of lands left to farm. Why anyone should feel that the statement that twenty-five per cent of the lands of any section of the State are non-prolitable for agriculture is detri- mental to its best interests is inconceivable. \Ve have but to turn to Germany with her 208,000 square miles to find that 54,000, an amount equal to al- most the total area of the State of Wisconsin, is in forests. Certainly in a country which has been developed to almost the last degree, the fact that one-fourth of its area is in forests does not detract from its standing as a nation and an example to others in intense development. There arc thousands of acres of land in Northern Wisconsin which, on account of the poor character of the soil and its rough nature, will not be used for farming either in this generation or several to come. This can be said without detracting from the agricultural possibilities of the section in which they are located. There is no section in the State where an attempt at reforestation can show as rapid results and quick illustration of its possibilities as the beautiful lake region of Northeastern Wisconsin. Most of the soil is of a light sandy nature. On this a rapid natural reproduction may be expected. There are now large areas where beautiful young growths of white and 46 REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE norway pine are springing up. If these can be kept free from fire and protected from the other natural ravages of the elements it will not be many years before the covetous eye of the woodsman will again turn to this district. It is well known that in a few years these little stands of natural repro- duction will reseed the other areas. This is especi- ally true on the light sandy soils where the w^hite and norway pine seed have such a splendid oppor- tunity to germinate. Where some of the smaller pine were left by the loggers, they have scattered seed over large areas. Where fire has not reached some of the growths are beautiful. A few years of fire protection and the results will be worth while. In addition, too, this territory was logged by rail. Miles and miles of railroad grade have been con- structed through the territory. These can be quickly converted into most excellent roads and fire lines. There is no place where a cheaper system of fire protection can be inaugurated. Furthermore by reason of the hundreds of lakes the opportunity for Ihe construction of fire lines between them, a most unusual opportunity is afforded in the blocking out of forest areas and the confining of fires to limited districts. The system of protection from forest fires in Wis- consin is not new or untried. The methods are those found to be most effective by National and State organizations. The Western Forestry Conserva- tion Association, the States of New York, Pennsyl- vania and Minnesota, and the National government protect their standing timber by the same methods. It has proven successful and is in operation by many private associations holding timber land. Wisconsin's system was established in 1911 and no areas of any extent in the district covered have been burned. The largest area under immediate super- vision and protection which has been burned over since this system of protection was inaugurated does not exceed ten acres. The forestry holdings now consist of 327,450 acres REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE 47 to which should be added, however, the acreage of 637 islands donated by the National government on which surveys have not been fully completed. The holdings in the proposed permanent reserve are as follows: Forest County 24,281 Iron County 27,102 Oneida County 48,488 Price County 5,657 Vilas County 128,010 Making a total within the proposed forest reserve of 186,537 acres exclusive of the islands. In addi- tion to this there are 5,086 acres in the Brule River Reserve and 47,003 acres of Indian Reservation lands, which make a total of 238,627 acres of lands which the Forestry Board now propose to hold for permanent forestry purposes. That is, these lands are located within the area where the future work is proposed to be conducted. Whatever of these lands may be of agricultural value lying in sufTicient tracts to warrant settle- ment will be placed upon the market for sale to actual settlers. If it were certain that the holdings outside of the State lands were to be used by actual settlers, the whole problem would be easy of solution. There would be no real reason for blocking up State lands. There would be no danger from fire^in fact, the settlers would assist in protecting the timber growth. The great danger lies in the large private holdings of unimproved lands which are not protected and where the opportunity is given for fires to originate by the lack of an adequate protective system. The State owns 88,822.49 acres of land in the following counties outside of the proposed permanent forest reserve area. The holding in each county is herewith given. 48 REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE Acres Ashland 3,966.20 Baylield 1,188.60 Burnett 3,649.21 Douglas 1,797.25 Florence 3,639.16 Forest j _ , 11,460.60 Iron 1,639.07 Langlade 1,058.42 • Lincoln 1,041.32 Marinette 4,494.21 Oneida 23, 173.38 Polk 846.40 Price 12,450.51 Rusk 2,215.87 Sawyer 11,213.22 Vilas ._ : 2, 360. 84 Washburn 2,628.23 TOTAL 88,822.49 These lands are scattering, some of them of agri- cultural value, and so located that it is recommended that they be sold and the proceeds applied to the purchase of lands in the proposed permanent reserve. The hrst work should be confined to this district. No matter where the forest reserve is located, the same cry of opposition would go up. The cjuestion is, "Are we to have a forest reserve at all?" If so, it must be somewhere. And no tract can be found that is more suitable than the one selected. There should be no misunderstanding, however. There is no intention when we say that the present work should be confined to this proposed area, to take all of the lands therein. Every safeguard should be provided so that the agricultural lands shall be devoted to that use and only those unprofi- table for farming used for forestry. The intention is simply to limit the field of operation for the reason that cfuicker and better results will follow, there being no desire to acquire lands of even possible agricultural worth. REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE 49 The plan has been proposed that the State have small forest reserves in several counties. This plan would not be practicable. Supervision would be expensive; fire protection would be expensive; and either more nurseries would have to be established, the expense of maintaining them being correspond- ingly greater, or plants would have to be transported and planting crews moved from point to point. The whole expense would be increased, and the main object of forest reserves would be defeated if they were not located on the headwaters of the important rivers. The present holdings are ample upon which to demonstrate what Wisconsin can accomplish in this w^ork. The claim is made that if these lands are not fit for agricultural purposes the State cannot lose by reason of delaying their purchase; that certainly they will not increase in value unless they have some agricultural worth. This however, is not true. This beautiful lake region is bound to become the mecca for sportsmen, health seekers and resorters. The lake frontages are now eagerly sought, and much of the opposition to the present forestry policy is occas- ioned by the demand for sites upon these beautiful bodies of water. This alone is bound to increase the value of these lands. Another thing that will add to their value is the growth of timber upon them. While the modern lumberman scoffs at the idea that there is any value in the timber that has been left, it will only take a few years to demonstrate otherwise. Looking back over the last few years of lumbering one finds that species of timber considered practically valueless twenty-five years ago are now in great demand and that prices for the so-called inferior grades of all timber have increased while the better grades have no more than held their own. The demand for pulp- wood, ties and other products of a like nature will make all of the growing timber in this district of inestimable value; so that the Forestry Board's opportunity for purchasing lands is now at its very ^0 REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE best. It would be a mistake, however, to attempt to carry on this work over too large an area with the funds at hand. The next few years will demonstrate its practicability. Then the people of Wisconsin will willingly contribute more money toward the purchase of lands and more towards the protection and plant- ing of trees. The claim is oftentimes made that it is too late to start forestry in Wisconsin; that this work should have been done while the State still owned or could have purchased some of the virgin and growing timber. An investigation will prove that this is not true, thai wherever forestry is being carried on it consists in the protection of the natural repro- duction of timber and of artificial planting. An exception to this, however, is in the work being conducted by the National government where the field of operation is confined to large holdings of virgin timber. In all of our Eastern States and in the foreign countries this is not the case. The State is the owner within the proposed permanent forest reserve of approximately 50,000 acres of virgin timber. None of this timber should be sold unless mature or there is real demand for the land for agricultural purposes. The State has some large bodies of timber in Forest County near the railroad. If these are offered for sale it should only be in such a way as will secure the agricultural development of the land itself. Twenty years ago lumbermen made a successful plea to have the State Park lands in Iron and Vilas Counties put on the market so that the lands could be put on the tax roll and the country would de- velop. The lands were offered for sale, the lumber- men getting the timber, but the country did not profit thereby in the way of development. In the light of history and experience we believe these timbcrlands should be conserved. The more recent investigations tend to substan- tiate the claim that in order to secure a uniform stream flow and the best results from our vast REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE 51 walerpowers, the headwaters of our rivers should be protected with a forest growth. The following ex- tract from Page 30 of the report of the "U. S. Geo- logical Survey, No. 13," by Hon. George Otis Smith, Director, shows the result of recent investigation: "The results of the Burnt Brook-Shoal Pond Brook studies are held to show that throughout the White Mountains the removal of forest growth must be expected to decrease the natural steadiness of de- pendent streams during the spring months at least. The foregoing conclusion forms a strong basis for arguing the desirability of painstaking methods of administration in respect to forest lands in the White Mountain region. Deforestation followed by fires as in the Burnt Brook basin results in condi- tions unfavorable to natural spring storage because conducive to rapid snow melting and stream run-off. Control of White Mountain lands that would reduce fires to a minimum and promote normal refore- station must result in a great inprovement over present tendencies and this improvement in forest cover can logically be expected to favorably affect stream regulation to the extent quantitatively indi- cated in the comparison of the forested Shoal Pond Brook with the deforested Burnt Brook." In the mountainous countries of Europe some governments do not allow private land owners to cut timber on watersheds, except under strict regu- lations, and the land must be reforested within a prescribed period. Under the Weeks law which provided for the purchase of the Appalachian-White Mountain forest reserve, no lands can be purchased until the U. S. Geological Survey has certified that the presence of forests upon such lands will affect the stream flow. The Geological Survey made a careful examination of two areas in the White mountains and compared conditions where there \vas forest cover and where the forest had been removed. They found that on the cut-over areas the snow began to disappear in patches, first from the lower elevation and then 52 REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE extending back to the drainage lines. In the forest, however, the disappearance of the snow was uniform and, with the exception of small cut-over or exposed areas, the depth remained quite uniform. In a report of the examination, it is stated that it "es- tablishes the general conclusion that a direct rela- tion exists between forest cover and stream regula- tion. The results. . . are held to show that through- out the W'hite mountains the removal of forest growth must be expected to decrease the natural steadiness of dependent streams during the spring months at least . . . Deforestation followed by fires . . . results in conditions unfavorable to natural spring storage because conducive to rapid snow melting and stream run-off." The securing of conditions favorable to uniform stream flow is of the highest importance in Wis- consin because this state has so many rivers and so much water i)ower. The state has no coal, and its water i)owers are the great source of energy for manufacturing, healing, lighting and transporting. The highest usefulness of the water powers is de- pendent on regularity of stream flow. Floods in the spring and low water in the summer and fall are injurious. Reforestation on the headwaters of the rivers and the storage of excess water in natural and artificial reservoirs will result in great benefits to the public. It has been claimed by the opponents of forestry that, because the forest reserve in Wisconsin was in a comparatively level country, the effects of de- forestation would not be as serious as in a mountain- ous country. This is unquestionably true as far as erosion is concerned, but the rapidity with which snow will melt on cut-over lands is the same, and this is the chief point to be considered in protecting the headwaters of our rivers in Wisconsin. This is but another reason for the retention of the present State forest lands. They are located at the headwaters of our most important rivers. Wiscon- sin, in addition to the recognized reasons for main- REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE 53 taining a forest reserve, namely, to secure a future supply of timber and regulate the How of streams, has a beautiful natural lake and park region, already patronized by thousands of people, to preserve for posterity. We recommend the retention by the State of its holdings in the proposed forest reserve area; and further recommend the sale of all scattering holdings outside thereof. We consider it advisable that future purchases be limited to the said area and as nearly as possible to lands not now suited to agriculture. Upon the sale of the good agricultural lands the money should be reinvested in non-agricultural lands. In acquiring lands in the future, which must be bought in large tracts in order to get them at a low price, the Forestry Board will obtain many acres of good farm lands. This cannot work harm in the settlement of the community if a proper method of disposing of them to actual settlers shall be found. In fact, one of the great hindrances to the settlement of all of Northern Wisconsin is the high price and hard conditions under which the actual settler purchases. Some plan must be de- vised by which these agricultural lands can be placed upon the market in such a way that the actual settler may be able to secure them at some- where near the price now^ paid by the State. That settlers should be obliged to pay ten and hfteen dollars when lands equally as good can be purchased by the State in large tracts at as low an average as $3.32 an acre is unreasonable. If farmers in some of our older communities could buy farm lands in Northern Wisconsin for $4 an acre on long-time payments at a low rate of interest the increase in settlement would be manyfold. Some limitation, however, must be put upon the sales to be made by the State Board of Forestry and such conditions annexed that only the actual settler can buy these lands; otherwise, they will simply get back into the hands of speculators and the price will be the same as for which other lands are now held. 54 REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE It is admitted that the development of Northern Wisconsin should be stimulated and every effort made to encourage settlement. It takes persistent advertising and a large amount of money and work to accomplish this. A feasible plan would be for the Forestry Board working in cooperation with the soil survey to release lands of agricultural value which are in sufficiently large tracts so that a com- munity can be established and to place these upon the market for sale to actual settlers. Then the Forestry Board should list all such tracts with the State Board of Immigration or some like organiza- tion so that they could advise prospective settlers of these tracts of agricultural lands. The forestry policy to date has not hindered this development by taking lands from the market. Of 400 acres of the best lands held by the State in Oneida County and offered for sale since September, 1912, at from 18.00 to $10.00 per acre, none have been purchased. This price was fixed upon these lands for the reason that it was believed to be about their actual cash value. It could not be expected that the State should pick from all of its lands these few hundred acres classed as agricultural and offer them at as low a price as the average price paid in all of their purchases. In order that the development of Northern Wis- consin be not interfered with we suggest and will later offer to the Legislature a bill which provides for the sale of all agricultural lands where located in sufficiently large tracts in the forest reserve; these lands to be sold to actual settlers in amounts not to exceed one hundred and sixty acres, upon prac- tically the same terms as those now offered and available under the United States Homestead Law. Such a price as will attract settlers to purchase these lands should be fixed and every effort made to get them into the hands of farmers. This should not be done unless a settlement large enough to support a school district and carry on its own affairs may be expected. Where there are tracts of 1,000 REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE 55 acres or more of good farm lands which will accom- modate twelve families and upwards, they might well be opened to settlement. Where communities already exist smaller areas within a reasonable dis- tance of any of them should be offered for sale by the State. Then the danger of isolating settlers would be avoided and they would not be deprived of the advantages of community life, schools, roads, churches, accessible markets, etc. We believe, how- ever, that such settlements should be directed so far as possible toward communities already establish- ed until the lands so available are disposed of. We don't want to be understood as advising that the State make further purchases of agricultural lands with the idea of disposing of them upon such terms to the settler, other than those which may be unavoidably obtained in the purchase of large tracts. W^e feel that the competition which would be caused thereby might be injurious to private interests. This plan is recommended solely for the purpose of placing agricultural lands in the hands of actual settlers and encouraging the development of North- eastern Wisconsin — making provision so that the forestry policy will be a help and not a hindrance. We feel that every effort should be made to retain for the use of the people of the State as much of the lake frontage as possible and that in no event should the State dispose of more than fifty per cent of such lake frontage, meaning thereby that the State should itself retain this percentage on the shore of each lake. Where such lands adjoin the lakes, we advise the retention of 500 feet in depth of frontage upon said shores to be held by the State for forestry purposes and such other use as the Forestry Board may re- commend. W'e don't believe, however, that any sales of lake frontage should be made except where the same is classified as good agricultural land and is within the districts which have been opened for settlement. In the vicinity of the permanent forest reserve 56 REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE area there are a good many public summer resorts, the main attraction of which has been the wildness of the surroundings, with the • attendant supply of fish and game. This attraction has been growing steadily less because of the extensive lumbering operations and the accompanying forest fires. The establishment of the forest reserve has in- sured the permanent attractiveness of this region for public recreation purposes, and in time it will even increase the beauty and desirability of the re- gion and result in a largely increased summer resort business. The money expended by tourists will go to resort owners, stage drivers, guides, boat liveries, dealers in food supplies, and to the railroads. There are already 91 public resorts in the forest reserve region, with 639 buildings. These can ac- commodate 4,372 guests at one time, and an in- vestigation has shown that the number of guests accommodated in a year is approximately 13,131 and the actual gross receipts in a year are $356,025. The hotels in the small towns within the forest reserve area, which get a large share of their busi- ness from the summer tourists, together with the livery stables and boat liveries, report a gross an- nual business of $59,057. It is probably safe to estimate that 50% of this amount, or $29,537, is paid by summer tourists. There are hundreds of lakes within the forest reserve area, and when these and the forests are protected, with consequent improvement in the hunt- ing and fishing, the resort business should increase to a very large figure. The people living in and near the forest reserve should be most interested in this project, and if they were fully advised as to the great benefit which will inure therefrom both to themselves and the people of Wisconsin, they would not hesitate to aid in the furthering and advancement of the present forestry work. We venture to say that in years to come when this territory adapted to the growth of trees has been carefully protected from fire and replanted REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE 57 to native white and norway pine it will become the resort of thousands of sportsmen, health and pleas- ure seekers; that the revenue from this source will equal, if not surpass, the benefits to be derived from farming; that it will not only prove of great commercial value to the people of that section from a forestry standpoint, but will assist and aid in its agricultural development. If thousands of people visit this place in a season, the farmers and people living there will be the ones to profit thereby. There is no class of people better able or more willing to pay high prices for good farm products than the tourist. Another source of profit is, that the grow- ing and harvesting of a crop of trees and replanting when cut furnishes an opportunity tor the employ- ment of laboring men. Forestry will aid in making the whole area productive, something which cannot be if non-agricultural land is not planted to trees. A well-established and continually maintained forest will give employment through planting, care, har- vesting and manufacture to a great number of people. The opportunity for a splendid forest re- serve, for a State Park where the people from all parts of Wisconsin can journey and enjoy out-of- door life coupled with the farm development of the good agricultural lands and the natural beauties of this region, should make it the finest in Wisconsin and one of the best in the United States. 58 REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE CHANGE IN THE FIRE LAW In cases of emergency where forest fires are so bad^that the local fire wardens are unable to control them without the assistance of residents, and where special fire wardens appointed on recommendation of the town chairman by the State Forester, have to take charge and call out helpers, it is important that the men who fight fire be paid|more promptly than is possible under the present ^law which re- quires the approval of claims by county boards which do not meet at all frequently. Many of the men who are available to fight fires in forested regions are only temporarily in the vicinity, or, if there for longer time, are unwilling to fight fire unless they are paid promptly. Therefore, it seems best to have such men paid in the first instance by the State, which will then collect one-half the expense from the county, instead of having the payment made first by the county, which then collects one-half from the State. The State can make prompt payment and the county cannot, if the approval of the county board is first to be obtained. The following amendment does not make any change in the amount of payment allowed or in the ultimate source of such payment; it merely re- verses the order of procedure, so as to secure prompt payment, aud substitutes the joint approval of the fire warden under w^hom service was performed and of the state forester for the approval of the county board. AMENDMENT TO SECTION 1494-48a. 2. The fire wardens appointed by the state fire warden shall prepare itemized accounts for their own services and the services of their assistants, and no account shall be paid until it has been approved bv the state fire w^arden, or assistant state fire war- REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE 59 den. The secretary of state shall then issue a war- rant upon the general fund of the state treasury for the amount of such account, and the state treasurer shall pay the same. Under the provisions of this act the secretary of state shall not issue warrants for more than ten thousand dollars for fighting forest fires in any one county in any one year, and one half of the amount paid by the state shall be refunded to the state by the county in which the fires were fought. In case the work of fighting fires covers a portion of two or more coun- ties, the amount to be paid by each county shall be decided by the state fire warden. 3. As soon as each account has been approved by the state fire warden and paid by the state treas- urer, the state fire warden shall send to the county treasurer a bill for the county's share of the ex- pense and a copy of the bill shall be filed with the secretary of state. The county shall have sixty days within which to pay any bill but if not paid within sixty days the county shall be liable for interest at the rate of six per centum per annum. However, if the sixty days shall have elapsed be- fore the time provided by law for the secretary of state to certify to the counties the levy for state taxes, then the secretary of state shall include the bill or bills against the county for fighting fire which remain unpaid in the levy against the county for state taxes. NOTE: — The above amendment is to replace sub- sections 2 and 3 of section 1494-48a. 60 REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTKK TAXATION A serious mistake was made when the present forestry work was begun in not making some pro- vision for the relief of the taxing districts by reason of their being deprived of the tax revenue from the State lands. During the time that the State has been acquiring 184,314 acres, it has disposed of 79,974 acres; still, in the effort of the forestry board to block up and consolidate the reserve the State's holdings have become confined to a much smaller territory. Hence, the loss of taxable property by some of the assess- ment districts has become very noticeable and in some instances a considerable hardship. The earlier Legislatures should have made some provision for this. In spite of the fact that the forestry depart- ment has recommended some relief, nothing was done, however, until the session of 1913. At that lime a bill was passed which provided for the payment by the State of a tax upon all lands within the forest reserve area for all except State purposes at a rate of taxation not to exceed 1^ per centum of the assessed value. By reason of this having been limited to the forest reserve area the ciuestion of its constitutionality has been raised and the matter is now before the State Su pre me Court. That this act will, if constitutional, afford relief has not been questioned. The total assessed value of all the State lands in the forest reserve amounts to $1,249,521 for the year 1913, the tax upon which, as certified by the Wisconsin Tax Commission to the Secretary of State, amounted to $15,619.05. Pennsylvania has a system by which each town- ship or assessment district is paid two cents per acre towards the maintenance of schools and an additional two cents per acre toward the up-keep of its roads — this making in all four cents per acre. Taking the REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE 61 Stale holdings at 400,000 acres at four cents per acre would make $16,000, or approximately the same amount which would have been paid by the State under Chapter 740 of the Laws of 1913 had not the constitutional question been raised. Should this law be found unconstitutional it will be necessary for the state to provide adequate relief. 62 REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE TAXATION OF PRIVATE TIMBER LANDS Many of the States of the Union have enacted various tax laws to encourage the planting and culti- vation of trees. None of them have solved the prob- lem of forest taxation. Practically no results have been obtained under them, although many have been in force for years. In most instances these laws apply strictly to plantations of timber or woodlots, making no provision for the exemption of natural growths of timber and, therefore, not encouraging protection of natural reproduction. That taxation had much to do in hurrying the cutting of timber and in discouraging its growth and preservation are too well-known to be questioned. Some effort should be made along these lines in Wisconsin. The present laws exempting from taxa- tion for thirty years are inadequate. Mature timber cannot be expected in that time, and if a full assess- ment is made after that period the result will be to practically confiscate the property before the timber is ready for the market. In Pennsylvania the lands are classified and imma- ture timber is placed in a class called an "Auxiliary Forest Reserve." The acceptance of these lands is left with the Forestry Commission. When placed in the above class they are not assessed for more than one dollar per acre until the trees are mature and cut, and when cut they are then taxed ten per centum upon the stumpage value of the timber. This exemption from taxation if in any considerable amount works the same injury to the local assess- ment district as the exemption of state forest hold- ings. By reason of that the aforementioned State made a further provision that wherever such Auxili- ary Forest Reserve lands are located that township or county should be paid out of the state treasury the sum of two cents an acre for roads and two cents an acre for schools. That has made it possible for individuals to engage in forestry in that State. The REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE 63 members of the Pennsylvania Forestry Commission seem to feel that the law is working satisfactorily and encouraging private attempts at reforestation. We herewith present the following bill for your consideration: A Bill relating to the taxation of timberlands: Section 1. In consideration of the public benefit to be derived from forestry management upon a consid- erable area of the timberlands within the state, the owner of any timberland may apply to the State Board of Forestry for an examination of his lands and timber. Such application shall be accompanied by a plat and description of such timberland and a guar- antee to pay the reasonable expense of such exami- nation and report. Section 2. In case the state board of forestry finds upon examination that the management of such tim- berland under forestry regulations would be a public benefit, it shall submit a report for the management of such lands to the owner thereof, clearly stating the regulations in regard to the cutting of the timber, and in case the owner shall accept the same, a con- tract covering the regulations for the cutting of the timber shall be entered into between the owner and the state; but no such contract shall be entered into in case of matured timber held for speculative pur- poses. Section 3. Upon the execution of the above con- tract, the state board of forestry shall file a plat and description of the lands with the local assessors, and after such plat and description have been filed with them, the assessors when making the annual assessment shall assess only the value of the land and no tax shall be paid upon the timber until it is cut. In no case shall the land be assessed at a higher rate than cut-over land in the same town. Section 4. When the owner of such timberlands cuts therefrom any timber, cord wood, poles, posts, or any other forest products for any purposes what- soever, he shall make, or cause to be made, an accu- 64 REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE rate measure of all such products and file a sworn copy of such measurement with the assessors, and such sworn statement shall be the basis of the tax valuation. Section 5. Before any such products are sold or re- moved the owner of the timberland from which they have been cut, shall pay in lieu of the usual annual tax upon the timber the following percentages of the stumpage value of such products as determined by the assessors, according to the number of years the timberland has been managed according to the pro- visions of the above contract, viz.: 2 years 10 per cent of the stumpage value. 3 years 10 per cent of the stumpage value. 4 years 10 per cent of the stumpage value. 5 years 10 per cent of the stumpage value. () years 10 per cent of the stumpage value. 7 years 10 per cent of the stumpage value. 8 years 10 per cent of the stumpage value. 9 years 10 per cent of the stumpage value. 10 years 10 per cent of the stumpage value. From ten to forty years the timber or forest prod- ucts shall not be assessed over ten per cent of the stumpage value, as above provided, and the state shall not enter into any contract for a longer period than forty years. Section (>. The state board of forestry or the local assessors shall have the right at any time to make, or cause to be made, a check scale or measurement of any products for which a sworn statement has been hied with the assessors under the provisions of section 4 of this act. Sectit)n 7. All timberlands affected by any of the foregoing sections and assessed in the usual manner shall be subject to the same rules and regulations as to correction and review by local board of review as now p] .ided by law. The same right of appeal shall apply as affects any other property in the same district. REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE 65 Section 8. The owner of any timberland who shall have entered into a contract with the state to man- age the forests under such regulations as the state may prescribe and who shall then fail to file a sworn statement as to the measurement of such products as he may cut, or who shall remove such products without notifying the local assessors, or who shall swear falsely as to the measurements of such pro- ducts, shall pay ten per cent of the value of such products as determined by the assessors, and in addi- tion thereto, shall be liable to a fine of not less than $1.00 nor more than $10.00 for each tree so cut and removed. Section 9. All acts and parts of acts inconsistent or in conflict with the provisions of this act are hereby repealed. Section 10. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and publication. 66 REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE CONSOLIDATION OF THE STATE BOARD OF FORESTRY WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS We believe that the time is ripe for the consolida- tion of several of the boards which are working along the lines of conservation into one department to be known as the State Conservation Commission. In this way a great deal of the duplication and ex- pense of maintenance and operation may be elimi- nated. More effective work could be done and at the same time be placed in the hands of competent, trained officials. The work of many of the different departments is conducted, or at least, supervised, by ex-officio boards, acting without other compensation than their actual traveling expenses. By the consolida- tion of this work much better results can be ac- complished and men employed who would devote all of their time and energy to the work. We suggest that this commission be made to em- brace the following now existing departments: 1. Fish and Game Department. 2. Fish Commission. 3. State Board of Forestry. 4. State Park Board. 5. State Conservation Commission. This work could then be placed in the hands of three men and at a much less expense than is now necessary. We would recommend that one of the Commissioners be a man with a thorough knowledge of the propagation, protection and care of fish and game; the second be a technically trained forester, and the third a technically trained engineer, and that all these appointments be made by the Governor in the same manner as the members of the Railroad Commission. REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMriTEE 67 A Bill To create sections 1494t-7 and 1494t-8 of the statutes; to amend subsection 1 of section 1498, section 1494-42, and section 1498x, of the statutes, and to repeal subsections 2, 3 and 4 of section 1498, and sections 1494-46, 1495, 1496 and 14941-1 of the statutes, abolishing the offices of state fish and game warden, state board of forestry, state conservation commission, commissioners of fisheries and the state park board, and providing for the appointment of a state conservation commission of Wisconsin. The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows: Section 1. There are added to the statutes two new sections to read: Section 1494t-7. 1. A state conservation commission is hereby created to be com- posed of three commissioners. Immediately after the passage of this act the Governor shall, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, appoint such commissioners, but no commissioner so ap- pointed shall be qualified to act until so confirmed. One of the commissioners shall be a man with a thorough knowledge of the propagation, protection and care of fish and game; the second shall be a technically trained forester; and the third a tech- nically trained engineer. The term of one such appointee shall terminate on the first Monday in February, 1919; the term of the second such appoin- tee shall terminate on the first Monday in February, 1921; and the term of the third such appointee shall terminate on the first Monday in February, 1923. In January, 1919 and biennially thereafter there shall be appointed, and comfirmed in the same manner, one commissioner for the term of six years from the first Monday in February of such year. Each such commissioner so appointed shall hold his office until his successor is appointed and qualified. Any vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the governor for the unexpired 68 REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE term subject to confirmation by the senate, but no such appointment shall be in full force until acted upon by the senate. Each such commission- er shall receive an annual salary of three thousand five hundred dollars. 2. The governor may at any time remove any commissioner for inefTiciency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. Before such removal he shall give such commissioner a copy of the charges against him and shall fix a time when he can be heard in his own defense, which shall not be less than ten days thereafter, and such hearing shall be open to the public. If he shall be removed the governor shall file in the office of the secretary of state a complete statement of all charges made against such commissioner, and his findings thereon, with a record of all proceedings. 3. No commissioner, nor the secretary, shall hold any other office, or position of profit, or pursue any other business or vocation, or serve on or under any committee of any political party, but shall devote his entire time to the duties of his office. 4. Before entering upon the duties of his office, each of said commissioners shall take and sub- scribe a constitutional oath of ofTice, and shall in addition thereto swear (or affirm) that he holds no other office of profit, nor any position under any political committee or party; such oath (or afTir- mation) shall be filed in the office of the secretary of state. 5. The commissioners appointed under this sec- tion shall within twenty days after their appoint- ment and afTirmation meet at the state capitol and organize by electing one of their number chairman, who shall serve until the second Monday of Febru- ary 1917. On the second Monday of February in each odd numbered year the commissioners shall meet at the ofTice of the commission and elect a chairman who shall serve for two years and until his succes- sor is elected. A majority of said commissioners shall constitute a cjuorum to transact business, and any REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE 69 vacancy shall not impair the right of the remaining commissioners to exorcise all the powess of the commission. 6. Said commission shall appoint a secretary who shall keep a full and correct account of all trans- actions and proceedings of said commission and shall perform such other duties as may be required by said commission and shall receive an annual salary not exceeding fifteen hundred dollars. Said commission may employ the necessary clerks and stenographers to perform the clerical work of the office, and appoint and employ such foresters, ward- ens, experts, agents, superintendents, assistants and employes as may be necessary to carry out the pro- visions of this section, and shall fix the compensa- tion for such clerks, stenographers, foresters, ward- ens, experts, agents, superintendents, assistants and employes. The experts and temporary employes shall be exempt from the operation of chapter 44a of the statutes. 7. The commissioners shall be known collectively as the "state conservation commission of Wiscon- sin" and in that name may sue and be sued. It shall have a seal with the words "state conserva- tion commission of Wisconsin," and such other design as the commission may prescribe engraved thereon, by which it shall authenticate its proceed- ings and of which the court shall take judicial notice. 8. Said commission shall keep its office at the state capitol and the superintendent of public prop- erty is directed to provide suitable rooms for that purpose, also the necessary office furniture, supplies, postage and stationery. Said commission is author- ized to purchase the necessary supplies, equipment and instruments, to procure printed forms and not- ices and to issue special publications pertaining to its work, the cost of which shall be audited and paid the same as other expenses of the state are audited and paid. Said commission may hold meetings at other places than the capitol whenever in its judg- 70 REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE menl the interests of the state can best be served by SO doing. Section 1494t-8. 1. All duties, liabilities, authority, powers, and privileges imposed or conferred by law upon the state lish and game warden, the state board of forestry, the state forester, the assistant state forester, the state fire warden, the assistant state fire warden, the stale trespass agent and the assistant state trespass agent, the state conservation commission, the commissioners of fisheries, the super- intendent of fisheries, the assistant superintendent of fisheries and the state park board are conferred and imposed ui)on the state conservation commission of Wisconsin. 2. All provisions of the statutes relating to the state fish and game warden, all deputies, special and county game wardens, to the state board of forestry to the state forester, to the assistant state forester, to the state, county and town fire wardens, to tres- pass agents, to the state conservation commission, to the commissioners of fisheries, to the superintend- ent of fisheries, to the assistant superintendent of fisheries and to the state park board shall apply to and be deemed to relate to the said state conserva- tion commission of Wisconsin, and the officers pro- vided for by this section, so far as the said laws are applicable. 3. All funds, approi)ria lions and mone\s made available by law for carrying out the purposes set forth in the laws creating, regulating, providing for and relating to such (ish and game warden, such stale board of forestry, such commissioners of fish- eries, the state conservation commission, and such state park board, and any laws creating, regulating, providing for and relating to all clerks, employes, assistants, deputies, wardens, special and additional wardens, county wardens, county or town fire wardens, trespass agents and superintendents, and all funds, appropriations and moneys under the con- trol of any state hsh and game warden, such slate board of forestrv, of such commissioners of fisheries, REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE 71 of the stale conservation commission, and such state park board, and all clerks, employes, assistants, deputies, wardens, special and additional wardens, county wardens, county or town fire wardens, tres- pass agents, and superintendents, shall be available to and under the control of the state conservation commission of Wisconsin herein created. 4. All laws relating to the collection, carrying, transfer, custody and disbursement of said funds, appropriations and moneys, or relating to any cler- ical or ministerial act involved in such collection, carrying, transfer, custody and disbursement thereof shall apply to the collection, carrying, transfer, custody and disbursement of said funds when under the control of the said state conservation commission of Wisconsin. 5. Any amendment made to sections of the stat- utes relating to the duties, liabilities, authorities, powers and privileges of or relating to funds, ap- propriations and moneys available to or under the control of any of the commissioners or officers named in this section shall be deemed to relate to the duties, liabilities, authority, powers, and privileges imposed and conferred upon the said conservation commission and to the funds, appropriations and moneys available to or under the control of such commission. Section 2. Subsection 1 of section 1498, subsec- tions 3 and 4 of section 1494-42, and section 1498x of the statutes are amended to read: (Section 1498) i. 54^^ gevepttOF ^all a ppoint a state #&^ m^ gaitte wftpdes- by- ftft4 wi-tfe- -tih-e ftdvi^e ftft4 consent ef -the senate, wh^e shftH 4^eld- feis efftee -fei^ -W^e •tepffl- el 4we yeaFS fpe«^ -the 4&te el Ms appo 4fi-t- ffl-e-H-t aft4 -H-«-ti4 his suc c e s s o r is ap pointe d- €t¥t4 ^-ttatified-, -tn^ess re move d- by- -the govern o i^ fe^ m-i& condu et, i-Ref ficicnc y, of ftegieet ef d-H-ty; aft4 an-y va&ft«-ey eee«-PFtftg 4-u- ring said- ^Fffl- shall be fi-H-ed by -the g- ovornor foF t4*e Fesid-u-e of -the ^Fi«-. It shall be the duty of setid wf^^e^ the state con- servation commission of Wisconsin to secure the 72 REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE enforcement of the law for the preservation of fish and game and to bring or cause to be brought actions and proceedings in the name of the state to recover any and all fines and penalties provided for. Me shall afee perform -tfee same d uties fts ftfe ift Gcction 1636c prer i cribcd foi^ fee wardens , ftft4 shall further report ^ -tl^e land commissio fter^ ftfty information relating te -y^e ^^tfi-fee ktftds e* shall ffOift time to time be required ftftd conccrn - iftg ftfty trespasse s tr hereon which may eomc -to Ms knowledge . Section 1494-42. 4-. There shall be a state fof- este^, who shall be a technically trained forester , appointed by- ti^e state board of forestry , a«4 whether ft«-y candidate foi^ -tl^i* p ositio n- is a- tech - nically -t rained forester shall be d etermined by ee rtificates from -tb-e secretary of. -y^e United States department of ftgfie-H- lture . 3. Me sbeaH- r eceive a salary of -t hree -tj^o usan d- six hundred dollars pe¥ year , -oftd -tbe actual ft«d Bee es s ar y trave liftg €»-Bd field expenses, in curred ifi- -tl^e conduct of Ms official b usiness , he e«^- powc fed -to appoint a- eleidr who se salary st^ad fto^ e xcee d fifteen b- undred dollars per a n n u m ) be s upplied with suitable offices , be entitled from ■tfie superintendent of public property to such stationary , postage , a«d other oft+ee supplies aftd equipment -as may be necessary , be authorized ^ purchas e ad necessary fi e ld supplie s, e quipment , aftd instruments , be furnished by t4*e state ad necessary p rinted foritts €t¥^ «-otiees €t¥t4 -tde p^ih- lications dere i natter p r ov ided , ^i^ shall aet as secretary of -tbe state board of forestry . g, $k^, 4-, T'/je .s/rt/e conservation commission of Wis- consin shall, unde r tbe supervision of -tde state board of forestry , execute all matters pertaining to forestry within the jurisdiction of the state, direct the management of the state forest reserve, depute Ofte of Ms assistants -to aet d-tH^i«-g dis absence or disability , collect data relative to forest destruc- tion and conditions, take such action as is author- REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE 73 ized by law to prevent and extinguish forest fires and to prevent forest trespass; cooperate in for- estry as provided under Section 1494-45 of the statutes; and advance as he may deem he deemed wise by the issuing of publications and by lectures, the cause of forestry within the state; and may cooperate with the university of Wisconsin in the instruction and training of forest rangers. Me Such commission shall prepare biennially ft report ■te -tfee stftte board ef forestry bicnniallij on the progress and condition of state forest work, and recommend therein plans for improving the state system of forest protection, management, replace- ment, and taxation. ¥^e state board ef forestry shall f cport biennially ft summary e^ s-H-efe fact s to the governor. 4. 2 — The care and protection of all lands that have been, or may hereafter be acquired by the state for public park purposes, shall be under the direction of the state bofti^ ef forestr y cun- servcdion commission of Wisconsin, and all moneys appropriated for the purposes of the protection and improvement of such parks shall be expended under the supervision of such b^ft^d- of foFes-t^y commis- sion. Section 1498x. Thc pe i^ hereby missio tt -te fee 4^-R- own fts -tfee e ommission ef -tfee stft-te ef -Wi&e^ te consist of seveft m c mbc ps, -to fee ftp^ ■tfee governor . Tfee -tefm- ef office el -tfee eem-m-i*- s ionc ps shal l fee #efH- July 4-, 19 11, fts follows : 5-we feF ft period- ef -two years, trwe fer ft peri-ed- el four yeftrs, ftftd- three ler ft peFi-e4 el si?t yeftps: fts ■tfeeif -te^m* ej^re fttl ftppeifi-ti«efl~ts shall fee ler m^ years ft«-4 -H-fi+i-l -their successors ftre ftppeifl-te4. The duties el -tfee The stcde conservation commis- sion of Wisconsin shall fee -to consider the natural resources of the state of Wisconsin with reference to their remaining unimpaired so far as this is practicable. The commission shall presefl-t ft ftrst report to the governor efl- or feelere J-H-«-e ^, 4-&4-S, 74 REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE ftft4 biennially -tfe-efea-l^eF, f3ii ch ^epoFfe ^ ee«-taift on or before June 30, of each odd numbered year, the results of investigations and recommendations as to measures to be taken to conserve the natural resources of the state, and, if such recommenda- tions embody legislation, drafts of bills to accom- plish the same. The governor is authorized to have such reports printed by the state printer. Section 3. Subsections 2, 3 and 4 of section 1498, and sections 1494-46, 1495, 1496 and 1494t-l of the statutes are repealed from and after September 1, 1915. Section 4. This act shall take effect upon passage and publication. REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE /O Summary The Cummiltcc Found: 1. That Wisconsin conditions are ideal lor the growing of trees, particularly white and norway pine. 2. That artificial reforestation will ullimately l)econie a source of profit to the State. .3. That such planting should be confined to principally white and norway pine. 4. That quicker and cheaper results can be had by the encourage- ment of natural second growth — that is, natural reproduction. 5. That it will only be a few years before owners of |)rivale estates will engage in the reforestation of their non-agricultural lands. 6. That the task given the committee to decide which of the lands in the proposed Forest Reserve are best adapted to agriculture is an impossible one; it would recjuire a soil survey and cruising by experts. That all the committee could do was to make general observations. 7. That the question as to which of the lands are available for agri- culture is a debatable one. That the demand in a few years may be such that some of the land now really considered non-|)rofitable for farming may i)e cultivated. 8. That the State lands now owned do not compare favorably with other lands in the proposed reserve. 9. That the selection of the lands in the proposed reserve was well made and no better place could be found in the State. 10. That lands should be held in large areas in order to lessen the cost of fire protection and other expense of reforestation. 11. That there are large areas in other parts of the State only fit for forestry, which future commercial interests may demand the use of for this purpose. 12. That climatic conditions, while a hindrance in growing certain crops, do no more than limit the field of operation, yet with oppor- tunity for fairly good returns. 13. That the committee fonnd large areas which were very rough, covered with gravel, stone and huge boulders. That large areas — in fa?t, a major portion of the lands which the committee had an oppor- tunity to investigate are i)etter adapted to forestry than to farming. 14. That if these areas are used for forestry it will not interfere in any way with the agricultural development, neither should farming interfere with forestrv. The one should assist the other. 76 REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE 15. With 13,000,000 acres undeveloped in Northern Wisconsin, and three and a quarter milUon non-agricultural — that is 25 per cent — there is sufficient land for forestry and yet no dearth of land left to farm. 16. That there are thousands of acres of lands in Northern Wis- consin which on account of the poor soil and rough nature will not be used for farming in this generation or several to come. 17. That there is no section of the State where an attempt at re- forestation can produce a quicker illustration of its possibilities. That soil conditions are the very best for a natural reproduction of pine. 18. That by reason of the miles of old logging grades and the hundreds of lakes an excellent opportunity is afforded for the estab- lishment of a cheap and good fire protection system. 19. That scattering state lands should be sold and money used to ward the purchase of lands in the proposed permanent reserve. 20. That the present work of the department be confined to the proposed permanent reserve. 21. That small forest reserves in several districts are not |)ractical on account of expense of operation. 22. That the present state lands in tlu' proposed reserve are ample upon which to demonstrate what can be expected in this work. 2.3. That much of the present opposition to forestry is occasioned by the demand for lake frontages. 24. That by reason of the increased demand the inferior species of timber now growing on the state lands will be of inestimable value. 25. That none of the timber owned by the state be sold until mature or unless there be a real demand for the land for agriculture. That all timber lands should be conserved. 2(i. That more recent investigations tend to substantiate the claim that in order to secure a uniform stream flow, the head-waters of our rivers should be protected with a forest growth. That deforestation is conductive to rapid snow melting and stream run-off. 27. That the lands in the proposed reserve be retained and future purchases be limited to that area. 28. That agricultural lands, in areas of 1,000 acres or more, now owned by the state be classified and immediately offered for sale to actual settlers. That said lands be sold cheaply, on long terms, at a low rate of interest. Sold under some such provisions as to their occupancy and improvements as now required under the United States Homestead law. In tracts not to exceed 160 acres. In accordance with a bill to be presented. 29. That fifty per cent of all the frontage on each lake in the proposed reserve be held by the State; that no lake frontage be sold unless classified as of agricultural value and then only to actual settlers. REPORT OF SPECIAL FORESTRY COMMITTEE 77 30. That the establishment of the forest reserve has insured the permanent attractiveness of this region for public recreation pur- poses. 31. That the present taxation law, if constitutional, provides ade- quate relief to the assessment districts for the loss of taxes on state lands. 32. That a new law for the taxation of private timber lands be enacted along the lines of a bill herewith presented. 33. That the following departments be consolidated under the head of a board of three members to be known as the State Conservation Commission: 1. Fish & Game Department; 2. Fish Commission; 3. State Board of Forestry; 4. State Park Board; 5. State Conserva- ion Commission; for which a bill is herewith presented. .h(i lb r iiiiliiiiliiliH ^'i i liiii! i» iiiil LIBRARY OF CONGRESS DDDmSSTbBE ■iiiiii iHU'l'tfl'!?: m : i » mammmi ill ii<()(>Ulii>UU<}i>;iJ)!i!SM«0;