FORESTRY
325592
THE ANALYTICAL IKESlSM^s^fired by the Secretary of the Washington Conservation Association) pages 1 to 44 incl* pre« sents in logical onfer the material points in the Reports and thereby affords a convenient means for the drfating of bills to he presented to the State Legislature. Bach index note refers to the page of the report and,approximately,the line on which the note is based. The index is followed by a colojn&d sheet which is in turn followed by the Report of the Commission and it* committees.
OUTLINE OT AN&DTTXCAL XKmx to the Beport of the Washington State Commission (and its $ sub^osme&ittees) tn I’oreet
Legislations
ORGANIZATION:	/
1 The Governor	1
2	State Board forest	Commissioner#
3 State S’orenter	7~.H
4	tfire harden®	12-14
5	forest Banger®	15-17
6	State Torest Service	Employee®	Uiscsl*	22
7	State Timber Appraisal Beard	33
&	APFBOPBIATI01T3	and	ruads—■——....-------............	18-19
9	Accounts and bills	20
10	Printed Hatter and Publicstions———21
PERSONS, FIHIJS and COHPORATIOITS:
in re State Forest Service:
11	Counties	- 2$
12	Citizens	25—26
13	Road and Trail	Builders	..•••	24
14	Railroads	22
15	Lsgcrers	-••••-	23
16	Kaavfacturers	24
17 Forest Pires —-------- -----——.....................—	27-28
18	tJee and Abus© of ?ir^ csn forest,etc.lands	29'*30.
19	Penalties	........w...»....»>■.■ ..*«»«»	VSX*»3«3
,r V	v
20	Miscellaneous ^satur®® -53
21 Deforested er loggedr*o?f Lswad ——— ------------ —-	34
22	Heforestation	5S**Cif>
'' 23 State Merest Land** Osnsrs). ]^Uej	~ —	59«42
24	Porest Taxation ———-—----------------*— -------- —	43
,	25	Special Ref ere nee to	Organ_izatians>^genc.ie»7-
institutions,etc.-----------------------———-	44
A325592
A
Analytical Index to RecomEibndations contained in the Sioc Reports of the Washington State Commission on Forest Legislation, and its Five Committees,- being a Synopsis of the Recommendations arranged in logical order,and referring to page and to line of page in each instance,- under heads of "Governor",-"State Board of Forest CosKnissioners ", - "Fire Wardens",- "Forest Ranger*,-"Appropriations",- etc,,etc.
-THE GOVERNOR-Page
1	Shall appoint 4 members of State Board of	1
Forest Commissioners
2	Shall appoint 2 out of 4 Board members every	9
two years
3	Should consider list of candidates for Board	9
appointments to be submitted by heads of certain advisory organizations-
4	Makes Board appointments without reference to ad-	9
visors,if their list of candidates is not presented by certain time-
5	In times and localities of unusual fire danger,with	17	24
advice of Forester,may prohibit use of fire aa
mentioned in Sec.5.
6	In cases referred to in Sec.6,maysuspend any or
all permits te bum-	17	24
7	In time of extreme drouth may proclaim closed	17	28
season for rame,and curtail the regular open season.
8	Should,together with State Board Land Commission-
ers, and State Board Forest Commissioners,be united by Legislature to form State Land Appraisal Board-	30	7
Line
17
. 10
16
31
34I
B
State Board of-FOKEST COM3'.a£SrOKE5RS
Page Line
1	Providing for creation of Board of forest
Commissioners-	9	3
2	Present membership of 5 increased to 7	1	14
3	Shall be non-political-	1	15
Board shall consist of:
4	State	Land Commissioner	1	15
5	who	shall he ex**officio-	9	4
6	Head Forestry School Univ.of Wn.	1	16
7	who	shall he ex-officio-	9	6
8	Head forestry School Wn.State College	1	1£
9	who	shall be ex-officio-	9	6
10	Pour members to he appointed by Governor	9	10
11	because of their special knowledge and fitness- 1	17
12	Term of each member of Board- 4 years-	9	10
15	Each appointee shall be elector of Washington-	9	9
9	24
14	Appointments should preferably be made from
candidates recommended by heads Washington Corns mw/ems*.on Association; Logged-off LantiAss’n;
Per a me 3‘f.re Ass!n-» U*S, Forest Service; Wash.State Grange,or successors to these-	9	16
15	Candidates should be selected with view of their
possessing competent,expert judgment in	/
Forestry and forest product matters,etc.	9	25
16	There	should be at least two candidates presented
to the Governor for each appointment-	9	28
17	Each candidate should have endorsement of head.3
of two or more of the organisations acting as advisors to Governor	9	29
18	Appointments shall be made without reference	to
advisory organisations if candidates* names
not presented to Governor within oO days sfter
date when appointments should have been made- ' 9	323
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20
21
22
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24
25
26
27
28
29
30 31-
32
33
34
34
C	Porest	Commissioners
Page Lire
Each Board member mhst take oath of office-	10	3
Board shall meet at call of Governor after appointment and elect a Chairman-	10	14
Position of Secretary of Board sliall be filled
by State forester-	12	10
Secretary of Board may be forest Assistant whenever delegated to act as 3uch by State Porcster- 12	10
Board shall have suitable quarters in
State Capitol Building-	10	12
Meetings shall be held with monthly regularity-	10	19
Time of meeting to be determined by Chairman-	10	20
Place of meeting- (any convenient place in State
determined by Chairman)	10	20
Call to be issued by Chairman-	10	18
Call shall be in writ ing-	10	18
Special Hoctings shall be held on written request to Chairman-by trhree or more Board members, or by the State forester-	10	22
Time of special meetings to be fixed by those
making written request-	10	23
Place,- any place within State,determined by
those making written request for meeting-	10	23
Call to be made by Chairman of Board-	10	22
Quorum consists of majority of Board members-	10	17
Ex-officio Board members shall receive actual mileage and expense subsistance while engaged on Board duties-	10	9
Each appointed member of Board receives $10 per diem and actual mileage while engaged on Board duties-	10	7$
D
State Board of Forest Commissioners
	Page		Line
36	Appropriation for per diem mileage,sub-sistance of Beard members-	23	18
37	Appoint State Forester	10	29
38	Remove at will State Forester	10	33
39	Fix salary State Forester-	11	13
40	Control official acts State ^orester-	10	31
41	Examine all detailed expenditures State Forester and allow,or disallow items-	11	20
42	Control and regulate acts of Fire Wardens-	10	3?
43	Remcve Fire Wardens at will-	10	33
44	Reinstate Fire Wardens at will (implied)-	14	26
&5	Audit and inspect all bills cf Fire Wardens-	11	28
46	Control and regulate official acts Forest Rangers-	10	33
47	Remove at will Forest Rangers-	10	3o
48	Reinstate Forest Rangers (Implied)	14	26
49	Audit and inspect all bills Forest Rangers-	11	29
50	Audit all accounts expenses incurred for protecting forests against fire-	11	28
51	llay approve or disapprove of appointment of forest assistants as made by State Forester-	12	5
52	I'iay approve or disapprove compensation of forest assistants as fixed by State Forester-	12	6
53	May approve or disapprove appointment of clerical assistants by Forester-	12	6
54	££ay approve or disapprove compensation of clerical assistants as fixed by Forester-	12	6
55	Pass upon correctness of bills authorized by fire wardens and forest rangers for forest fire expense-	11	3057
58
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60
61
62
63
64
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66
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70
StX
71
72
5
E
State Board of forest Commissioners
Page Line
£
Present for each county a statement of forest fire expenses incurred in that county,with original bills therefor,to State Auditor-
Supervise all matters relative forest policy and forest management-
Have powers relating to State Portst lands that are now vested in State Board of Land Comms.
Control,manage and dispose of all State Por^st lands at discretion-
Have jurisdiction over State Por&st lands-
Have complete control of State Portst Reserve**
Control all State “Forest Lands-
Have preference right to purchasefland of tax delinquents at maximum $2 per acre-
Have power to purchase certain lands suitable for forest growth at maximum $3 pt=r acre-
Accept donation under cer+ain conditions of lands suitable for reforestation by State-
11
10
2
28
2
47
6
33
33
11
32
3
do	do
Reforestation to be carried on by Board-
Reforestation cut-over lands carried on by Board-	31
Value State lands for purpose of sale-	31
Have power to advertise for sale lands that should be soldjand to refuse to sell lands when State welfare demands they be retained-	29
Have power to advertise for sale at not less than appraised value,lands when interest of State to sell-	31
Kake contracts by which natural production encouraged and protection cut-over lands facilitated-	31
31
26
8
6
6
12
29
5 9
6 2o
8
23
15
16
187 3
74
75
76
77
78
79
80 81
82-
£
S
State Board of Forest Commissioners
Page Line
Supervise Trustee contracts to insure carrying
out terms of	sale-	32	1
Supervise all acts of Forester and assistants when cooperating in forestry matters,and with individuals,corporat ions, governmental depts. and other governments-	12	14
Collect information through subordinates re timber lands owned by State,including damage by forest	11	3
illegal cutting;	,m	'	11	3
trespass-	11	3
Conduct forest studies, - publish	results-	32	3
Approve or disapprove publication for frtt distribution, information re forestry when recommended by State Forester-	13	17
"lahe rules and regulations re forest fire,-including conditions on which permits to burn may be issued-	16	26
Have power to protect all State Forest lands
from fire under the law-	31	7
Have power to protect State ^orest lands
against trespass by employing trespass agents- 31	9
Approve or disapprove of printed forms,- permits t o burn, - app o intment blaifkts, etc. s ubmit t ed by State forester for use of State Forest Service-	13	30
Should be united with Governor and State Board of Land Commissioners as State (or timber) Land Appraisal Board,	30	6
by act of State Legislature-	30	161
1
2
3
4
5
6
G
STATE POKES TER Pays- Line
Shall be appointed by State Beard of Porest Comma. 1
Shall be appointed by Board of 7!*#",	11
Power to appoint ^ortstt-r	vested	in Board 7.C.	10
May be removed at will of	Board-	10
Shall act as Secretary of	Board-	12
■fay delegate assistant to act as Secretary
of the Board-	12
7	Can oblige Chairman 3oard to call special meetings-10
8	Shall have quarters in State Capitol Building-	10
9	Hay have increased compensation-
10	Amount of salary to he fixed by Board-	1
11	Salary payable monthly	1
12	Entitled to office,traveling,etc-expenses,
incurred under authority Board-	1
13	Expense account must first be submitted
in detail tc Board-	1
14	Expense* account then submitted to
State Auditor-	1
15	Honey due to be obtained from State	Treasurer-	1
16	Appropriations for salary-	23
17	Appropriations for expenses-	25
18	Hay have increased authority-	2
19	Shall work under Board-	1
20	Official acts regulated and controlled by Board-	10
21	Hay have assistants-	1
22	Kay.snbiect approval Board,appoint trained
as eistant fo r es t ers»	12
19
12
29
35
10
11
24
12
21
13
14
16
19
22
24
13
15 1
20 32 21
524
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32
53
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55
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H	State	forester
Page	Line
Kay,subject approval Board,fix salary
assistant foresters-	12	6
May remove assistant foresters	(implied)	12	4
Hay, subject approval Board, employ clerical
assistants-	12	6
May,subject approval Board,fix salary clerical
assistants-	12	5
May remove clerical assistants	(Implied)	12	4
Hay appoint fire wardens subject approval Board- 12	8
Hay appoint in any county fire wardens during
danger period-	14	19
May on request of County Commissioners appoint
fire warden for any county-	15	1
Hay suspend fire wardens until action passed
on by Board-	14	25
Shall at all times have fire wardens under
his direction-	15	25
Hay employ forest rangers-	12	8
Hay suspend forest rangers until action passed
on by Board-	14	2o
Shall at all times have control and direction
of forest rangers**	15	25
Kay appoint timber cruisers and citizens of
State as forest rangers-	16	0
Have charge all matters pertaining forestry,
pubject to Board-	12	22
Shall become familiar with location,area^etc.
timber and cut-over lands	owned by State-	14	2
Investigate direction Board,timber lands
Belonging to State-	10	35
11	1
Institute inquiries relative kind,value condition,
etc.lands in State,with view reforestation-	14	941
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55
a
STATE POKES TER Page Line
Ascertain amount logs,bolts,lumber,&tc.
produced used in Washington annually-	15	3
Shall have rendered to him by wardens and rangers reports covering whatever information Forester requests-	15	20
Report condition of forests and cut-over lands from time to time to Board,with recommendations cart protection timber-	14	6
Make general report to Beard by December 1 annually re all timberlands in State,and especially -forest fire service-	14	16
Annually notify county clerk each county where appointments made,giving names of fire wardens
* and forest rangers-	13 *	21
Enforce all laws for preservation forests in
State-	12	32
Kay arrest violators forest fire law v;ithout
warrant-	16	14
Protect State forest lands from	illegal	cutting-	14	6
Prepare maps each timber county showing State
lands-	14	2
Furnish each fire warden maps timbered counties
showing State lands-	14	4
Cooperate under supervision Board in certain forestry matters,with individuals,corporations, governmental bureaus,etc. and	other	governments-	12	14
Have charge,subject direct ion,rules,regulations
Board,of the forest ?ir« Service	of	the	State-	12	22
Fay appoint timber cruisers and citizens of State
as forest rangers-	16	10
Have power mass forest fire service of State
anywhere in emergency-	12	29
May take charge direct work suppressing any forest
fire in State in emergency-	12	2857
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to
J
State Forester Page	line
Protect forests and cut-over lands in all ways
from fo rest fire-	k	14	5
Shall when informed notify owners,etc•timberlands that condition is menace to adjoining timber, etc.and request owner to prptect,and may advise means protection^	19	1
Kay arrest violators forest fire laws without
warrent-	13	13
Shall prosecute all violators forest fire laws-	12	34
Way refuse,revoke or postppne use permits to burn- 16	29
Power to direct when burning of refuse shall be done by clearers of riyht3-of-way during closed season-	21	13
Way during closed season relieve clearers of rights-of-way from legal obligation to burn refuse-	21	16
Hay require additional safeguards around place
burning waste from sawmills,etc.	19	10
Hay advise Governor suspend permits burn
during times drought-	17	24
Hay advise Governor prohibit absolutely use fire
as in Sec.5-	17	24
Investigate origin all forest fires-	12	3o
May order fire wardens,- forest rangers,- where
post notices,rules, etc.	15	31
Should receive from fire wardens,fcrest rangers, -immediate telegraph notice serious,threatening : fires-	15	33
Shall receive reports from fire wardens,- fcrbst rangers relative defective locomotives,
engines, etc,	21	3
Shall pass on all certificates of employment of
men ftireA by fire wardens re forest fires-	17	19
Shall ha.ve submitted him all accounts,bills,by
£ire wardens re forest fire protection,etc„	15	1372
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State forester . Page	Line
Shall prepare,-print for public distribution
abstract forest laws	State-	12	35
Shall prepare,print for public distribution rules,regulations,etc.formulated by Board re forests of State-	13	1
Shall publish for free	distribution	information
re forest/ fires, etc	. subject	approval	Board-	13	17
Shall prepare,- print for public distribution
forest fire laws Washington-	13	1
Shall prepare,- print for public distribution rules, regulations,etc.formulated by Board re forest fires-	13	1
Shall publish for free distribution information
re forest fires subject approval Board-	13	17
Shall have printed notices calling attention to forest fire dangers,and direct distribution by fire wardens-	13	2o
Shall 1 furnish notices re penalties for violation forest fire laws,- direct fire wardens to distribute-	13	24
Shall prepare subject approval Board all necessary printed forms for use wardens?» rangers..- including permits burn,- appointment blanks,etc.	13	31
Shall supply fire wardens,- forest rangers,-
necessary printed forms subject approval Board. 13	32M
L	FIRE	WARDENS
Page Line
1	May he appointed in any county by State Forester	14	10
2	May subject approval Forest Commissioners he
appointed by State Forester-	12	8
3	Appointments may be requested b£ State Forester
by Board Co.Commissioners any timbered counties	14	1
4	May be appointed by State Forester on request
as in #3	15	1
5	Hay be suspended by State Forester until passed
on by Forest Commissioners	14	24
6	(Successors to Fire-wardens suspended by SF) may
be temporarily?- appointed by State Forester
until action passed on by Forest Comns.	14	25
7	Kay be reinstated by Forest Comms-as in #6	14	26
8	May be removed by Forest Comms.at will	10	35
9	Quarters shall be at Seat of county represented-
Office in county courthouse to be equipped
by County Comms.	14	30
10	Compensation,amount of	14	28
11	Appropriations in re Fire Wardens,etc-	23	21
12	Salary and expenses Fire Wardens and expenses
authorized by FWs borne 2/3 by State- 1/3 by
county in which service rendered-	15	8
13	In case #12- 1/3 amount to be paid into State
treasury by county receiving service-	15	16
14	In case #12,warrant for same to be issued by
State Auditor-	11	22
payment to be made by State Treasurer
15	In case #12,11	55
16	Bills and accounts submitted to State Forester	15	13
17	Bills and accounts audited by Forest Comms.	11	26
17	21
18	Bills,accounts,etc.(authorized by FWs fcr forest
protection expense) submitted to State Forester	15	111n. 13
11	FIKE	WARDENS
Page Lane
19	Bills, accts. etc (authorized by FTCs for forest
protection expense) passed on by Forest Comrns.	11	22
20	Names shall he listed and lists given by forester
to county clerk in each county-	13	21
21	Acts controlled and regulated by Forest Cosmos.	10	32
22	Shall receive from Porester maps showing State
lands in timbered counties-	14	4
23	Shall at all times be under direction State
Forester®	15	25
24	Shall perform duties at such times and places as
State Forester directs-	15	26
25	Shall investigate all fires (as directed by
State Forester	15	32
26	Shall post over forest areas not ices3warnings,
stating time closed season,- lews,etc.	13	27
15	28
27	May be ordered by State Forester where post
not ices,rules,etc-	15	31
28	Shall patrol their individual districts-	15	34
29	Shall visit all parts roads,trails,and other
spots frequented by campers-	15	34
30	Shall render reports to State Forester on blanka
or foraa in time and manner required by Forester	15	20
31	Shall immediately telegraph State Forester notice of
all serious or threatening fires-	15	32
32	Shall report to State Forester lack spark arrest*
ers,ash pan devices3etc.re all engines,locos,&c	21	3
33	Authority re forest fires extends any county in
time of great danger-	15	3
34	Impress help to stop forest conflagrations	16	3
35	Employ help- control or extinguish forest fire®	16	4
36	May ay discretion furnish man to supervise
burning of forest waste,etc.	17	5
> iiZ Xjh TT7?C jaOTfF'Ua-rm-sr-fc •'W™38
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IT
14
FIRE WABDjSNS
Page Lins
May confer on them while engaged as in #35 -
iFire waraen:s power and authority-	17	7
Hay employ sufficient number men to control
or extinguish forest fires-	17	13
Shall issue certificates to each man employed in
#35**37- showing hrs.worked and amount dub~	17	19
May during closed season issue permits to burn forest waste,etc.in form approved by
Forest Comms.	•	16	20
May require certain work done in slashing or
chopping before issuing penults to burn	17	2
Fay refuse,revoke or postpone permits to burn
if public safety endangered-	16	28
liiarf set time for right-of-way clearers to burn
forest waste**	21	14
May relieve clearers of right-of-way from legal
obligation to burn during closed season-	21	17
Shall see that locomotives,engines, etc•have spark
arresters,ash pan devices,etc-	16	3
Shall warn campers,etc.of forest fire dangers, and
also relative use and abuse of fire-	15	35
Enforce laws for protection of forests	16	6
Arrest violators Forest Protection law-	16	6
Make arrests without warrant of persons violating 16	14
Authority summoning help and making arrest3
violation FP Law extends to any county	15	3
Kay arrest any person refusing assistance called
upon to extinguish forest fires-	18 1	1
Shall report to Prosecuting Attorney county where
offense occurs,informat ion re #50	21	6
Cause to be prosecuted all offenders against
Forest Protection law-	16	6
Shall receive from State Forester all necessary printed torms,- notices,placards of warning re forest fire dangers,permits burn,appointments,&c 15	24
13	3	J15
	0 FOREST RAfGER: Page Lino		
1	Timber cruisers- citizens of State may he appointed Fortst Rangers "by S.F.au his discretion-	16	10
2	State land cruisers shall be ex-officio Forest Rangers-	16	7
5	U. Si Hangers and asistants (with approval tf/tf/tf/tf.) U.S.Forest Supervisors) shall he ex-officio Forest Rangers-	16	8
4	May subject approval Forest Comms.be appointed by State For ester-	12	8
5	Fay he suspended by State Forester until passed on by Forest Comma.	14	24
6	(Successors to Forest Rangers suspended by S F) may be temporarily appointed by State Forester until action passed on by Forest Cormis *	14	25
7	Kay be reinstated by Forest Comms. as in #6	14	26
8	Kay be removed by Forest Comms. at will	10	33
Q	Compensation- None	16	12
10	Compensation (Implied)	12	9
11	Appropriation in re Forest Rangers (implied)	15	8
12	Appropriation in re Forest Rangers,etc.(implied)	23	21
13	Salary and expenses Forest Rangers and expenses authorized by To rest Rangers,borne 2/3 by State and l/o by County in which, service rendered-	15	8
14	In case #13- l/3 amount to be paid into State treasury by county receiving service-	15	16
15	In case #13 varrant for same to be issued by State Auditor-	15	16
16	In case #13 payment to be made by State Treasurer- 3.1		35
17	Bills and accounts submitted to State Forester	15	13
18	Bills and accounts audited by Forest Comms.	11	26
19	Bills,accounts,etc.(authorized by Forest Rangers for forest protection exp.)submitted to State Forester (Implied)	15	1422
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35
P	"Forest	Hangers
Page Line
Bills , accts. etc. (authorised by Fire Wardens for forest protection)passed on by Forest Comnis-(Implied)	11	21
Names shall "be listed and lists given by State
Forester to county clerk in each county-	13	22
Acts controlled and regulated by forest Comma.	10	32
Shall at all times be under direction State
Forester-	15	25
Shall perform duties at such times and places aa
State Forester directs	.	15	26
Shall investigate all fires as directed by
State Forester-	15	32
Shall post over forest areas not ices,warnings
stating tiide closed season, laws, etc.	13	27
15	28
May be orderbd by State Forester where post
notices,rules,etc.	15	31
Shall patrol their individual districts	15	34
Shall visit all parts roads,trails,and other
spots frequented by campers	15	34
Shall render reports to State Forester on blanks or forms in't ime and manner required by State Forester-	15	20
Shall immediately telegraph State Forester notice
all serious or threatening fires-	15	32
Shall report to State Forester lack spark arresteas&x
ash pan devices,etc.re all engines,locos.etc-	21	3
Authority re forest fires extends any county in
time of great danger	15	3
Impress hfclp to stop forest conflagrations	16	3
Employ help - control or extinguish
furest fires-	16	456
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Q,	Forest	Rangers
Page Line
Hay during closed season issue permits burn forest waste,etc.in form approved by Forest Commissioners-	16	20
May require certain work done in slashing and
chopping before issuing permit to burn	17	2
Kay refuse, revoke,or postpone permits to burn
if public safety endangered	16	28
Shall see that locomotives,engines,etc. have
spark arresters,ash pan devices,etc.	16	5
Shall warn campers,etc.of forest fire dangers and
also relative use and abuse of fire	15	35
Enforce laws for protection of forests-	16	6
Arrest violators Forest Protection law	16	6
Make arrests without watrant of persons
violating Forest Protection law	16	14
Aufhcrity summoning help and making arrests violation Forest Protection law extends to any county	15	5
,Iiay arrest any person refusing assistance called
upon to extinguish forest fires-	18	1
Shall report to prosecuting attorney county
where offense occurs,informat ion re #50	21	6
Cause to be prosecuted all offenders against
Forest Protection law	16	6
Shall receive from State Forester all necessary printed forms,including notices,placards of warning re forest fire dangers,permits bum, appointments,etc.	,	13	50
13	2413
APPEOPEIaTIuJT ifUltDS Page Line
1	Salaries forester and Assistant Forestern
2 years-	$15,000	23	13
2	For cl.rk hire,field, traveling
etc.expenses SF and assistants -compensation-expense PC at Board
meetings- 2 years	15,000	23	15
3	Protecting forests against fire
salary expenses FW-FR and fire fighters generally,-equipment-supplies, also for prevention, detection trespass on school and other State ^orest lands,,also for publishing information re
Forestry- 2 years	160,000	23	20
4	l/3 Forest Fire expense in each
county to he repaid by county to State Treasurer,and credit to
funds appropriated this Act	15	18
5	Recommended to enable State Land
Appraisal Board examine State Land for amount value timber,etc.
(Amount not mentioned)	30	9
6	For continuation by State Bpa£d
Geological Survey in connection U.S.Bureau Soils of Soil Survey
and classification- 2 years-	5,000	5	12
44	6
7	For State Forest Nurseries,product ion of
seed- seed trees- and scientific investigation forest growth-
2	years-	10,000	23	28
8	For purchasing deforested land for
reforestation purposes- not less than 30/? annual revenue from sale State short and 2nd claan tide-
lands- amount probably*—	$	5	21
47	8|o.: 19
Appropriation Funds------2
Page
9	Suggested constitutional amendment permitting part proceeds State t imb er lands’, and posa bly,water power tax,devoted to purchase
deforested lands for reforestation	43
10	Sugre sted proceeds from sale State
timber lands more valuable for agricultural purposes- be obtained by sale and used buying forest lands for State forests-
reforestation-	43
11	Endorsing Univ.of Wn.Budget for
continuation of utilization study by products of wood in connection with UcS.Bureau Plant Industry-
2	years-	$2,000	5
45
12	Recommending appropriation for
experiements by State College Ex«
Sta.to determine best agricultural
uses deforested land- 2 years- 10,000	5
45
13	Pavoring bond issue or certificates of in-
debtedness for funds to purchase deforested lands for reforestation purposes (Alternative)	41
14	Suggested special state tax for funds
purchase deforested lands reforest™
at ion purposes (alternative)	41
15	Suggesting small standing appropriation
for funds purchase deforested lands reforestation purposes (alternative)	40
Line
1
6
16
17
15
1
3
2
27
tACCOUNTS > BILLS, etc , Page Line
1	SF’s submitted	FH	who pass	on same	11	19
2	FW’s- FR’s and accounts authorized by them
submitted to	SP	11	27
5 ^or temporary help at fires-- certificate indebtedness issued	by	submitted to S3?, thence FC	17	16
4	All to be audited	by	FC	1?_	19
11	27
ffa ffi^t:^lfb-f^-3£ntu:;. u,nmIi..tjQX.aaf fomy .352:	15	16
17	23
5	Kust all be presented State Auditor after FC	11	21
n	rr r?
-K	kj
13	16
17	23
6	State Treasurer authorized pay when passed by	11	24
St axe Auditor-	11	3t>
i p;	^ r,
.0- V*.'	j-v
17	16
7	For temporary help,when fire warden’s certificate 17	22
of indebtedness approved by State For-.ster entitled receive payment from State as •in Sec- (11-36)
8	All expenses forest fir^s borne l/d by	15	11
county in which sorvicen rendered	15	1621
PRINTER KaTTKR & PUBLICATIONS
		Page	Line
1	Appropr iat ion	25	26
2	Info mat ion re forestry and forest products published SF approval FC	13 a	17
3	Result of forest studies by PC	32	3
4	Abstract forest laws by SF	12	35
5	Abstract forest fire laws by SF	12	35
6	Rules,regulations formulated by FO prepared for distribution by SF	13	1
7	All necessary printed forms including applications,permits burn,appointment forms,etc. to be supplied FW and FR,etc.by SF	13	30
8	Notices in large letters on cloth re fire dangers, penalt ies, laws, - by SF	13	23
9	Matter in #8 to be posted by FW-FR et al xanfwx in wooded districts,under direction SF	13	26
10	Taps eacli timber county showing State lands by SF who supplies to FW	14	21	21
12	6
12	3
16	10
16	8
16	8
STATE FOREST SERVICE ECPLOYEEB-Report of Com.on Organization
D.P.Simons,Chairman- P.9-23	Page	Lin.
1	Forester- see Forester shest-
2	Assistant Forester- Set Forester sheet-
3	Fire Wardens- See Fire Wardens sheet-
4- Forest Hanger- See Forest Hanger Sheet-
5	Recommending assiatanta "be allowed ^orester-
6	Clerical assistants,may be employed by SF
approval FC
7	Salaries Forestxx and clerical assistants fixed
by SF with approval FC
8	Timber cruisers as Forest Rangers-
9	U.S.Rangers,etc.as FR ex-officio
10	State Land Cruisers as FRs ex-officio
11	Citizens- Seo Citizen»s sheet- 1
COUiTTY RELATION to Forest Fire Service* 1 County Comma may request appointment 3TKT by SF
2	TV makes hq.s Seat county he represent a
3	FW official hqa bounty Court House
4	FV7 office qrs equipped by County Comma
5	bounty pays l/3 salary- expenses forest fire
protection given in that county- while State pays 2/3-
RAIUROADS
1	Clearing right-of-way must pile and bum
inflammable waste aa work progresses or forest officials	direct	21	9
2	Provide locos with spark arresters during
closed season	19	30
3	Safeguard ash pans of locos.eggines- against
escape fire	20	4
4	TeP-^fting fire on right-of-way during closed
season must immediately extinguish	20	24
14	34
14	30
14	32
14	32
15	8
15	1623
LOGGERS
Page
i
1	Furnish annually, information confidentially SF
re fcolts and logs produced-	sold,etc	13
2	"When clearing right-of-way pile and burn
inflammable waste as work progresses,or as forest officials direct	21
3	Claar area radium 50 ft.around donkey engine
of inflammable material	22
4	Cut down dead t rees,etc.over 25 feet high during
logging operations	21
5	Shall not fell trees into green timber owndd by
others without latter *s written	permission	21
6	Obtain permits to bum before burning during
closed season	16
7	Before burning, cut snags,stubs,dead trees over
25	feet high	16
8	Maintain steam pump and hose in connection
with donkey engine,extinguishing fires
during closed season	21
9	Maintain watchman at donkey engine,etc.for two
hours after ceasing operation	22
10	Provide locomotives,engines,etc.with spark
arrestern during closed season	20
11	Safeguard ash pans of locos, engines, etc
against asooape of fire	20
12	Maintain Ateam pump,hose,in connection locos,
eng ines, sorting* ishing fire during slosed season 22
13	Depositing fire on right-of-way of log R.R.
during clffl ed season must be immediately
eaA ingu i shed	2 0
14	Have fire patrol follow each log train at start-
ing distance 30 min-	22
mf
Line
8
9
7
19
23 16
32
33 2
12
4
18
24 14lIA^liPACTUPBiJS Kill* S3 ^n
Page L?ne
1	Fiimish annually confidential information re
prodnet ion. shipment 1 ombt?r, etc, and use
logs annually to	State	Forester	13	9
2	Confine burning wood waste from mills by
fire 7ra.ily.etc-	19	5
3	Provide spark a rrestersf for built-up burners
of waste from mills	19	13
4	Provide spark arresters on all spark-emitting
outlets of power	plants	during	closed season	19	19
7DZT&
HOAD and TRAIL BUILDERS
1	Shall not fell trees into green timber owned
by others without latter's written permission	21	23
2	Cut doen as clearing proceeds dead trees,etc.25 ft.
high or over-	21	19
3	Pile and bum all inflammable waste as clearing
progresses	21	9
4	Execption to #3- "if forest officials otherwise
direct	21	15
5	Clear area radius 50 ft around donkey engine
of inflammable material	22	7
6	Maintain steam pump-hose connection with
donkey engine for extinguishing fore during
closed season	21	33
7	Kaintainwatchman at donkey «n$.ne,etc.2 hours
after ceasing operations	22	2
8	Obtain permits to bum before burning
during closed season	16	16
9	Shall not burn on cut-over areas until have
ci v. dopnaksjdead treef3tetc*25 feet and
over in height-	16	32±
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
CITIZENS
Page
Two to he appointed by Governor every two my ear a, and to serve 4 years as Forest Comma	1
9
Appointments as FC made from candidates as
presented by various associations	9
Appointees must be elector*	9
9
May have cooperation of SF as to advice,direction plana,etc re tree -planting,woodlote,timber *■ tracts	12
Appointed forest rangers at discretion SF	16
ETay be employed by FW- and FR to stop forest conflay rations	16
Duplicate
May be impressed by FVte and FRs to stop forest
c onflagrations	16
May be employed by Fw with his power to supervise, control burning of waste-wood,etc.when dangerous 17
In cases 6,7,8,9- entitled to 25^ per hour
for services	17
In cases 5 to 9 incl® shall receive compensation 16 for services(not clear) doubtful r« ?R)	17
Must obtain written permit from FR-FW before
burning in open season	*	16
In cases 5 to 11 incl. must have accounts approved by SF,then audited,- then paid by State Treasurer
17
Ref us ing assistance requested by FW-FR
misdemeanor- penalized	18
Must not damage printed,posted warnings,
Notices,etc	.	16*
■ 2tj
C it izens------------2
Page Line
16	Must not leave fire on forest land,etc.that
shall damage property not	his	own	18	11
17	Must not during closed season,carelessly or other-
wise kindle fire on others land and leave
un qpj c .1 c he d	18	23
18	Maliciously setting fire and leaving to endanger
others’ property is heavily	penalized	18	14
19	His forested or deforested property in had
condition or location re fire>declared public nuisance	18	31
20	In case 19 may he requested- directed by SP
how to abate nuisance	19	1
21	When clearing-right-of-way,trails,etc9 must
pile and burn inflammable material as clearing progresses	21	9
22	Hay havs reeds and seedlings at cost
from State nursery	23	32
77 U :■ i! U2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
i- 27
FOREST FIRE
Report of Committee- 2).P.Simona Chairman-Pages 9 to 23-
Page
Appropriation for State forest Fire Service-	23
1/3 expense each county to be repaid by county into State treasury and credited to flund appropriated by this Act	15
15
Service includes FWs,FRs and help generally,-re
forest fires	12
Service entirely under SF subject approval FC	12
Service may be massed anynpart of State ordered
by SF, in emergency	12
Service in emergency at fire may be taken charge-fiirected by SI?	12
All feasible means protection of forests against
fire to be taken by SF	14
Laws,abstract of,published ty SF	12
Lawn enforced by SF	12
Law violator© prosecuted by SF	12
Printed rules , regulations , etc . furnished by FC	13
Printed information use of service published SF 13
Origin to be investigated by SF	12
Extend timber land destroyed reported FC by SF
Before Dec.1st annually	14
Detailed information re service to accompany
report in $14	14
iTotices danger on placards, canvass, etc .furnished'
by SF to FR for posting	13
F7- FR perform duties at times and places
SF directs	15
Help to stop conflagrations may be impressed
or employed by FW- FR	16
In emergency,authority F^-FR	making arrests
securing help extends any county	•	15
L far 2.0
10
16
25
22
28
50
4
35
32
34
2
•sk
53
15
17
23
25
4
320
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
50
31
52
33
34
S3
forest Fires----------2
Page L ihu
Salaries and expense ,l?ire service each county, boinm* -g/3 "by State,** 1./3 by county In which, service gi-ven-	15	8
All b 11'Is authorized by FW and accounts FWs and
FTRs must he submitted to	SP	15	1x3
Investigations conducted hy	FW-FR	15	32
iFW-FR render reports showing where employed-
ei'.peiisc, etc. to SF	15	20
Serious or threatening reported hy telegraph
to SF hy W and FR	15	32
Placards,etc•net ices,warnings,etc.posted-
distributed hy W- FR	13	26
Notice re closed seascn-etc.distributed hy FlW-
FR direction S3?	15	28
Users fire- such as campers, hunters- to be warned
personally hy FW-FB	15	35
Locos, engines>etc.spark arresters,ash-pans to
he watched hy OT«2Pfl	16	1
Offendern against law can he arrested without warrant hy G'i’j as s istants„FW,F'R and all
police officers-	16	13
Prosecution offenders against law should he
caused hy FW- FR	16	6
Unnecessary brush fires on deforested lands should be discouraged or prevented	27	25
To protect timber,etc.where necessary,lanes
provided or slashings burned	28	14
&
Patrol- protective system- should be developed protect cut-over as well as virgin timber lands against fire	27	11
All timber each township should be patrolled
order to protect State forests	27	142
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
*v- 29
USE A!©' ABUSE 0? EIRE on forested,deforested, b rush land,e tc a
Page Line
Closed season is beterrn June 1st and October 1st
each year,unless	in #3	16	19
Date closed season to be placarded over forest
areas by EW- EE	15	28
In times and localities unusual fire danger,
Governor,with advice SE may suspend burning
permits, prohibit	use fire	as	in	Sec. 5	17	24-
In times extreme forest fire hazard, Governor may
prohibit uee fire anus	and	fire	by	hunters	17	28
Abstract of forest fire laws shall be posted by
EW-ER over forest areas	15	30
Abstract £f Eor est Eire Laws prepared and printed
for public distribution by SE Approval EC	12	35
In period during which SE deems forest fire dangers
exist,may appoint EW his discretion	14	21
EW-ER under direction State Eorester	15	25
Eorest Eire Service in charge SE, subject direction
rules,regulations EC-	12	21
In times of emergency,unusual danger,SE na.y mass
forest fire service of State at any point	12	28
Names of EW- ER,etc.to be given by SE to
each County Clerk-	13	21
EW hqrs.in County Court House,county represented 14	30
In times great fire danger,authority EW-ER employing help,making arrests,extends ahy part State 15	6
Information re fire dangers,etc.shall be reported
by EW-ER to SE as latter orders-	15	23
SE shall report to EC information re care,proe
tecmon timber from ravages fire,etc.	14	5
Permits to burn, forms*, shall be prepared,printed
by SE subject approval EC, for use EW-ER	13	3017
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
Use and Abuse of Fire-—--Sheet 2-	Page
No burning on deforested,etc.land until dry snags, stubs,dead trees over 25 ft, cut down	16
All persons,et£. must obtain permits to burn, between June 1st and Oct. 1st,from 7ST-FR and comply with te nns of permit-	16
S?,As8istans,?W8 or FHs may revoke,refuse,or postpone use pemite butn when necessary
public safety	16
No person shall refuse help control burning when
called on by F"W-FR	16
FW at his discretion may furnish with permit to burn,- a man to supervise and control burning with powers of FW	17
Aid may be employed by FWs to control burning
when dangerous	17
Help as in #21-22,entitled 25^ hour on certificate
from TO submitted to SF,etc.	17
Persons setting,leaving fire that spreads,damages property not his own is punishable	18
Persons setting,leaving fire malicious intent, iiHStHkatKlmd destroy others propbrty,haxi3^t heavili' penalized (?)	18
Persons in any way kindling,setting fire,leaving
same unquenched on others land,penalized-	18
Place of burning waste from mills,etc.
must be protected by fire walls-	19
Right-of-way clearers must pile,burn,waste wood, etc.as clearing progresses,weather permits,-or such times SF directs*	21
No obligation in #28 if SF,assistants,or FW in
authority refuses permits	21
Arrests without warrant may be made those who
burn in defiance regulations re permits	16
Prosecuting Attorneys failing prosecute offenders on proper information,heavily penalized	22
Iiagi3trates neglecting duty re forest
fire offenses,heavily penalized-	25
Line
22
16
28
1
5
13 21 11
24
25 5
9
15
14
26 131
PENALTIES
Page
1	Refusing assistance when called on by FV7 or FR
misdemeanor- ITot ledd §10- more than $100	18
2	Refusing statistics to State Forester re production
use logs,bolts,lumber,etc. liable $100	13
3	Inadequately protecting forest lands,so as to
endanger fire starting,
endangering property,- life,*- declared public nuisance	18
4	Burning without permit during closed season,-
not less $25- more £500- not over 30 days-	16
5	Setting and leaving fire on property not own,that
spreads or damages,- not less $10,- more $500	18
6	Setting,leaving fire malicious intent,- destroy
ai others prope rty- not less $20- more $100,-or not le33 1 month- more 1 yeat- or both fins and imprisonment,- and liable all damage in civil suit-	18
7	Starting fire in closed season, anyway, leading
unquenched on land not owned by offender,-not less $10- more §100- or not exceeding
2	months-	18
8	Failing confine place burning wocd-waste from
mill,- or failing use spark arresters on built-up burner,- or failing use spark arrester on dangerous outlets power produe ing plants-not less $50- more ^500- each, every violat ion Collected by civil suit in name of State,-or 30 days-	19
9	Failure provide spark arresters on railroad locos.
engines, etc.or ash pan devices,prevent ing
escape fire,- net less $10- more $50 each day
for each loco.or	engine	so	unprovided-	20
10	Permitting employes during closed season, depos it fire or live coals on railroad right-of-way outside of yard limits,- and not at once quenched,- not less	$25-	more	$100-	or 30 days- 20
Line
1
15
31
22
11
14
27
24
12
300«1
Uf+
PENALB IES----2
Page Line
11	Pines received account of 9-10 go to current
expense account of County Treasurer in	20	35
county where suit first instituted-	21	7
12	Not burning inflammable material when clearing
right-of-way as clearing progresses,and forest official does not refuse permit to burn-
Not cutting down snags,stubs>dead trees- 25’ and over,-in area logging operations-
Felling trfcb3 into green timber owned by others without latter’s written permission-
Not providing donkey,_rdL±k or other stationary engine with steam fire pump and hose,-
Not maintaining watchman donkey,other Stationary engine two hours after cearing ope rat ions, -
Not clearing area 50 ft.areound donkey engine, etc *
Not having fire patrolman follow logging train-
ITot having at tarn fire pump and hose on logging eng ine-
not exceeding	&100- not less	30	days-	22	22
13	Prosecuting attorney failing perform duty on
information violation Forest Fire Act,- not
less &50,or mere than $500- and not less 30 days
more one 3^ear-	22	26
14	Magistrate neglecting cause arrest,prosecution,
on complaint under ctah violation any provision
Forest Fire Act,not less ^50- more $500,and
not less 30- days- more	than 1 year-	23	183
STATE LAID AFPHAISAL B'B TD£BEK (?)
1	State Land Appraisal Board to be appointed by
Legislature to consist of Governor,State Board Land Commissioners, State Board forest Comma -
2	Should have appropriation sufficient to insure a
complete and thorough exam.of all State Lands,-forests,etc.and segregate same-
3	Should classify and net aside that suitable for
reforestation,- which should 1b set aside as State Forest Land, and he under jurisdiction PC
4	SPL hTofes 21-22- Board should thoroughly examine
ascertain time,quality,amount,value of timber growing on forest lands-
5	Determine nature of surface and soil, and ascertain
whether such lands when cut over would be more valuable for agriculture or for forest growing- 30	18
MISCELAIfE 0US' FEATURES
1	Information re production of bolts?logsjlumber^
other forest products shall be given SP on request
13	8
17	28
18	31
21	23
22	26 tm
23	1
2	Open season for hunting may by Governcr,be made
closed season when use fire arms or fire by hunters liable cause forest fires?
3	Inadequately protected forested,or deforested
land endangering nearby life or property by fire riskj is public nujsance. SF may requasro owner to abate,and advise means for protection
4	Green timber must not be felled into adjoining
timber owned by other parties,without latter1s written permission
5	Re Prosecuting Attorney- See l!Ise Abuse Fire"
No. 31
6	Re .Magistrate- See "Use Abase Pireu #32
30	6
2	1
30	9
•
2	4
30	11
30	25
30	68!
DEPCPJIS 3® LAtciT-Lo^ged-off Land
Page Line
1	Appropriation of $5000 to continue soil survey &	5	12
classification logged-off lands of State	44	6
2	#1 done by State Board Geological Survey cooperation
U.S.Bureau of Soils- Latter expected contribute equal amount-	44	7
3	Data State Board Geological Survey as in #2,should	he
furnished to Timber Appraisal Board	44	22
4-.5~6-.7_3 SeeState £dnd Appraisal Board- ITotes
1-2-3-4-5-
2-2	30-o 30-15	2-4	30-11------------------------30	25
9	Appropriation of $2OGO continuing work on by-pro-
ducts wood,for determining chemical,etc.uses to which wood waste may he put. Item in Univ. of
Wn.Budget-	45	17
10	Probable U.S.Bureau Plant Industry cooperate to
monetary extent cf #9- also publish and distribute final report-	46	13
11	Recommend purchase deforested land suitable for tim-
ber growing,at $3 per acre or less-	47	6
12	Land as in #11 should be placed in State Forest	47	8
Reserve,and should be in charge PC	47	13
13	Recommend set aside fund not less than annual
income to general fund from sale State shore -
second class tide lands for purchase deforested
lands chiefly valuable,timber growing-	47	9
14	Recommend appropriation $10,000 as in budget State
Col.Agricultural Ex.Sta.to be used for determin-	5	19
ing best use to whidi deforested lands suited	5	15
to agriculture may 1® put,- establishing demon-	45	1
stration plots on various agricultural sotfcls-
14	Rural Improvement Districts of voluntary associations of farmers,etc.be provided for by State	7	15
Legislative Act permit cooperative effort and use high power machinery,experienced land	46	16
clearers,economy,etc.REFORESTATION
Report of Committee,- Geo.S.Long Chairman-Pages 34 to 43 incl. and Addenda,page............
Page Line
1	Appropriation recommended 30^ annual revenue
State Shorts 2nd Class tideland sales for
purchase suitable deforested land-	47	8
6_	Recommend providing funds from sale State Shore
and 2nd class tidelands-	5	21
2	Recommend constitutional amendment to permit
part proceeds from State timberlands and perhaps water-power tax for purchase cutover lands-	43	1
3	Recommend special appropriation for classifying
agricultural,non-ayricultural lands,- latter
for reforestation-	44	5
4	Suggesting that at ourset direct State appropriation
perhaps all can expect to spend intelligently-	43	10
5	Recommend system supplying funds fast as 'reforest-
ation system develops to insure wise use money
and economy in purchase price-	43	23
bonds or certificates indebtedness to afford
funds reforestation purposes	,41	8
8	Favor bond issue for reforestation purposes when	used
under direction technically competent,etc-	41	23
9	Suggest Special State Tax may afford funds	41	2
reforestation purposes (alternative)
10	Suggest small standing appropriations for flunda
reforestation purposes- alternative-	40	27
11	Lands for reforestation purposes should be under
cpntrol FC	6	29
12	State should actively engage reforesting its
denuded forest lands-	7	9
13	FC must carry on reforestation work-	SL3	9
14	State lands more valuable forest growth should
be under jurisdiction FC	|	$
p^vf
14^ State lands chiefly valuable for forest growth
should not be alienable without special	45	ft
Act Legislature-I- ■ BO
2	Reforestation
Pagt Line
14-3/4 The profit from reforested lands
accrues to School Fund- (9)	32	19
15	Power of State Land Comms.relating to State
forest lands should be transferred to PC	2	8
16	Should make provision consolidate State’s virgin
timber holdings by exchange with Nat’l	Porests 42	19
17	In acquiring deforested land give consideration
to consolidating State’s timber lands	42	23
18	Hatters should all he in charge trainer forester
subject PC	12	21
19	Nursery provided for raising seed trees,seed,etc.
for State use	23	28
20	Scientific investigation as basis for reforesta-
tion provided for	23	23
21	Lands of greater value for forest growth should
be classified and set aside by Timber*Appraisal
Board	2	4
22	Recommended classification of deforested lands for
reforestation purposes made by State
Geological Survey	44	7
23	ITon-agricultural land donations may be accepted
by Board for reforestation purposes	11	6
24	Power to accept donations land for State Porests
should be given to SP	32	22
25	Lands chiefly valuable for forest growing should
become State Porest lands-*-	2	6
26	A State Porest Reserve should be created	5	20
27	Lands chiefly Valuable for forest growing -
reforestation- should be segregated as State
Porest lands	30	22
28	Lands valuable for reforestation may be acquired
discretion SP when owners will sell for $3
acre or less-	7	10
29^Purchase of deforested non-agricultural lands
by State at figure $3 acre or less,recommended 5	18
30	Duplicate34
55
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
4-3
44
45
46
47
48
3	REPORES	TAT:
Recommend purchase,discretion PC,deforested lands page suitable forest growth- reforestation-delinquent taxes- $2 acre- or less	33
Recommend purchase discretion PC deforested land suitable forest growth- reforestation-$3 acre or less	33
Same as #32	47
Deforested lands suitable reforestation should
be ascertained by State	Timber	App.Board	30
Provision should be made that every acre deforested land suitable reforestation be devoted timber growing earliest	moment	33
State should undertake reforestation - one reason being- many deforested areas have scattered ownership- relatively difficult market yield-nc remain uncared for by private management	36
Should be undertaken because uncared for deforested lands great fire menace,and thrifty young trees safeguard against fire- save patrol expense	39
Duplicate
Recommend use la?ra prove successful other States 7
Requirements each tract should be studied by
trained forester	28
Product ion,management,sale State forest land
products- should be under direction PC	30
Reproduction should be fostered FC in all
feasible ways-	31
Seed trees must be left in many	cases	when	cutting	28
Seed trees must be selected,marked,protected	during'
logging operations-	28
Manner of cutting necessary aid reforestation
of deforested land	31
Necessary regulation should be made part
contracts of sale virgin timber	28
By private owners, impossible through lose
under present tax system	3
As private enterprise hopeless till law
adjusts tax methods equitably	3
ON
line
4
8
6
11
19
5
15
7
15
27
25
11
12
23
17
2
4Re for esrtesfcio1! Page Lir
49	To permit private reforestation constitutional
amendment necessary to remedy forest
taxation in-equity	3	6
50	A prerequisite is c3.assification deforested lands
suitable for forest growth as basis for remedial
forest tax legislation,to permit private
reforestation	4	IS
51	Recommend remedial tax law that will permit pri~
vate effort in- reforestation	7	21
52	To permit private initiative encourage same in
reforestation commonly proposed to exempt
land and timber fj&oia tax til timber cut3 then
assess accumulated tax against timber	64	19
53	By Committee- On deforested land held for success*-
ive crops,State should defer tax on land and
timber until timber cut,then assess tax against
timber	67	7
54	By Committee- On virgin timber annual tax on land
and yield tax on timber only when cut?’- recommended to prevent sacrificing timber	on	weak market 67	2
55	Wash.law (undoubtedly unconstitutional) where now
exempts from all tax forest trees artilically grown
56	Constitutional Amendment and laws* absolutely nec-
essary in re tajc reform as in #53, to permit private effort reforestation
57	Private owners lands may obtain seeds and seedlings
from State nursery at cost	23	32
58	Private owners deforested lands may have co-
operation, advice, in private reforestation,etc• by application to Forester-	12	19
66	25
67	12STATE FORISST LAND General Policy
Page Line
1	See Report of Committee- Prank H.Lamb,Chairman
Pages---
2	See Report Committee"Organization"- D.P.Simons, Chm.
Pages--
3	See Report Com. "Reforestat ion"- Geo . S .Long, Chm.
Pages--
4	See "Forest Fire" sheets- Pages-------
5	See "Governor”- "State Bd.Forest Comms."State
Forester"- "Fire Warden"-"Forest Ranger^etc.sheets for detailed, analysis of organisation.
6	Recommend use laws proved successful other States	7	7
(See Reforestation Note 39)
7	Bring knowledge our forest conditions	29	19
before people-	c>8	23
38	7
38	14
6 to 17- re Appropriations- (See Reforestation notes 1 to 10 incl.)
18	Recommend appropriations sufficient enable State
Land Appraisal Board make thorough examination
State Lands-	30	9
19	Recommend appropriation of part fund annually
derived sale State Shore & 2nd class tidelands for purchase deforested lands chiefly valuable for timber growth	5	21
20	State Land App.Board should be appointed	2	2
21	No.20 should thoroughly examine all State
Forest Lands for kind,quality,amount timber	30	6
22	No.20 should segregate soil areas into agricult-	50	11
ural or forest lands- and Reforestation note-	30	16
23	No.20 should set aside all lands chiefly valuable
growing timber and classified as such	2	4
(Reforestation note 21)
24	Firest essential to segregate agricultural from
forest forest growing land of State	29	7
25	Segregate land into agricultural and forest grow-
ing and hold latter as State Forest Reserve	30	22
(See Reforestation Hote 27)
26	See Reforestation note 22- re classification	44	7
by Geological surveyState Forest Land—
Page
27	Transfer power State Land Comm.over State
Forest Lands to PC- See Reforest.Note 15-	2
28	See Reforest.Note 25 & 14- Land suitable forest
growth becomes State Forest Lands under EC	2
29	Examine, est imate and cruise as a> preliminary	29
all State Forest Lands-	30
30	Recommend creation State Forest Reserve-	5
Reforest Note 26-
31	Have two estimates made independently of
State Tlimber holdings-	29
32	See Reforest Note 20 re scientific investigation 23
33	Fully and properly utilize for timber growth all 25
forest lands now or hereafter owned by State 33
34	See Reforest.Note .12- State should engage in
Refores-cat ion	7
35	Provide that every suitable acre deforested land
be devoted timber growing earliest moment	33
Reforest Note 35
36	State’s example should demonstrate sound,economic
policy possible and desirable on part private owners,especially in re reforestation	26
37	State should reforest; one reason- many deforested
areas scattered ownership- relatively difficult market yield,- will remain uncared for by	36
private owners,- Reforest.Note 36-
38	Undertake save soil and timber against fire and
patrol expense by young growth,-protecting	39
against fire
39	Insure highest return from all State Forest lands
for benefit irreducible school land,by reforest-	27
ation for producing fullest constant timber crop-	32
40	Protect soil on deforested lands bybreforestation-
or agricultural use	25
41	Begin practice forestry before virgin timber
removed	28
p-ieJ
Line
8
6
11
4
20
24
3i
1
10
9
19
25
5 5
5
17
21
9
42	All prlicy,management,etc.re State Forest lands
should be supervised by FC-	10	2743
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
531
54
55
56
57
59
4- 41
STATE FOREST LAKD—3 Page Line
Set Reforest.Note 11- State Porest Land should
he under PC	6	29
See Reforest.Note 13- PC must ca&ry on work-	3	9
Reforest State Forest Lands under PC- Reforest-	31	25
ation Notes 42^41	30	27
State Porest Land should "be charge SP, subject
PC- Reforest.Kote IB	12	21
See Reforest.Note 40-	Each tract studied by SP	28	15
State Porest Land should be under control trained Portster with Western experience,with competent assistants and free from political influence	42	12
See Reforest .Note 17- In acquiring forest land
consider consolidation State’s timber lands-	42	23
See peforest note 16- Should make provision consolidate State’s virgin timber holdings by exchange with Nat icnal forests	42	19
Donations forest land may be accepted by PC,then
become part State Parest Reserve	11	5
See Reforest Note 24- Power accept forest land
donat ions	32	22
In matters land purchase SP should act with consent
Governor, and not be supervised by P Corns-	42	15
State shouMi purchase deforested land only	26	15
All State forest lands should be examined,cruised
classified prior the use or disposition of	2	22
land or timber
Recommend purchase deforested,non-agricultural	5	28
land not to exeeed f3 par acre	7	10
33	8
47	6
See Reforest Note 31- PC have power buy delinquent
tax lands not over $2 per acre	33	4
All timber should be sold separate from land
in sales State forest land	32	17
State forest lauds suitable agriculture should be
suld as such, after timber removed	32	1942
STATE FOREST LA.]®—4
59	See Refcrest.Hotes 14-A- 14-B- Land chiefly
valuable timber growing not alienable at all-(except by Act Legislature(?) R.W.D.)	43	8
60	State forest land more valuable other purposes
than forest growth judiciously sold and proceeds
to fund for purchases timberland,- yield of
which continuous for school fund-	43	6
61	Power to value,sell or refuse sell forest lands
welfare State demands- discouraye sales for long holding by private parties for spec.purposes-	29
power should be vested in Forest Comas.	ol	14
62	Profit from sale timber from reforested land
should go to school fund-	32	21
63	Power make contract regulate cuttin£,etc.should
be vested in forest Comms.	31	18
64	See Reforestation Notc,s 24~2l£:?«‘4:6-43-44-55
re policy of land contracts for leaving
seed trees,r^£Ulatin£ cutting,etc-	28	11
28	12
28	16
31	23
65	Nursery provided for raising seedlings,seeds,etc.
for State use-	23	28
66	Laws for preservation State forest lands should	12	32
be enforced S?- W-FR	16	5
27-^ Vest power to control,manage, dispose of State forest lands in Porest Commissioners
28
6FOREST TAXATION Page Line
1	Report of Committee- Prof.F.G.Miller,Chairman-
pages 49 to 68 incl.
2	Views of Expert Authorities on Forest Taxition,
compiled by E.T.Allen,- last page compiled "by R.W.3).- Pages 69 to 87 incl.
3	Present system entirely wrong,but because eocpe-
dient,Commission asks changes now only in tax laws that favor reforestation by private owners
4	Large portion of deforested land must be privately
reforested or lie idle
5	See Reforestation Notes 47,48,49,50,52,55 & 56
£g
3
3
3
4
64
66
25
21
63	25
2
4
6
19
19
25
Committee agre^s-
That as applied to vifcgin timber,a change in the method of taxation which would lay an annual tax on the land and a yield tax on the timber, when it is cut,would be highly to the interests of the State as a whole in that it would aid distinctly in perpetuating the forest as a resource-
67
That as an encouragement to private hold cut-over land for successive State should exempt both the land crop from taxation till timber is accumulated tax on both then to be against the timber.
capital to crops., the and the growing cut,the assessed
67
8	Commission unanimously amendment:
favors a constitutional
(a)	Permitting the classification of non-agricultural deforested land for the purpose of reforestation;
(b)	Fixing nominal valuation for the purpose of taxation on such classes of land;
(c)	Deferring the collection of taxes on the timber on such lands until the timber
is cut
’ 7
14REPORT OP THE WASHINGTON STATE COMHIS&ION
ON
POKES T LEGISIiATION
-I O.ES*
Page
Report of the Commission—------------------------------	1-8
Appendix A- Letter of Gov.M.E.Kay appointing
Commission-	A~B
"	B	Minutes of first Meeting,Hay 28,1910-	C»H
"	C	Report of Committee on Organization and
"Forest Protection	9~24
n	D	Report of Committee on General Policy
State Porest Lands-	25-33
n	E	Report of Committee on Reforestation	34—43
*	P	Report of Committee on Logged~off Land**	44-48
*	G	Report of Committee on Par est Taxation-	49—68
*	H	Authorities on Porest Taxation-	6$~87
11	I	Reforestation Addenda Showing Purchase of
Porest lands for Reforestation pur** poses by other States-	88—99STATE OS’ WASHINGTON-Executive Department
Olymp ia
April 28, 1910
R. W. Douglas, Esq..,
Seattle,Washin ton.
Dear Sir:-
With respect to the meeting of the Logged-off Land Association, the Washington forest 3?ire Association,and the Washington Conservation Assotfiation,held in Seattle on March 50,at which time a joint resolution 7/as unanimously adopted requesting the Governor to appoint a Commission to consider and rt-port upon legislative ncedn in relation to our forests,- the handling of our forest products, the logy~ed-off lands problem, and the question of reforestation,- the report to he submitted to the Governor not later than December 1st;next,or at as much earlier date as possible:
I am pleased to comply with this request,as it is now time these matters should be carefully considered. A large portion of the natural wealth of the State lies in its vast forests,- the destruction,wilful waste or mismanagement of which would mean a great lo3s to our commonwealth. It is time our State should take up in earnest the question of reforestation, and whsre we find areas better adapted to forest growth than for agricultural purposes,some plan should be adopttd whereby the State can take over such areas and start a vigorous campaign of reforestation. We have in the western sectionGovernor’s letter
2
of our State vast areas of logged-off lands which,if cleared of stumps,would make the finest of farming lands,but o'ffing to the excessive cost of clearing it is not now available for agricultural purposes.	These	problems	should	be studied
to the end that some plan may be devised whereby these areas may be cleared at a reasonable cost and brought under cultivation.
Knowing the great interest you take in questions of thito character,and your unselfish interest in our State*s welfare I have decided to ask you to accept a place upon this Commiss ion,which I trust you can accept.
As you are aware there is no appropriation made by the State to cover expenses of this kind,and the only regard you can expect will be in the knowledge that you have done tills work to help your fellcw-man ’and for the development and the building up of our State.
I shall ask Mr. J\ J. Donovan to act as temporary chairman and name the place and date of your first meeting.
Wishing you success in this undertaking,I have the honor to remain,
Very respectfully yours,
(Signed) M. E. Hay,Governor.HllTOTES of PIRST MEETING of COMHISSI01T, - 5/28-10
The first meeting of those appointed hy His Excellency,
Gov. Ms E. Hay;to form the Washington State Commission on
Forest Legislation,- or,in shorter title,the Commission on
Porest Legislation,and in the following Minutes referred to as
the "Commission”,- was held in the middle Assembly Room of
the Seattle Commercial Club, on the afternoon of Saturday,Hay
28,1910,at 1:50 o’clock,in accordance with the call for the
meeting as issued by Mr. J. J. Donovan,the Governor’s choice
for temporary Chairman of the Commission. The meeting was
called to order hy Mr. J. J. Donovan. The following members
of the Commission were present:
J.	J.	Donovan-	Prof,	R.	If Thatcher-
R.	W.	Douglas-	Prof,	H.	K. Benson-
Geo. E. Boos-	D( P.	Simons-
E»	G.	Ames-	Prank	Ho	Lamb-
Geo. S. Long-	Prof	.Prank	GJLiller-
It v;as stated that imperative engagements elsewhere prevented the attendance of the two Spokane members of the Commission,- A. G. Avery, and J. J\ Browne,- the absentee members being the last two of the twelve who were appointed by the Governor.
A letter from the Governor stating that a previous engagement for the laying of the corner stone of a public building in Snohomish county prevented his attendance;was laid before the. Co.jmission3which letter, initialed by the Secretary for identification,:^' filed as part of the Hi nut eg of this meeting.Minutes------2
Copy of the letter of His Excellency,the Governor,dated April 28,1910,creating the Commission and prescribing the scope of its duties,and a copy of the call of the meeting as made by the temporary Chairman,Mr. Donovan,under date of may 17,1910, were laid before the meeting; the two copies herein referred to were initialed by the Secretary for identification and the same placed on file to form part of the Minutes of this meeting
The temporary Chairman outlined features of the principal work to be undertaken by the Commission,and suggested means by which that work could be facilitated,- after which the Commission proceeded to organise.
On motion of R.W.Douglas,duly seconded,J.J.Donevan was unanimously elected to the office pf permanent Chairman of the Commission.
On motion of Prank K. Lamb, seconded by Prof.I?rank C-.Miller R.177,Douglas was unanimously elected to the office of Secretary of the Commission.
The Chairman,Hr. Donovan,stated that four,or possibly five divisions of the general work assigned to the Commission would in all probability cover the field of its activities,- the four principal divisions being Porest Protection (against fire, etc.); Reforestation; Forest Taxation; Logged-off Lands.
Mr. Donovan stated that while the Governor had set December 1st as the latest day on which the report of the Commission should be received,that the Commission should proceed with all possible dispatch consistent with carefulness andaccuracy to conclude its labors at the earliest possible date*
The Secretary read an extract from the Governor’s letter creating the Commission,and defining the possible scope of its work,as follows:
------------"Consider and report upon the legislative nss&a
in relation to the forests *f the State,- the forest producos;-the logged-off lands-------and especially, Refo rest at ion * *»
that
The Secretary stated that some of the subjects/had been suggested to him from various sources (besides,or in connection with thos# already mentioned) were:
Logging; lumber manufacturing operations; state lands; forest administration under scientific trained foresters; provision for publication of forest and forest products lit~
erature,approved by the State Board of 5‘orest Commissioners,or the State Porester; wood preservation,and by-products such us wood alcohol,- wood pulp; resin; pitch; tar; gum; oils; bark-
The Chairman called upon each member of the Commission for an expression of his views as to what at the outset might be assumed as the scope of the Commission*s work-
Prof. Thatcher emphasised the need for special consideration of the means by which forest lands should be managed or astelnlBt-Tatgd~ administered,and the consideration of a system for making soil surveys throughout at least the deforested areas of the State.
Prof.Benson and Mr. Boos outlined some phases of the logged elf land situation; Prof.Iiiller referred to the necessity of guarding against enforced cutting of standing timber as detrimental to the interests of the people of the entire State, through an inequitable method of forest taxation; Hr. Long outlined necessities and opportunities for reforestation,- andMinutes-- 4
Mr. Lamb urged special consideration of the pixbleias of State-owned forests with a view of insuring perpetual forest industries for the people,and perpetual income to the institutions for which the forested land^ were granted to the State.
In discussion it was suggested that the State might provide for purchasing deforested lands,chiefly valuable for producing timber,- that there might be a maximum price limit above vhich the State should not consider the purchase of land- ( A figure of ten dollars per acre was suggested as a fixed maximum price)- It was pointed out that as deforested land varied in value from approximately one-quarter of that price,- and might run somewhat above that in others,- and that deforested land values might in the future be considerably increased,- the whole matter should receive careful consideration at future meet ings.
?rof.Benson favored the plan for a division of the work into sub-committees. On motion of Hr. Ames,seconded by Hr.
Douglas, it was unanimously RESOLVED that a committee be formed
s
consiting of the Chairman and the Secretary of the CoMission, and Prof .Miller,«- that that Committee select from among the members of the Commission five committees to consist preferably of three members each,-and to appoint one of the three in each committee to act as Chairman,- that each one of the five committees should devote special attention to one of the following divisions of the work assigned to it:
(a) Purest Protection (against fire,etc.)j (b) Forest Tax-Minutes of meeting-------5
at ion; (c) Reforestation; (d) Logged-off Lands; (e) General Policy Re State Porest Lands; and tiiat Prof .Miller shall he a member and the Chairman of the Committee on Porest Taxation-
The special committee on appointments,through its Chairman, Mr. J. J. Donovan,named the five committees called for in Mr. Ames’ resolution,as follows:
Porest Protection (against fire,etc) ;
D.P.Simons (Chairman); Geo.E.Boos; Prof.Miller-
Porest Taxation;
Prof.F.G.Miller (Chairman); E.G.Ames; J.J.Donovan-
Reforestation:
Geo.S.LOng (Chairman); J,J.Browne; R.W.Douglas-
Logged- off Land:
Prof.Thatcher (Chairman); Geo.E.Boos- Prof.Benson-
General Policy-State Porest Lands:
Prank H.Lamb (Chairman); A.G.Avery; Gec.S.Long-
It was unanimously RESOLVED that the five committees shall submit progress reports for consideration of the Commission as a whole at the time of the next meeting,and from time to time thereafter.
Mr.Douglas moved that publicity be given respecting the objects and purpose*? of the Commission,- and also to its general proceedings,and that through the Press,interested citizens be invited to make desirable suggestions relative any matter within the scope of the Commission’s proper activities,and that the citizens should be invited jro give to the Commission from time to time,such advice as appeared to the citizens best calculatedHinutes
6
to promote the interests of the people of 'Washington. The motion seconded by Mr. Simons,was carried unanimously.
On motion of Prof.Benson,seconded by Mr. Lamb,it was unanimously RESOLVED to hold the next meeting of the Commission at Hoorn 802 White Building,Seattle,on the morning of Saturday, July 9, 1910, at 10:00 o’clock.
The meeting then adjourned.
R. W. Douglas,
Secretary.
J. J. Donovan,
Chairman.Seattie,Washington,November 16,1910.
Hon. M. E. Hay,
Governor of Washington,
Olympia, Wn.
Sir:-
The Washington State Commission on Forest Legislation
appointed by you on April 28,1810, he rev/i th submits its Report.
We met and organized on May 28th,** the work was assigned
to five committees:
Organisation and Protection-General Policy State 'Forest Lands-Reforestation-Logged-off Land-Porest Taxation-
frequent meetings have bt.en held by the Committees and the full Commission,and we have agreed on the points which are set forth in the reports of the respective committees.
-ORGANIZATION AHD PROTECTION-The State Board of Forest Commissioners shall be increased from five to seven,- shall be non-political,and consist of the Land Commissioner, the heads of the two Forestry Schools of the State,and four members to be appointed by the Governor because of special knowledge and fitness. This Board shall be paid per diem and mileage when attending meetings. The Forester shall be appointed by,and work under the Board as at pres-ent:but provision is made for increased c ompens at ion ? assistants^9
and authority as set forth in the report. We recommend the appointment of a special Timber Appraisal Board with members
and duties as ®et forth on pa£e ..........of the report of the
Committee on General Policy,which Board shall classify and set aside all lads more valuable for forest growing than for agriculture,as State Forest Lands to he placed under the jurisdiction of the State Board of Forest Commissioners,which Board shall have all the powers relating to these lands now vested in the State 3oard of Land Commissioners.
The Committee on ?orest Protection recommends,and we approve numerous minor changes in existing laws,- many of them recommended by the State forester,- all tending to lessen risk of fire and to increase punishment for careless or malicious setting of fires. Iftill report of this Committee is given in Appendix "C".
-GJEIESRAL POL*jJ| STATE FORIDST LAOS-
The Committee calls attention to the fact that the Stata still owns timber lands west of the Cascade mountains,with a itumpage value of approximately thirty millions of doliars-(^30,000,000),and that it is the owner of many thousands of acres of land suitable for reforestation,but now entirely neglected. The necessity et thorough cruising examination and classification of all these lands is made clear,and the duty of the State to conserve the growing timber and dispose of land or timber on sound business principles is strongly urged. All changes proposed are in the interest of the State, and the recommendations of this Committee should have full tonsideration. (See Appendix "D").4
-HF1PORESTATIOIT-
¥e have carefully considered the question of reforesting the great area unsuitable for other use. The present tax system makes it impossible for private owners to raise forest trees without actual loss. Until the lav separates the tax on the timber from that on the land,there is no hope of new forests grown by private enterprise. A constitutional amend-' ment is first necessary. Ev^n if secured, it is probable that most work of reforesting will be done by the State for many years to come, and we lock to a State forestry Department for the carrying on of this work. It should be made possible for private owners to undertake the work without positive confiscations^ at present,- but at best the number undertaking it will be few. There is little chance of profit, arid much of loss. Appendix "E" gives the full report of this special committee.
We also especially call attention to Appendix lfHn,which gives a large number of eminent authorities on forest taxation. Prom the list we quote the following from the Conservation Conference at Washington, D. C.:
"Believing that excessive taxation on standing timber privately owned,is a potent cause of forest destruction by increasing the cost of maintaining growing forests,we agree in the wisdom and justice of separating the taxation of '^EH^e^aapd from the taxation of timber growing upon it,and adjusting both in such manner as to encourage forest conservation and forest growing. n
"The private owners of land unsuited to agriculture,once forested and now impoverished or denuded,should be encouraged5
by practical instruct ion,adjustment of taxation,and i n other proper ways to undertake the reforesting thereof."
Gifford Pinchot	)
Robert Bacon	) Commissioners representing the
James R. Garfield ) United States.
Sydney Fisher )
Clifford Sift on ) Commissioners representing the Henri Beland	) Dominion of Canada-
Rornulo Escobar )	)
Miguel A De Q,uevedo ) Commissioners representing the Carlos Sellericr ) Republic of Mexico.
E.	E. Outerbridge- Commissioner representing the
Colony of Newfoundland.
We are agreed that our present system of taxation is accelerating the destruction of the forests and preventing reforestation.
The Commission unanimously favors a constitutional amendment:
1.	Permitting the classification of non-agricultural logged-off or burned-over land for the purpose of reforestation.
2.	Fixing nominal valuation for the purpose of taxatgion on such classes of land*
3.	Deferring the collection of taxes on the timber on such land until the timber is cut.
We are thoroughly convinced that there can be no real progress in private reforestation until the above principles are enacted into law* The records of other states given in Allendix *’3* clearly point to this conclusion.n v. v
5
-LOGGED-OP? LA_fDS-
There are nearly two and one-half million acrts of logged-off lands in Western Washington* They are increasing at the rate of 50, COO to 60,000 acres annually,-' less what may he cleared. These lands are a great asset and should he brought into use. As large a proportion as possible (probably one-half of the total area) should be transformed into farms, orchards >or pastures,- the remainder may be reforested under proper laws*
We endorau the recommendation of the Committee for "Rural Improvement Districts'* on the same principle as dike and ditch districts,excepting that lands included in such districts shall be with the consent of all the owners; for the appropriation of $5OGO«OO for use of the State Board of Geological Survey for continuing the soil survey and classification; for &1O.OOC.OO for use of the State College Experiment Station in carrying on special work,- and &2OOO„OO for continuation of State University studies of by-products of wood.
We also endorse the recommendation for purchase of non-a-'-ricultural logged-off lands at a price not to exceed §3.00 per acre,by the State,and the creation of a State PoreBt Reserve,- and believe the plan for providing funds from the sale of shore and second-class tide lands feasible and proper* (We refer to the report of the Cpmmittee (Appendix ”P,?) for reasons justifying these recommendations.< 0
7
-FOREST TAXATI01T-
The special Commit tec on Taxation has given the subject close study, and we ask perusal of their full report,- Appendix G~ Because of its compact summary of important points,we1 quote from the first page of that report:
"From incomplete data furnished by the federal government, the state,county assessors,and cruisers of private holdings, it appears that Washington has three hundred billion feet of merchantable timber. Under normal conditions thir# timber iff being moved off at the rate of four to five billion feet a year.
"In 1906,when the lumber production reached its maximum, the total income from our forests,- including products of all kinds,- lumber,shingles,lath,ties,poles,firewood,etc.- was upwards of 80 million dollars,- and in 19C7, 7 6 millions.
"Probably four-fifths of the manufactured value of the forest output goes for labor and supplies,- thus benefiting every branch of cur industrial life.
MIn normal tiiaes the lumber industry employe 100,000 nonexclusive of those engaged in the transportation of the product to market. Two hundred and thirty million dollars are invested in milling and logging plants,- including logging railroads *
Ilaiiy of our leading cities and towns are almost wholly dependent on the lumber industry; it has probably contributed more ^ to the settlement and development of the State than has any other interest.*
While agreed that the present plan of taxation accelerates cutting of the forest,- the Coismittee asks only for changes which will aid reforestation.
To summarize:	We recommend changes in the Board of State
Forestry Commissioners,- the placing of all forest lands under their control,- and the appropriation of §200,000.00 by the Legislature for the protection and care of the forests- for the next two years,- numerous amendments to the existing fire laws;-------all for the purpose of better protection, have beenI- f (
8
Irm&K. agreed to after thorough discuss ion. A strong businesslike policy for the appraisal,care and sale of State timber and forest lands on the lines followed by successful private owners has been outlined.
The principles governing reforestation^ evidenced,by the experience of other countries and states,are made clear, and we ask that our lavs be brought into accord with those that ftave proven successful elsewhere,and that the State itself actively engage in reforesting its denuded lands5and acquire others for this purpose,when owners will sell for not to exceed $3.00 per acre* The latent value of our logged-off lands ia recognised,and for the continuance of the work authorized by the last legislature,*nd being done by the State cellege State Universityfand Board of Geological Survey,- we ask further appropriations of tl7,000• 00,and the enactment of * law facilitating the voluntary association of oirmers for the purpose of clearing land#
Our present tax laws are not conducive to the best interests of the State|but cannot be bettered without constitutional amendment. We therefore,ask that such amendment be submittod to the people with the end in view that tax lawa fa/oring reforestation be enacted*
In considering ths legal aspect of the various questione that have come before us,tvs have had the aid and the advice of Dean John T* Condon, of ths State Univers ity:. with whom we will cooperate to prepare bills covering th& pointe in this report which Your Excellency may approve for presentation to the StatO Legislature.
I9
Washington ranks first in the list .of timber producing States of the Union. If our standing timber were manufactured and on earn,its value at the mills today would be over four bill.ions of dollars. "Fully three-fourths of this amount rep** resent*? expenditures for labor and supplies. The freight value for the railroads and ships is another four billions.
We ask $106,500.00 for each of the next two years for our forest work. Pennsylvania spends §180,000 annually,and Hew York $118,000 on their comparatively small forests*
Believing that the protection;development and continuance of	our	greatest	industry	require changes	in our present laws
as	recommended	herein,we	af®,
Yours very respectively,
Washington State Commission on Forest Legislation,
J. J, Donovan* Chaiman-
D.	P. Simons, Jr.
E.	Gr <• Ame u
*
Frank 0. Millsr-H«	K.	Benson**
R.	Y7.	Thatcher-
Frank PI. Lamb-George S. Long-John T. Condon-George E Boos~
Richard Douglas.
A true copy of the original:
Secretary,
VAshington State Commission on 'Forest Legislation.9
i
Your Committee on Organization and Forest Protection respectfully recommends adoption of the following proposed laws:
SECTION 1. There is hereby created a board to be known as the State Board of Forest Commissioners, consisting of the State Land Commissioner, whose term of office shall be co-extensive with his term as State Land Commissioner, the heads of the Forestry Schools of the University of Washington and the Washington State College, respectively, whose terms of office shall be co-extensive with their terms as heads of the said forestry schools, respectively, and four electors of the State of Washington to be appointed by the Governor, whose term of office shall be four years from the date of the appointment; PROVIDED. however, that two of the first appointees under the terms of this Act sliall hold office for only two years, and thereupon the Governor shall appoint the successors of such two-year appointees for the term of four years.
The aforesaid appointments should be made from candidates presented by a committee composed of the President of the Washington Conservation Association, tlie President of the Washington Logged-off Land Association, the head of each of the forest fire associations incorporated under the laws of the State of Washington and maintaining an adequate forest fire patrol service—the United States Forest Service, and the Master of the Washington State Grange—or bv the heads of successors to these organizations.
Each of the said candidates shall be an elector of the State of Washington, and shall be selected with the single view of securing the most competent expert judgment in the matters with which the hoard shall deal.
For each position there should be at least two names presented, each having the endorsement of two or more of the presidents, or heads, of the organizations hereinbefore specified; from the names so presented the Governor should select the appointees.
Should no two of the heads of the organizations herein referred to, agree upon the required candidate within 30 days after the time for appointment of such candidate, then the Governor shall, without reference to the said organizations, make the appointment for the2
position, and such appointee shall serve throughout the unexpired term.
Each of the members of said Board shall take and subscribe to an oath or affirmation before some officer authorized by law to administer the same, to faithfully perform the duties of said office.
Those members of the said Board who are not ex-officio, shall receive compensation of $10.00 per diem, and also actual mileage while engaged in the performance of their Board duties.
Ex-officio members of said Board shall receive actual mileage and expense of subsistence while engaged in the performance of their Board duties.
The Secretary of State shall provide suitable quarters for the use of said Board and the State Forester in the State Capitol Building. The said Board shall meet at the call of the Governor as soon as convenient after their appointment, at the State Capitol, and shall organize by the election of a chairman. A majority of the members of said Board shall constitute a quorum.
The Chairman of said Board shall each month, issue a written call for a meeting of the Board to be held during the next following month. The call shall specify the time and the place of the meeting— both of which shall be determined by the Chairman.
The Chairman shall also call special meetings of the said Board whenever requested in writing so to do by three or more of the Board members, or by the State Forester.
All meetings of the Board shall lie held at the State Capitol, or any other convenient place within the State.
The State Board of Forest Commissioners shall supervise all matters of forest policy and forest management under the jurisdiction of the State; it shall have full power to appoint a State Forester; to make such rules and regulations for the prevention, control and suppression of forest fires as is deemed necessary; to regulate and control the official acts of the State Forester, fire wardens and forest rangers, and to have power to remove at will any of these officials; it shall be the duty of said Board to collect information regarding the timberlands owned by the State, through investigations made by the State Forester, fire wardens and forest rangers, regardingthe condition of the timberlands belonging to the State, reporting promptly to the State Land Commissioner any damage caused by forest fires and by illegal cutting, or trespassing upon the State timberlands.
The State Board of Forest Commissioners is hereby authorized, when in its judgment it is advisable, to accept on behalf of the State, any grant of land within the State, which shall then become a part of the State Forest Reserve, provided that no grant shall be accepted until its title has been examined and approved by the Attorney General of the State, and a report made to said Board of the results of such examination.
The State Board of Forest Commissioners shall appoint a State Forester at an annual salary, the amount of which shall be fixed by the Board, and payable in equal monthly installments out of the State Treasury, in the same manner as the salaries of other State officials are paid; he shall also be entitled to all office, traveling and other necessary expenses incurred by him under the authority of the State Board of Forest Commissioners, while in the actual performance of his duties. All expenses so incurred shall be submitted in full detail to the State Board of Forest Commissioners for examination, and if approved and allowed by said Board, shall be presented to the State Auditor, who shall, if found correct, draw his warrant upon the State Treasurer for the amount so allowed, and the State Treasurer is hereby authorized to pay said amount due out of any moneys in the treasury appropriated for this purpose.
It shall be the duty of the State Board of Forest Commissioners to audit and carefully inspect all bills of salary and expenses incurred by the fire wardens, and all bills authorized by the fire wardens and forest rangers for the prevention, suppression, checking or control of forest fires, and to determine what amounts are justly due and should he paid. When so determined the said Board shall present a statement thereof for each county, accompanied by the original bills, to the State Auditor, who shall audit the same, and if found correct, the State Auditor shall draw his warrants 011 the State Treasurer in payment thereof, and the State Treasurer is hereby authorized to pay2
4
said warrants out of any money in the treasury appropriated for such purposes.
-SECTION 2u The State Forester may at his discretion, subject to the approval of the State Board of Forest Commissioners, appoint trained forest assistants possessing technical qualifications, and employ necessary clerical assistance, and fix the amount of the annual salary which shall be payable in equal monthly installments to each assistant, so appointed, or employed, and also employ fire wardens and forest rangers to be compensated as hereinafter provided.
He shall act as Secretary of the State Board of Forest Commissioners, or he may delegate that duty to one of his assistants.
He shall, acting under the supervision of the State Board of Forest Commissioners, whenever he may deem it necessary to the best interests of the people and the State, co-operate in forest surveys, forest studies, and forest protection, and in the preparation of plans for the protection, management and replacement of trees, woodlots and timber tracts, with any of the several departments, or the governments of other States, and with the governments of the United States, and of Canada, and with counties, towns, corporations and individuals within the State of Washington.
He shall, subject to the direction, rules and regulations of the State Board of Forest Commissioners, have direct charge and supervision of all matters pertaining to forestry, including the forest fire service of the State.
The term “forest fire service” as used in this Act, shall be held 1o include all fire wardens, forest rangers, and help especially employed for preventing and fighting forest fires.
In times of emergency or unusual danger, the Forester is empowered to mass the forest fire service of the State where its presence might be required by reason of forest fires, and to take charge of and direct the work of suppressing such fire.
It shall be the duty of the State Forester to enforce all laws for the preservation of forests within the State, and investigate the origin of all forest fires, vigorously prosecute all violators of this Act; prepare and print for public distribution an abstract of the forest andu
5
fire laws of Washington, together with such rules and regulations as may be formulated by the State Board of Forest Commissioners.
He shall ascertain each year the amount of the logs and bolts cut. and the amount of lumber and other forest products manufactured, and the quantity of wood used for the various commercial purposes within the State; also the amount of lumber and other forest products received from sources outside of the State.
Every person, firm and corporation within the State, cutting logs or bolts, or manufacturing, or using lumber, or other forest products, shall furnish to the Forest annually, when requested so to do, information relative to the extent of their production, conversion, or use of logs or bolts, lumber and other forest products, upon blanks to be furnished by the Forester. Any producer, converter or consumer who neglects or refuses to furnish such information within twenty days after requested by the Forester so to do, shall be liable to a fine of one hundred dollars.
The State Forester may, with the approval of the State Board of Forest Commissioners) publish for free distribution, information pertaining to forestry and forest products which he considers of benefit to the people of the State.
It shall be the duty of the State Forester to annually notify the county clerk in each county where fire wardens or forest rangers are appointed, giving the names of such appointees. He shall furnish notices printed in large letters on cloth, calling attention to the dangers from forest fires, and to the penalties for the violation of this Act; such notices to be posted in conspicuous places by the fire wardens or forest rangers in all timber districts, along roads, and trails, streams and lakes frequented by tourists, campers, hunters and fishermen, and in other visited regions.
The State Forester shall, subject to the approval of the State Board of Forest Commissioners, prepare all necessary printed forms for the use of fire wardens and forest rangers, in connection with the granting of applications for permits to burn ; for the appointment of fire wardens and forest rangers; any and all forms or blanks required or desirable; and shall supply each fire warden and forest ranger with such forms and blanks.6
The State Forester shall become familiar with the location and area of all State timber and cut-over lands, and prepare maps of each of the timbered counties, shoving the State lands therein, and supply such maps to each fire warden, and in all ways that are practical and feasible, protect such lands from the ravages of fire and the illegal cutting of timber, reporting from time to time, direct to the State Board of Forest Commissioners such information as may be of benefit to the State in the care and protection of its timber.
It shall be the duty of the State Forester to institute inquiry into the extent, kind, value and condition of all timber lands in the State; the amount of acres, and value of timber that is cut and removed each year; the extent to which timberlands are being destroyed by fires; and also examine into the production, quality and quantity of second growth timber with a view to ascertaining conditions for reforestation, and not later than the first day of December of each year make a written report to the State Board of Forest Commissioners upon all such facts as found bv him, together with detailed information as to the work of the forest fire service of the State.
The State Forester shall have power to appoint within any county in this State, where there is timber requiring protection, one or more fire wardens for all or any portion of the period during which the State Forester deems that forest fire dangers exist.
The State Forester shall have power to temporarily suspend any fire warden or forest ranger who may be incompetent or unwilling to discharge properly the duties of his office, and to appoint his successor temporarily until his action shall be passed on by the State Board of Forest Commissioners.
Each fire warden shall receive a compensation not to exceed $5.00 a day for the time actually employed.
Fire wardens shall make their headquarters at the County Seat of the county which they represent, and be equipped with suitable office quarters in the County Court House by the County Commissioners.
The Board of County Commissioners of any county in which there has been no fire warden appointed, may request the State Forester toappoint a fire warden, and said Forester may, if in his .judgment the necessity exists, appoint one or more fire wardens for each county.
The authority of fire wardens and forest rangers respecting the preventing, controlling or suppressing of forest fires, summoning help or making arrests for the violations of this Act, may extend to any adjacent county, or to any part of the State in times of great fire danger.
The salaries and necessary expenses of all fire wardens and forest rangers, together with all expenses incurred for help and assistance in forest fire protection, shall be borne in the proportion of two-thirds by the State and one-third by the county in which the service was given, and the expense incurred for forest fire protection.
All accounts of the fire wardens and forest rangers shall be submitted to the State Forester, as well as all bills for forest fire protection authorized by the fire wardens, and when such bills are approved and paid, as provided for in Section 2 of this Act, the amount of one-third of all such outlays in each county shall be due and payable on demand from each of such counties into the State Treasury, and credited to the fund appropriated by this Act.
All fire wardens and forest rangers shall render reports to the State Forester on such blanks or forms, or in such manner and at such times as may be ordered, giving a summary of how employed, the area of country visited, expenses incurred, and such other information as may be called for by the State Forester.
SECTION 3. Each fire warden and forest ranger shall be at all times under the direction and control of the State Forester, and shall perform such duties at such times and places as he may direct.
It shall be the duty of fire wardens and forest rangers to post over the forest areas notices of warning giving the date of the closed season as provided for in Section 6 of this Act, and copies of all such laws and rules as they may be directed to post by the State Forester. They shall investigate all fires and report all of a serious or threatening character to the State Forester immediately by telegraph. They shall patrol their districts; visit all parts of roads and trails and frequented places and camps as far as possible, warn campers or other16
8
users of fire, see that all locomotives and engines are provided with spark arresters and adequate devices for preventing the escape of fire or live coals from ash pans and fire boxes, in accordance with the law; extinguish small or smoldering fires; impress or employ help to stop conflagrations; see that all laws for the protection of forests are enforced, and arrest and cause to be prosecuted all offenders.
SECTION 4. All state land cruisers, and all rangers and assistant rangers of the U. S. Forest Service when recommended by their forest supervisor, shall be ex-officio forest rangers, and timber cruisers and citizens of the State advantageously located, may at the discretion of the State Forester, be appointed forest rangers and vested with their duties and power, but they shall receive no compensation for their services; the State Forester, his assistants, fire wardens, forest rangers and all police officers are hereby empowered to make arrests without warrant of persons violating this Act.
SECTION 5. No person, firm or corporation shall burn any slashing, chopping, wood-land or brush-land within any county in this State in which there is a fire warden or forest ranger between the first day of June and the first day of October in each year, without first obtaining permission in writing from the fire warden or forest ranger, and compliance with the term's of said permit; and any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions contained in the preceding portions of this Section, shall, on conviction thereof, be fined in any sum not less than $25.00 nor more than $500.00, or be imprisoned in the county .jail not exceeding thirty (30) days. Such permission for burning shall be given only upon compliance with such rules and regulations as the State Board of Forest Commissioners shall prescribe.
The State Forester, his assistants, or any fire warden or forest ranger, may at his discretion refuse, revoke, or postpone the use of permits to burn, when such action is clearly necessary for public safety.
No person, firm or corporation shall burn any slashing, chopping, wood-land or brush-land until all dry snags, stubs and dead trees over 25 feet in height, within the area to be burned, shall have been cut down, and until such other work shall have been done in and around9
'the slashing or chopping to prevent the spread of fire therefrom, as shall be required to be done by any lire warden or forest ranger.
When any person shall have obtained permission from a fire warden or forest ranger to burn any slashings made for the purpose of clearing land, the fire warden may at his discretion, furnish him with a man to supervise and control the burning, who shall represent and act for such fire warden, and shall have all the powers and authority of the fire warden while engaged in such service, including the right <o revoke such permit if in his opinion the burning authorized will endanger any valuable timber or other property. Such man shall serve only until such time as the party burning may be able to keep the fire under control himself.
Fire wardens are hereby authorized and empowered to employ a sufficient number of men to extinguish or prevent the spreading of any fires which may be in danger of destroying any valuable timber or other property in this State. Every man so employed and also the representative of the fire warden supervising the burning shall be entitled to a compensation of twenty-five cents per hour for each hour’s actual service, and the fire warden shall issue a certificate to each man so employed showing the number of hours worked by him and the amounts due to him, upon which, after approval by the State Forester, the man shall be entitled to receive payment from the State in the manner provided for in Section 2 of this Act.
In times and localities of unusual fire danger, the Governor, with the advice of the State Forester, may suspend any and all permits or privileges authorized by this Section, and prohibit absolutely the use of fire herein mentioned.
Whenever during an open season for the hunting of any kind of game in this State, it shall appear to the Governor that by reason of extreme drought, the use of firearms or fire by hunters is1 liable to cause forest fires, he may by proclamation suspend the open season and make it a closed season for the shooting of wild birds and animals of any kind for such time as he may designate—and during the time so designated, all provisions of law relating to closed seasons for game shall be in force.SECTION 6. Any person refusing to render assistance when called upon by any fire warden or forest ranger, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not less than ten dollars (.$10.00'i nor more than one hundred dollars ($100.00).
Any person who shall wilfully or needlessly deface, destroy or remove any warning placard or notice posted under the requirements of this Act. shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be punishecr by a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) nor more than one hundred dollars $100.00) for each offense, or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding thirty (30) days.
Any person who shall on any land within this State set and leave any fire that shall spread and damage or destroy property of any kind not his own, shall be punished by a fine of not less than ten dollars $10.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00). If such fire be set or left maliciously, whether on his own or another’s land, with intent to destroy property not his own. he shall be punished by a fine of not less than twenty dollars ($20.00') nor more than one thousand dollars ($1000.00) or imprisonment in the county jail of not less than one month nor more than one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment. and shall be liable for all such damages in a civil suit.
All finos collected under this Act shall be paid into the county treasury.
During the closed season any person who shall kindle a fire on land not his own, in or dangerously near any forest, and leave same unquenched, or who shall be a party thereto, or who shall by throwing away any lighted cigar, matches, or by use of firearms, or in any other manner, sairt a fire upon forest lands, not his own, and leaves same unquenched, shall upon conviction be fined not less than ten dollars ($10.00) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100.00) or be imprisoned in the county jail not exceeding two months.
SECTION 7. Any and all inadequately protected forests or cutover land, adjoining, lying near, or intermingling with other forest land covered wholly or in part by any inflammable debris or otherwise likely to further the spread of fire, which by reason of such location or condition, or lack of protection endangers life or property.is hereby declared to be a public nuisance, and whenever the State Forester shall learn thereof lie shall notify the owners or persons in control or possession of said land, requesting them to take proper steps for its protection and advising them of means and methods to that end.
SECTION 8 It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation manufacturing lumber or shingles, or other forest products, to destroy wood-waste material by burning the same at or near any mill situated within % of one mile of any brush-land, timber-land or slashing, without properly confining the place of said burning within fire walls and without further safeguarding the surrounding property against danger from said burning by such additional devices as the State Forester may require.
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to destroy any wood-waste material by fire within any burner or destructor operated at, or near any mill and in relation thereto, situated within a/4 of one mile of any brush-land. timber-land, or slashing, without installing and maintaining on such burner or destructor a safe and suitable device for arresting sparks.
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation operating any power producing plant, to use in connection therewith any smokestack. chimney, or other spark emitting outlet, without installing and maintaining on said smokestack, chimney or other spark emitting outlet, a safe and suitable device for arresting sparks.
Any person, firm or corporation violating the provisions of this Section shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each and every violation, to be collected by civil action in the name of the State, or by imprisonment for not less than thirty (30) days in the county jail.
SECTION f). It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to operate any spark emitting railroad locomotive, logging, or farm engine or boiler, at any time during the months of June to October inclusive, or for any person, firm or corporation operating any railroad locomotive, logging or other engine or boiler within *4 of one mile of any forest, slashing, chopping or wood-land, or brush-2‘)
12
land during the closed season, without such railroad locomotive, or logging or other engine or boiler is provided with and uses a safe and suitable device for arresting sparks.
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to operate during the closed season, any railroad locomotive, or logging, or other engine or boiler, within V\ of one mile of any forest slashing, chopping, wood-land or brush-land without such railroad locomotive, logging or other engine or boiler is provided with and uses an adequate device to prevent the escape of fire or live coals from all ash pans and all fire boxes except when said ash pans and said fire boxes are being cleaned when not in motion.
Every person, firm or corporation failing to comply with the provisions of this Section, shall upon conviction, pay a fine for each railroad locomotive, logging or other engine or boiler, for each day so operated without such spark arrester, or without such adequate device to prevent the escape of firp or livp coals from said ash pans or said fire boxes, of not less than ten dollars C$10) nor more than fifty dollars ($50) per day for pach railroad locomotive, logging or other engine or boiler so used, and shnil be prohibited from further use of such railroad locomotive, logging or other engine or boiler, until such spark arrester, or such adequate device for preventing the escape of fire or live coals from said ash pans and said fire boxes is provided and used therewith.
No person, firm or corporation operating a railroad shall during the months of June to October, inclusive, permit any of his or its employees to deposit fire or live coals upon the right of way outside of the yard limits and within l/i of one mile of any forest slashing, chopping, wood-land or brush-land, without such deposit of fire or live coals shall be immediately extinguished.
Any person, firm or corporation violating this provision respecting the deposit of fire and live coals, shall upon conviction pay a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100.00), or be imprisoned in the county jail not exceeding thirty (30) days.
Fines received as a result of the violation of provisions set forthif- *
4: *
13
in this Section, shall be paid into 1 lie current expense account of the County Treasurer.
Fire wardens and forest rangers shall report any lack of sufficient spark arresters, and any lack of adequate devices for preventing the escape of fire and live coals, as provided in this Act, to the State Forester, and to the prosecuting attorney of their county, and the Superior Court of that county where suit is first instituted, shall have the jurisdiction of the offense.
SECTION 10. Every person, firm or corporation clearing right of way for rail, wagon, or other roads or trails, shall pile and burn on such right of way all refuse limber, slashings, choppings, and brush cut thereon, and as rapidly as the clearing or cutting progresses, and the weather conditions permit, or at such other times as the Forester or his assistants, or any fire warden may direct.
During the closed season, such burning hereinbefore provided for in this Section, shall not be required to be done, while the Forester, his assistant, or any fire warden in authority, shall refuse to issue a permit for such burning.
Every person, firm or corporation slashing brush or timber, or cutting or logging timber, shall, as the work proceeds, and within the area of operations, cut down all snags, stubs and dead trees over twenty-five (25) feet in height.
No person, firm or corporation slashing brush, or timber, for the purpose of clearing land, or cutting or logging timber shall fell, or permit to be felled, trees in such a manner that the tops or branches shall fall into green timber not owned by the person, firm or corporation felling, or permitting the felling of such trees, without first obtaining written permission of the owner of said green timber.
Every person, firm arid corporation operating a donkey engine or other portable or stationary engine, for the logging of timber, or the clearing of land of tree stumps, or other wood material, shall during the closed season
maintain in readiness for use in connection with each and every such donkey engine, or other portable or stationary engine, a steam pump having not less than a one inch discharge, and equipped with14
one hundred feet of serviceable hose, for use in extinguishing fires;
maintian a watchman at the point where the said donkey engine, or other portable or stationary engine may be located, said watchman to be on duty for at least two hours following every time when the said donkey engine, or other portable or stationary engine shall cease operations;
clear and maintain an area with a radius of fifty feet from each donkey engine, or other portable or stationary engine, said area to be cleared of all inflammable material except the fuel necessary to the operation of the said donkey engine, or other portable or stationary engine.
Every person, firm and corporation operating a logging locomotive
shall
have a man, or men, follow each logging train for the purpose of acting as fire patrol—the said man, or men, to begin the said patrol at approximately thirty minutes after the starting of the logging engine which it is his, or their, duty to follow;
maintain in readiness for use in connection with each logging locomotive, a steam pump having not less than a one-inch discharge, and equipped with 100 feet of serviceable fire hose for use in extinguishing fires.
Every person, firm or corporation who shall violate any of the provisions contained in tips Section shall be punished by a fine not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00) or by imprisonment in the county jail for not less than thirty (30) days.
SECTION 11. Whenever an arrest shall have been made for a violation of any of the provisions of this Act, or whenever information of such violation shall have been lodged with him, the prosecuting attorney of the county in which the criminal act was committed shall prosecute the offender, or offenders with all diligence and energy. If any prosecuting attorney shall fail to comply with the provisions of this Section he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00). and by imprisonment of not less than thirty (30; days nor more than one year in the county jail.O'* v - CfJ
15
The penalties of this Section shall apply to any magistrate with proper authority who refuses or neglects to cause the arrest and prosecution of any person or persons when complaint under oath of violations of any provisions of this Act has been lodged with him.
Out of any money in the State Treasury, not otherwise appropriated, the following sums are hereby appropriated for the purposes hereinafter designated for the fiscal term beginning April 1, 1911, and ending March 31, 1913, and the State Auditor is directed on presentation to him of properly certified vouchers, to draw his warrants on the State Treasurer, in payment thereof, and the State Treasurer is hereby authorized to pay said warrants out of any money in the Treasury appropriated for the following purposes, to-wit:
(1)	For salaries of the State Forester and
assistant foresters.....................................$ 15,000.00
(2)	For clerical, traveling and other expenses
of the State Forester and his forest assistants, and for per diem compensation and expenses of the State hoard of Forest Commissioners while attending Board meetings......................................	15,000.00
(3)	For prolection of forests against fire, for
the payment of fire wardens, forest rangers and aids, in patroling, and in preventing and suppressing forest fires within the State, for the prevention and detection of trespass on school and other State forest lands, and when approved by the State Board of Forest Commissioners, for the publication of information pertaining to forestry........................ 160,000.00
(4)	For the establishment and maintenance
of a State Forest Nursery, or nurseries, in which to produce forest tree stock, with which to plant State Forest Lands, and from which to distribute seed and seedlings at cost to private planters of trees for wood-lot, shade, wind-break, and for general forest trees purposes; also to promote scientific investigations of forest growth...........................	10,000.0016
All Acts or parts of Acts inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed.
COMMITTEE ON ORGANIZATION
AND FOREST PROTECTION
D. P. SIMONS, Chairman
GEO. E. BOOS
FRANK G. MILLERREPORT OF SUB-COMMITTEE ON STATE FOREST LAUD POLICY
The problems assigned to this committee concern more particularly the proper utilization of the forest lands now owned, or which may hereafter be acquired by the State.
♦-CONDITION OP STATE FOREST LANDS-The State of Washington is in a very favorable position as regards the conservation of the forest resources,since the State is the owner not only of a large acreage of cut-over lands,but a very large area of virgin timber of constantly increasing value.
Approximately 800,000 acres of State lands lying west of the Cascade aountains,were originally timbered; the merchantable timber from a considerable part of this area has been sold,but it is safe to say that the State is today the owner of at least 400,000 acres of timber that will probably cut sixteen billion feet,- worth Thirty Million Dollars at the present time.'
Of the lands from which the timber has been sold since the State adopted the policy of selling the timber separate from the land*a great part of them is still in the ownership of the State,as the majority have but little agricultural value. These lands are in the worst possible condition as regards their future productiveness. Because of their soil a nr. surface conditions they are adapted primarily for the growing of timber crops cf Fir, Spruce, Cedar and Hemlock.2
Kind Nature has done her best to rc-forest with young trees, as soon as the virgin timber was removed.but the little regarded or wilful slashing-fire has,or soon will annul her efforts, and with a few years of such recutring fires the areas will be left a seared waste. Undersize or cull material,that soon would be merchantable is destroyed,- the young growth is killed,- the humus and soil consumed,- the seed trees are gone and natural reproduction becomes impossible,- then reforesting becomes entirely a matter of tree planting.
At the present rate of selling,it will be only a few years before the major portion of the timber on the State Lands will have been sold.
REASONS WHY THE STATE SHOULD PRACTICE CONSERVATION
ON ITS STATE LANDS.
1.	Because of its already large ownership in timber;the necessity of purchasing any excepting cut-over lands is obviated.
2.	It has already in the State Forest Department,the machineryyjorest work,- machinery which is now actively engaged only a part of the year,- i.e. during the fire season.
3.	The questions of taxes and interest on investment, such as arise in the case of private ownership,do not affect the returns,since the State pays no taxes and will have no capital invested.
4.	It is the duty of the State to demonstrate by example that forest conservation is a sound, economic policy, applicable particularly to the State resourcesjbut possible and desirable on the part of private owners of forest resources.ow
btB.:	4
3
5.	The returns from the forests are for the benefit of the irreducible public school fund. We are not handling that property as a guardian should,if we are satisfied simply to exploit the virgin timber,the land afterwards being allowed to become so much waste territory,when by proper management they can be made constant producers of timber crops. While the crop rotation may be fifty years or more,the rotation of children that must be educated at public expense,is much shorter.
ESSENTIALS NECESSARY FOR SUCCESSFUL REFORESTATION O2J
state lands/
1.	The fire patrol and the protective system of the State must be developed to the point where it includes the protection of cut-over,as well as virgin timber lands.
The State forest lands are located in practically every township in the timber areasJ to protect them, it will be necessary to patrol the entire timber district.
The subject of fire protection is the province of another
committee,but this committee simply wishes to state the jail________
important first consideration in any aspect of forest conservation is the protect ion from f ire of^ all of our fores t lands, whether cut-over or virgin. This has nothing to do with the burning of slashings, if such is advisable,but means that a fire is a fire,whether in big timber,little timber,or on log^ed-off land.s it is proposed to reforest,or which are being reforested by natural processesJ and the brush fire that i& not worth notice because it is not burning merchantable timber-i« always the one which,when conditions become right,developes into theU-4 V"
23
4
destructive fire. Is such protection possible? Yes. German forests may be insured at the infinitesimal rate of approximately l/4 of 1% on each $100 of value. Par less risk than our best fire-proof building construction,- and what other nations have done,the United States can do.
2.	The control,management and disposal of the State forest lands must lie with the State Forestry Department,or the body that has charge of the State Forestry administration, for the reason that in the case of lands with timber,the practice of forestry principles must begin before the virgin for^ ests are removed. In order to promote natural reproduction Seed trees must in many cases be left. They must be selected as regards age and location,marked and ptotected in cutting.
If we are to protect the young growth,fire lanes must be provided or slashings burned. The requirements of each tract must be studied by trained foresters and the necessary regulations become a part of the contract of sale of the virgin timber, furthermore,under our present system of land sales,the State sells that which some particular person wants to buy. Perhaps only one person is concerned in the purchase of the advertised tract; in that case,the appraised valuation is the only protection the State has against a low bid,- and experience has proven that this is not sufficient to protect the interest of the State. No private owner would handle his lands on such a basis. The individual owner sella only such lands as he think? advisable,and refuses to sell when his judgment dictates that he would do better by holding for the future. The sales ofState timber lands should he on the same baa is. The State Forest administration should have the power of advertising for sale,lr,nds that forest policy dictates should he sold-or refusing to sell such lands as the welfare of the State dsmands should he retained.
To accomplish the above*necessitates a very radical change in our State land laws*and in the first place entails the segregation of the State lands into those that are agricultural and those that are forest lands.
.NECESSITY FOR AN EST.EfATE OF STATE FOREST LAJTDS-
To do this,the first requisite is a careful examination and estimate of the forest lands now belonging to the State, frarfc but we believe this is something that should be done atone e regardless of its bearing on the broader questions of State forest conservation. The private owner is seldom satisfied with one estimate of his holdings. The citizens of the State of Washington are equally as interested in the extent and value of the State timber lands.
A valuation of the State forest lands would demonstrate their value and call the attention of the State to the necea-* sity of their proper management and protection. The judgment of cruiser# whether private or State, is not infallible, and the private owner seldom makes a large sale unless he has a§ a basis* the valuation of more than one man. An estimate of 3tc,te timber landLs made at this tiraa would serve as a check upon estimates made at the time of sale and save the State6
dllicns of dollars due to inaccurate cruises. If the counties are justified in cruising private lands simply as a ba3iG of taxation,how much more justified would the State be in safe-guarding its timber sales by refusing to sell except on the estimate of at least two cruisers working independently?
We propose that the Legislature shall appoint a State Land Appraisal Beard to consist of the Governor,the State Beard of Land Commissioners and the State Board of Forestry-delegated with the power and with appropriation sufficient to enable them to make a complete and thorough examination of all State lands:
First,to ascertain their character,- whether agricultural or forest,•» sftch forest lands to comprise those now covered with standing forests in merchantable quantities and all cut*-over lands not adapted for agricultural or gracing purposes, but which may be of value for forest growing*
In the case of the forest lands, the Timber Appraisal Board eh&ll ascertain (l) the kind,quality,amount and value of timber growing thereon,and (2) the nature of surface and soil for the purpsce of ascertaining whether such lands,when cut over,will be more valuable for agriculture or for forest growing.
Upon the report of such examination,as provided for above, the State Land Appraisal Board shall proceed to segregate the State lands into those that are agricultural and those that arc forest in accordance with the definitioof abova,and all such lands as are determined to be forest lands shall be set aside and designated as "State Forest Lands’1,and shall be as regards their management,sale and production under the juris-ig 81 ^
tuiS v'	0
x*7 A
diction of the State Board of forest Commissioners.
STATE BOAHD OF POR3ST COMUISSIOMRS
The pov/ers of the State Board of Forest CoceuIssioners shall be amplified to include such recommendations as have been made by the Committee on Forest Protection and particularly, the following:
1.	The protection of all State Forest Lands from fire under the Forest Fire Laws in force.
2.	The protection of State forest lands from trespass-Little attention has been given to this matter and it ie be^ lieved that there is and will be a saving that will pay for the expense of service. The private owner maintains trespass agents,- why not the State?
3.	The management of State Forest Lands especially to include: (a) Their valuation for purposes of sale; (b) the power to advertise and offer for sale at not less than their appraised valuation,lands which it is to the interest of the State to sell; (c) the making of contracts of cale by which natural production may be encouraged,or the protection of the cut-over land facilitated. This may include such provisions as leaving of seed trees,- burning of refuse,- cutting of dead snags,- provision for fire lane,etc.
4.	The reforestation of cut-over lands:	This,under
Washington conditions would be largely accomplished by the manner of cutting,-but the Commission should have power to replant ot to foster reproduction in other ways where desirable, and te the extent possible by appropriations.5.	Supervision of Trustee Contrasts to assure the carry*-ing out of the terms of sale.
6.	To conduct forest studies and to publish and distribute the results thereof.
FURTHER PROVISIONS
1.	The sale of atumpage fran State lands shall be made only upon condition that it shall be removed within five yearg9 and all timber not removed within the period of five yea ret shall be subject te an additional charge of $1.00 per acre for the first year; $2.00 for the second yeavti $3.00 for the fehird year; §4.00 for the fourth year,and $5.00 for the fifth year, and in addition to the five years provided above.
Under the present law,allowing removal within ten years, State timber is being purchased in large quantities for speculation. The State without interest or tax. Charges should sell
0
its 'timber only as needed for actual consumption.
2.	All Strte timber shall be sold separate from the land-If the land has &u agricultural value it can then be sold for •ch?t purpose. If it is only valuable for forest growing the interest of the State demands that it should be devoted to
that end,and that the profit accrue to the school fund.
3.	The State Board of !Forest Coi^Lissionerti shall havo pow<ar to receiv©; sXter examination; such tracts or parcels of Ian I as may be t5i deeded to it, if in their judgment suchBztasiy bo or are valuable for forest growing and can be devoted to that purpose.It is believed that there are lands in private ownership which are of so little value to the owner that they may he glad to donate them to the public in this way.
4.	The State Board of Forest Commissioners shall have preference right to purchase any lands delinquent of taxes and purchasable under our tax laws,at a price not exceeding the amount of delinquent taxes and not exceeding $2.00 per acre.
5.	Tlie State Board of Forest Commissioners shall have the power to purchase at a price not exceeding $3,00 per acre* any lands which after axamination,they shall deem suitable for forest growing. Such lands so purchased shall become State Forest Lands and shall be administered as provided above.
The above provision has been the basis of the forest policy of the Eastern State* that have taken up this matter. Due to the fact that these States did not own lands,the necessity of purchase is obvious. This matter is treated exhaustively under the report of the Committee on Reforestation,and we simply will state that the interest of the State will eventually suffer very materially unless every acre of our cut-over lands- not valuable for agriculture- is devoted to timber growing,and under present condit ions, it is doubtful whether the private owner can or will do this. Hence,it becomes not only the duty of the State?but as shown,can and will inure to the everlasting benefit of the State and her people.
Frank K. Lamb'Chairman,~
George S. Long-John T. Condon--RE3T0RESTAT ION-
Ycur 0ommittee on Reforestation respectfully submits the following report and conclusions:
The proposition that any State should buy land on which to grov timber as a community enterprise}especially if the State as a whole is forested beyond cause for alarm as to supply for ultimate consumption in the State*raises at least three quest** ions to be answered:
1.	Why should it?
2.	Is this a thsoryjor & proved principle?
3.	What financial burden is entailed?
History has shown that it is fund&jientally good policy for the State to own a large proportion of its land which*while capable of growing timber,does not promise a truly prosperous condition for settlement. This is for the reason that,if such land be held in private ownership,.too small a proportion of the land is made either to produce wealth to its fullest capa-city3or through enhancing its taxable value;to contribute its due share to the cost of government. While some uses of land, notably the agricultural?- require private enterprise ?fcr the highest community development and ability to contribute state or county revenue,this is not necessarily true of fcrestEy* Where forest land lies idle it never can bear taxation equivs~ lent to the direct revenue it vo uld yield through stato 'tforoat2
management, and the relief it affords tax payers upon other forms of -property by beirg left on the tax-rolls, is not real.
In older countries this principle is fully realized.
States and municipalities own forests for the purpose of raising revenue which enables the reduction of direct taxation.
And particularly they acquire poor,waste and devastated lands which by public action may be made productive,but wiithout it, do not help the community by yielding either taxes or products. As a well-known authority has put it:
"Centuries of experiencethe gradual deterioration of millions of acres of land into wastes,and the accompanying evils of poverty,crime and lawlessness; the disturbance of stream flow,etc.- all these have taught the peoples of the States of Tiurope the necessity of this line of action. To-day these States have a regular appropriation for the purchase of such areas and for their reforestation. They do exactly the opposite of what we do in most of cur States,where the poor taxed lands,etc. are crowded on the market at any price and to no purpose.”
While American institutions are in many ways different from those of Burope,these principles of economics are fundamental everywhere. We also want our cut and burned-over land* to be of the highest possible use to every citizen. To some extent- and the larger the better- private owners will practice reforestation,- especially if given a tax on yield and better protection against fire. But this will be confined mainly to the larger holders who intend to remain in the timber business indefinitely,and to the localities best adapted to such private enterprise. The many administrative problems of management and protection,- with an uncertain profit at best,"3
as well as accessibility to outlets in which they art interested, will require t2iem to select tilts most advantageously situated compact tracts. This too,is borne out by history elsewhere. However sanguine we may be as to the progress of private forestry, the re will remain large areas which,by reason of scattered ownership,or comparatively smaller promise of quickly and easily marketed yield,will remain uncared for by proper private management.
The acquisition and management of at least a portion of
these areas by the State^offers 3everal distinct advantages to
un
the community. The most obvious is that it is/economical to let them lie idle,- to fail to reforest them with any certainty, and to poorly protect them from fire. To do so means less forest logging and manufacturing employment to labor,- less opportunity for.producers in other industries to .market, their products,- such as f ood-stuff,.clothing, ertc.,.... to those ..engaged in lumbering,;- . less income - tp . the., community through sale.,of forest products to other states and countries,-, higher y ri.ces on forest products to our own. citizens,less tax. revenue,and an increasing menace to adjacent timber from the fires which, prevail in. such open tracts. These things alone warrant, the people as a whole in taking steps to prevent them.
But,disregarding th^se great indirect benefits entirely, there is no doubt of the actual financial profit to be made on the investment, ilowhere in. the United States,- if in the tem-p rate zones,- can. merchantable t imber be grown with, so little«>' '1 tl I
4
assistance and so f*reat rapidity as on the Pacific Coast. The climate, and the occurrence of fast-growing species give us an advantage over all otht>r sources which will bt called upon to meet the great future demand sure to follow exhaustion of existing timber supplies. We can if we will,be the worldJs timber producers without fear of competition.
And forestry is peculiarly suitable as a State financial enterprise because the State has not the freedom which private capital has to profit by speculation and highly remun^ratife business projects which involve corresponding risk. As a rule it must raise money by taxation or by low rate of interest ©n invested funds. Pores try affords an unusual opportunity to derive a large,safe and permanent income in lieu of taxation. What that income may be is indicated by the Government fs recent yield tables for Hed '"ir,showing that good situations will produce 26 it feet an acre in 50 years; 41 ii in 60 years,• 56.7 ii in 70 years,and 61 U in 60 years* At only $5 pcr ir, - which pric© will probably be exceeded when the second crop is ripe— this would some to from $140 to $305 an acre, or perhaps ?4 a ylar/on r£h« average.
Of course the original investment and annual charges must be set against this,but here is where the State has the advantage over private owners,- for it is secure from unfavorable tax legislation,- can protect more efficiently against losses, and above alljby engaging on a large scale>can maintain the necessary trained administration at a minimum ccst per acre. Wh*r« conditions would rej»ay private enterprise! the State can5
make still more money. c,rc private enterprise is not warranted, the ^tate may still make a good profit. This has o^.tn amply proved ovtr and cv-,r.
Nevertheless,private forestry is also to be desired, and its encouraging influence upon this private forestry, is another of the chief arguments for state forestry. It is necessary to overcome the indifference of the owner before he will attempt it,and to overcome the indifference of the public before he will be allowed to succeed. Y'ith the example and experience of State act ion* the owner will be tau£ht forestry methods and their successful resu113* He will be convinced of the profit he also lay make, and will be shown ho w to go about it. And as the commonwealth sanctions the growing of timber and the people £et a stake in the project, the public will be (fuick to frasp the economic principles involved and lend ifa support to protective and encouraging measures in a way it never v/ill as long as it regards the matter as only another money-making scheme of the lumberman in which it has no part or interest except suspicion. The ideal, if not the only, condit ions under which the owner can be^in this work confidently are whe re he has the cooperation of the State in technical study of its forestry problems, in protection from fire and in improvirg forestry legislation and developing correct public sentiment. Tie may be lei by the State, or perhaps progress hand in hand with it in the work of reforestation,but will be slow to invest much in pioneering a movement in which the State,with greater security than he has, shows no confidence. ?Icreover,his financial ability to6
reforest any part of his cut-over lands may depend on an opportunity to dispose of the remainder.
Again, ref ores tat ion is an important adjunct to the protection of existing forests,in which the State has a most vital interest both as an owner of large holdings and also through the importance of the revenue the lumber business brings in for distribution.
The great menace to our forests today is the increasing area of cut-over land covered with inflammable weeds and refuse and exposed to sun and wind. It is well known that most bad fires start in such tracts and spread to surrounding timber. If cut-over lands are allowed to comprise a greater and continually increasing proportion of the entire area,the hazard to the decreasing tracts of uncut timber will become prodigious. The best safeguard the latter can be given is to surround them instead by thrifty young trees of a second growth,too dense to permit the growth of combustible underbrush, and thus make the uncut timber safe from any &S& such violent crown fires as would rarely gain headway under such conditions. Ifoney spent to accomplish this protection of uncut timber by reforesting adjacent cut-over areas is equivalent to mcney spent for patrol,with the added advantage of paying dividends on the investment.
Many of cur own states have already realized in seme measure that the commonwealth should be the acquirer rather than the seller of forest land* It is of erstreme significance that the conviction they snow,and consequently the money theyspend, is almost in direct proportion to the length of their study and experience.
If anything should give confidence to the States that show only the first signs of awakening to the subject,it is the fact that those states which have gone into it thoroughly, and have had ample time, to retrieve any errors of misplaced enthusiasm, are the ones ‘most regretful that they did not begin sooner on a larger scale,and are now the most active in making up for lost time in respect to reforestation. New York, Pennsylvania,Minnesota,Wisconsin and Michigan are the most advanced,in about the order named. The first three,and especially New York and Pennsylvania,have the longest experience and are now spending large sums in acquiring cut-over lands and reforesting theum And if it is profitable in such localities,how much more so must it be here where the growth is immensely faster and where reforestation is natural,or exceedingly inexpensive?
A brief review of the policies of these progressive State is given later. It will be noticed that the greatest divetg-ence is in the manner of financing the investments. Those which have had time to demonstrate the advantage of State act~ ion in respect to reforestat ion,are those which are making large direct appropriations with the approval of,or certa inly without criticism by, the tax payers. Those States in which the project is still more or less experimental in the eyes of the people are obliged to appear more economical. These have several alternatives----- small standing appropriations,- ar-8
rangement for diverting to the purpose the proceeds of resources already owned,- special State tax,- and the issuance of either bonds or certificates of indebtedness to be met by the enhanced value, or by returns from the products of the land required.
The small direct appropriation is merely a concession and make-shift,though better than nothing* Clearly as a business proposition forestry must be made more than a toy,although even this toy,although even this toy has educational value as a be*» ginning. Of the other three methods it is hard to say which is best without considering existing conditions of ownership, constitutional restriction,and efficiency of administration*
Too much haste may be bad, if it precedes technical competence, integrity and a we 11-formulated policy j dissipation of funds through extravagance,political interference,or poor selection of lands,may easily discredit and stop the movement. But with the authority in competent trained hands, as expert aa would be sought in buying and managing a mine or a railroad,it is evident that all lost time is lost money. The land is going up-itn nucleus of a second crop is probably diminishing,and the returns from areas that might be reforested suee being deferred. The same money will not buy so much land later. Consequently, a bond issue would seem best if all conditions are favorable.
The special state tax providing for a certain and fairly large permanent fund is next in early officiency,but it is subject in less degree;to the same objections as the bond sal« unit sac the competent execution of a sound policy is sufficient-9
ly assured to secure public confidence.
The use of proceeds of other lands,to secure and reforest suitable cut-over areas is open to few objections if not prohibited by constitution.
We hesitate to pronounce an opinion in the esse cf the State of Washington Just at this time. For example.,much depends upon the equipment of the purchasing authority<> For this reason it would seem to us best to consider the subject of land purchase along with that of the State’s general forest policy. We are inclined to think the following general ideal should be sought:
The best obtainable trained forester with "Western experience,- wholly free from political interference,with adequate assistance. We shall not discuss here the forest fire work which should go with his office. In such matters as land purchase he should not be supervised by a Board,but should b3 authorized and empowered to act with the consent of the Governor.
Immediate legislation should provide for consolidating the State’s virgin timber holdings by exchange with the National forests. The State Forester should begin at once to plan on this basis for a number of State forests of‘virgin • timber, and lit tha'c objective,to some extent aid in planning also for the acquis it ion of cut-over lands. The relative 3.ocation of both will be factors in future administration. Similar considerations should arise in all current sales of State timber,for itj advantageous replacement should be kept in view.^ 43
10
We should also Attempt to secure a constitutionaJL amendment permitting the use of at least part of the proceeds of State timber Ind lands- perhaps supplemented by a water-power tax,-in acquiring cut-over lands. The investment would pay more for school use in the long run than interest on the present irreducible fund. State land more valuable for other purpose# than for tigtioer growth should be sold and the proceeds pub in the forest land purcfiffiia Land chiefly valuable for forest# should not be alienable at all.
In the very beginning of our reform,perhaps & direct appropriation is all we could expect to get,or gpend intelligently pending the working out of the policy suggested* As it becomes evident where the land should be bought (in furtherance of a definite State forest scheme),the Hunds therofcr should be increased* and moreover,by that time our amendment to get school and grant land proceeds may become operative* If opportune ties for profitable purchase WKSaada^ckasM faster than this permits are then indicated,the time may be ripe for a bond issus or for certificates of indebtedness on listing tracts.
To sim up,the idea, is to build up & strong state forest management such as befits our State which has such wonderful possibilities in this respect,to build up under a definite fur* seeing policy,and supply funds just as fast as the eysten develops to insure its wise use. Only the roughest outlines of, such a policy have been tentatively presented abovsfmore as suggestions than as matured conclusions*
Committee on Reforestation:
George S. Long-R. W. Douglas.41
"WE,your Committee on Logged-off Lands,beg leave to submit the following summarized report of our recommendations with reference to the general problems involved within the province of this sub-committee:
-I-
We endorse and approve the item in the bmdget of the State Board of Geological Survey providing for an appropriation of §5000.00 to continue the soil survey and classification of the logged-off lands of the State. We base this action upon the following facts:-
1.	The very efficient work of the U.S.Bureau of Soils in cooperating with the State Geological Survey by sending its most experienced field-men and in expending a sum considerably in excess of what the State Geological Survey has at its disposal.
2.	The urgent necessity of having a classification of our logged-off lands into agricultural and non-agriculcural lands as a basis for the future development both of relor-estation and of agriculture.
3.	Attached map shows the area completed,and suggests the desirability of completing the work on a uniform and correlated basis.
4.	This Survey when completed,will furnish data upon
which the proposed Board of Appraisers (as recommended by the Subcommittee? on State forest Land Policy) may adopt a system
of classification of logged-off lands,into agricultural and
n*/n- &gi'icultural areas.Logged-off Lard Report-----------2
II.
We endorse and approve the item ir. the budget of the ^tate College Experimental Station providing for an appropriation of %/&. /. . &...........to carry on special work on
the utilization of loyred-off land. ¥e base this action upon the following facts:
1.	Agriculture for the most part in the timbered dtct-ions of the State has followed the river bettome and occupied tlie alluvial soils. The utilisation of the glacial soils of the uplands presents sp-cial problems both, of crops and of ethods which need actual demonstration
2- The variation in types of sc ids and moisture cor-ditions calls for a large/number of demons iration plots than can ordinarily be undertaken in the routine work.
3.	A systematic campaign of education -and dsmonrtration requires ths presence of an increased corps of workers tc carry on this work.
ni.
We endorse and approve the item in the budyet of the
Stats University providing for an appropr.iation of $2000*00 to continue the work on By-products of wood* We bass this ic^.icn upon the following facts.40
Logged-off Land Report-------*--3
1.	The cooperative work of the Us S. Bureau of Plant industry with the State University and State College Experimental Station has given us very valuable data on land clear'-ing* Inasmuch as iohe by-products industry of Michigan ie materially assisting' in the clearing of land,a thorough investigation of hy-products from waste wood should he
und e rt ake n i
2.	The work done thus far is chief]y of a preliminary character showing what lints are feasible and what are -tn>-
piacticable• A continuation of the work is therefor 3 essential to insure results that will be conclusive either for or against the establishment of the industry,,
2c It is probable that the Bureau of Plant Industry will agree to cooperate to the same monetary amount and publish, and distribute the final report.
rr
V c
We endorse and recommend the enactment of a legislative provision for the creation of "Rural Improvement DistrictsM* Our action is based upoxi the following facts*
3..	It will pern.it of the economy that comes from the
r ro-£ ofWa?	machiuw-ry '-and - « xye .r i amc t <?. -So:.n/3 c ?.e ar« •47
2.	It will tend to produce development centers,or c entralized c ommunit i es.
5,	It will pen .it of an extension of payment for the cost of clearing,- thus making the crops yield returns with which tb make the annual payment.sr.
-V-
We favor the purchase of non-agricultural logged-off lands (at a price not to exceed &3.00 per acre) hy the State, and the creation of a State ?crest Reserve. We recommend that the legislature set aside a fund of not less than r60% of the annual income to the general fund from the sale of State shore and second-class tide lands. We also recommend the creation of a State forestry Department to assume full care and responsibility of the State forest Reserve* We base our action on the foHewing\
1.	The sale of shore and tide lands is necessary for the development of this class of lands.
2.	The purchase of non-agricultural lodged-off lands for reforestation by the State is necessary for the development of this class of land.
3.	In effect this plan involves merely a change in the location of State lands,giving up to individuals land
-*4-Logged-off Land Report —--------5
noe^ssary for the development of the •S-':aterand taking from individuals,land necessary for the continuance of out* forests^
R« W. That chpr, C ha i r man-GbO. Im Boos-E. II* Benson-
Commit tee on Logged* off Land-of the Washington State Cemmission on T^orast Legis3at40
0 E E S T TAXATION-
Prom incomplete data furnished by the federal government, tixe sta1>syaaun:fcy* as-3 9^cora»*tfid cruisers of private holdings)
it appears that Wellington has chree hundred billion feet of me reliant able timber. Undoi normal conditions this timber ia being moved off at the rate of four to five billion feet a year. In 1906 when the lumber production reached its m£js -inxrijthfc totaJ income frctf. our forests,- including products of i.ll kini3r- lumber,, shingles,lath,ties,poles,firewood, etc . *ras upward of eighty million dollars,- and in 1907.seventy-
six million* Probably four--f ifths of the manufactured value
i
of the forest output goes for labor and supplies,- thus benefiting every branch of cur industrial life. In normal time* the lumber industry employs one hundred thousand men,exclusive of those engaged in the transportation of the product to market. Two hundred ana thirty million dollars are invented in milling and logging plants,- including logging railroads. Many of our leading cities and towns are almost solely dependent on the lumber business. It has probably contributed more to the settlement and development of the State than has any other interest.
This analysis of the lumber industry will show not only the immense value of th© forest as a resource to the State,but it will serve as a basis for arguing the need of adept-ing such measures in the handling of this resource as will Aneure its perpetuity. Western Washington,with her wonderful possibilities for timber production in common with the rest of the Pacific Coast region, should eventually lead the earth in the application of forest principles. Since 1906 and 1907, owing to the business depression due to one cause or another, there has been a material decline in the lumber cut,but this is only a temporary slump which is common to the lumber industry of the country as a whole,and with the return of normal business conditions the output for Washington will rapidly increase.
At the rate of cutting in 1906 and 1907,Washington forests would be exhausted in fifty to sixty years,if new growth is disregarded. If new growth is taken account of,this period would be extended somewhat,though just how much is problematical, since we do not know the acerage in new crop which will be large enough to cut,as the old growth begins to give out.
It may be said in passing that the great body of the ol4 forest is in a decadent condition. It is putting on some increment from year to year,but this growth is probably off-set by does through decay and windfalls,so that this old virgin fcrest is hardly more than holding its ov:n,if that. However, this can hardly be used as an argument for rushing this old timber off. as it is still safe for a number of years. Much cf it has stood 300 to 500 years,hence 25 to 4C or evsn 50 ye- aw- fr&nser vifl not affect At seriously * Loss through51
3
deterioration on account of age will be slight as compared with loss through waste if the timber is rushed off on a weak market.
If the annual cut even of 1906 and 1907 were not to increase, it is possible that the new supply would begin to come on by the time the old is exhausted. But in view of the growing scarcity of timber in other forest regions,it is very probable that the cut will within a few years surpass that of 1906,when it reached the maximum, The cut nearly quadrupled in the seven years from 1699 to 1906. If i& shall increase at one-half or even one-third of this rate in the future,then it is certain that under prevailing methods of handling our forests,we have lean years ahead. It is of vital importance to the State as a whole,to those remotely interested in the forests as well as to those whose money is invested in them, to put the lumber industry on a permanent basis.
The federal government controls nearly one-half of the forest area,and probably one-third of the standing timber.
These national forests are already under management and plans are being worked out which will insure continuous crops. It is the hope that the State will inaugurate a comprehensive forest policy which will enable her through purchase to greatly increase her forest holdings and then put the whole under ecientific management.
But any forest policy goes only half-way which does not include private holdings. Two primary obstacles stand in the4
way of the practice of forestry on private holdings,- the
t
fire hazard and taxes,- neither of wnich	necessarily in-
surmountable, Th«se are not the only barriers confronting private forestry,but they are exceedingly important ones,and with them removed, the way to the practice of forestry will be opened to a large proportion of privately owned lands.
Your sub-committee on Forest Taxation- in cooperation
r\%)
with the United States forest Service- has had for some weeks an investigation underway to detemine the actual burden of taxation on forest land and its effect on the management of forest property. Several hundred letters were sent to forest owners throughout the State,calling fir information hearing on this question. Beplies to these lettars,interviews with lumbermen, tax officials and others,supplemented by a research study of the county and state tax records and of publications on forest taxation constitute the basis for this report.
The subject readily divides itself into two sub-topics,-Taxation of Merchantable Timber,and Taxation of Cut-over lands-
-Taxation of Merchantable Timber-
An Act of the legislature in 1905 provided for a State Tax Commission. This Commission immediately set about investigating the methods used in assessing timber-lands. It was soon found that the appraisement of this class of property for assessment purposes was purely guess-work*resulting in the grossest inequalities of values,- the poorest and out-of-the-way tracts often being assessed at the same value as the best and most accessible* The Commission at once began a campaign for5
a cruise of the timber 6n the different counties,- and such a cruise has now been made in all the important timber counties except Chehalis*
Prior to 1908 the land of the State had been classed merely as improved,and unimproved land,timber lands being included in the latter. In 1908 the timber lands were segregated into a third class,except in two or three counties,and assessed separately. The county assessors reported for that year-5,731,532 acres of timber land in the State subject to tax,with an assessment value of $73,&E 9440.00,- or $12.91 per acre for the State at large,and about $16.00 for Western Washington alone. These valuations are admittedly low,and yet since the timberland in assessed annually,they exact a tax which in the course of a very few years places a value on the timber holdings beyond what they are capable ofmattaining.
For example,the average acre of timber in Western Washington is now paying an annual tax of about 50^. The tax rate is around 30 mills,and the ratio of the assessed to the true value is about 40. If the owner pays the 50^ tax but once he pay® on an assessed valuation of $16.66,and o£ an actual value of $41.60. If,however,he pays it every year for five years,and is allowed 5/o compound interest on his payments,the taxes a-mount to $2.76,which places an assessed value o# $92.00 on the timberland, and an actuAA value of $230*00. In ten years,the accumulated taxes and interest would amount to &6.30 which gives to the land an assessment and an actual value of $210.00 and $620.00 respectively. In 20 years the owner would pay $16.54,51
6
which places an assessed value of £>351.33 and an actual value of *1,378.40 per acre on his land,- values which of course are impossible.
But the argument is made that the value of stumpage is rising and will continue to increase sufficiently to absorb the taoces and still make the investment an inviting^one.
It is further argued that much of the timber has been bought up by outside capital, and is , the ref ore, he Id by parties who do not in any way contribute to the welfare of the State except through taocation, and that the State is entitled to a large benefit from this source. But these arguments are not germane,and should not be allowed to cloud the really vital question,- namely,- what is going to be the effect of the pres-ent tax system on the matter of a future timber supply?
This investigation has shown that it is not so much the amount of the ta.xes,as it is the system to which objection is made, Jlany an owner could hold his timber for a number of years,and pay the accumulated tax with interest when he harvests his crop,who would be obliged to harvest early where the tax must be paid annually. The tax on timber land has increased rapidly in the last few years,and there is strong pressure being brought to bear on tax officials constantly to increase it still further. This pressure will be stronger in the future 'tmiar. it has been in the past; for z s additional land is c3.3arci.and in consequence yields Woe3 mao-, revenuesthe tendency will be c') require the ‘uncleared ?.anc J:m make up the difference. The facing of this almost cert a at', j nc ease, together vrvUithe annual recur*SLnce of ths tax whatever it in,with no income from the property itself with which to pay it, is goin£ to have the inevitable result to hasten cutting unduly,which meana enforced waate through the ruahing of the timber off on a w#afc market. In fact ther* is just now a decided movement in this direction.
In the letters sauet cut to tWber owners* among other <*ues~ tlons asked was tfei# one- *Has ta&aiicn fewer hastened the cutting of timber on your	ta»dr«4	and thirty three
replies have been thus far r^csived t# these letters* represent* lag holdings aggregating over 600*000 acres. In wemmr to this particular question say sol 39*3m; and 24 do not answer it. It is et interest to note that of the 70 fsfro say that taxation has not hastened cutting cn their holdings in the past*a number reply that it Is going to fores tJuw to cutting very soon. It is admitted that other causes than taxss such as interest,the
#
firs risk,the necessity of keeping milling plants supplied*etc* have the effect s< to hasten cutting,- nevertheless*the present tax system is a very important factor that must be considered^
This report has intimated the extreme probability that the present supply at best will he exhausted before a new supply is grown- It has been said that 8Q$£ of the manufactured value Of the forest is put into general circulation through the payment of wages and in the purchase of supplies- It is,therefore*not only to the highest interest of tile State*but it is the duty of the State to as? 1st in ev»ry way possible in putting the lumber industry on a permanent basis.A system of forest taxation that has been suggested an a sub**-itivce for the present one.«^ applied to the existing mature stand* to tax the land and timber *§®parately*by laying an annual tax on La land and taxing the timber i?hen it is cut.
The system is not nsw as it it the ons in use in most of the >adin£ European countries* having been practiced by some of them for ceiiTury or mor#. Thsrs ifc is recognised that an annual t*«x is Lgufy desirable as a certain dsfinits revenue for the State,while a annual tax without an income from the property taxed works a ardrhip on the forest owner. The eyato® in vogue in the European cunt ties referred to9 is an Attempt to satisfy th«t*G opposing in-erasts. Thi» system is illustrated in Tables I and II. They are ot presented m ideal tables, but merely to explain the general lan,which in practical operation would need to be modified from ,ime to time to asset new conditions as they might arise. They are rorked out for Western Washington* bee &us© mors reliable data on rhich to bass such tables 4s available for this part of the State ;han for the Stats at large.
In Table l9%lm first g&rt shows tha &saouni of tax per acre the State would collect for different periods of years under the plan iow in operation,» the land and tijahsr to b® assessed annually at 50^ per acre* the second part shows th* amount of taxes whl*h rould be paid under a plan which would place an annual tax cn the 3and of 10^ per acre,and a percentage ta& on the stumpage value of the timber when it is cut. It is assumed that the average stumpage ?alue of the timber cut in the next five years would be $2*CO per
a
M\ $3.00 pe1^ M for the second 5 year period; $4.00 for the third, etc« Thus in 40 y^ars, stumpage values would rise to $10,00 per M.The same price is assured fcr the next period., since probably stump-age values will not rise much beyond this figure. The values here siay or may not he correct, but in actual practice stump age values could be estimated for short periods and thus made to conform very nearly to real 'values.
The	rate per cent on	the stumpage	value as given in	column 9
is determined in the following manner:	An average stand	of 5O&-
board feet per acre is assumed,- as this is about the average figure reported by the	county cruises *	It	has	already been noted that the
average tax per	acre ia Western	Washington at present	is about 50/«
Since under the	proposed scheme	10^	per	acre annually	is assessed
against the land,the balance of	40$	per	acre would be	levied on the
timber,assuming that timber property would pay the same amount of SifiX under the proposed system as under the present ©me. Dividing the amount to which an annual tax would accumulate at 5^ compound interest in any given period by the value of the timber fcr the same period gives the assessment rate per ir for that period* Tor example an annual tax of 4Oj//at interest compounded, amounts in 6 years to $2.21- The yield of 5Cir feet multiplied by $2.CO,the ■* o’trap age value assumed for the first 5 year period, gives $100.OG as fie value of the timber per acre. The accumulated tax of $2.21
i.vnaed by .^100.00 gives 2.2/J as the rate per cent at which stumpage to be	assessed for the	first 5 year	period. Thus the	tax per
asre for	the period would	be §2.20 as shown in column 7,	or 44p per
acre per annum as given in column	6.	Manifestly the man who	cuts
in the first part of the period,-	say	in the	first or second	year,
should not pay the same amount of	tax	as the	man who cuts in	the
• xh year. The scheme, therefore, contemplates	that the timber	which53
10
is cut yearly in the period shall he assessed at a per annum rate as given in column 6*
By coxiiparing columns 10 and 11 with columns 2 and 3, it will be seen that under the conditions assumed the scheme proposed would yield practically the same revenue as the one now in vogue.
Table II differs from Table I mainly in the method of assessing the yield tax on the timber. Like Table I it provides for an annual tax of 10/ on the land,- but instead of placing the yield tax on a percentage basis,, it taxes the timber at a flat rate, varying according to the period in which the timber is cut,from 1/ to 2-l/2/ per thousand per annum. Por example, for the first 5 years the tax would be 1/ per thousand board feet per annum; that is-if the timber were cut in five yearc,the tax upon it would he 5/ per tfc The rate gradually increases until for a 40 year period it i?i 2-3/2/ per annum.
Table II assumes a tax of 60/ per acre on the present basis, which makes it applicable to the better clmss of timber land,rather than to the average to which Table -±-\ J applies j as much of the timber land in Western Washington is now taxed at 60/ per acre, or above.
(For Sablss I and II see following page)TABLE NO. 1—By Prof. Prank G. Miller.
TIMBER TAX SCALE FOR WESTERN WASHINGTON. Interest Compounded at 5 Per Cent.
Amount of Tax per Acre on Present Basis
Amount of Tax per Acre, Timber to be Taxed when Cut at a Percentage of the Stumpage Value; Land to be Taxed Annually
Tax on Timber and Land 50c per Annum			On Standing Timber, Yield 50			M B. F.	On Land at 10c per Annum		Total Tax on Timber and Land	
			Value per M	Rate per M	Tax per Acre					
Prd. Yrs.	Av. per annum	For ' period	For period	For period	Av. per annum	For period	Av. per annum	For period	Av. per ! annum	For period
(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	I (5)	(6)	(7)	(8)	(9) II (10)		(11)
1-5	$0.55	$2.75	$2.00	2.2%	$0.44	$2.20	$ .11	$0.55	$0.55	$2.75
1-10	.63	6.29	3.00	3.3%	.49	4.95	.13	1.26	.62	6.21
1-15	.71	10.79	4.00	4.3%	.57	8.60	.14	2.16	.71	10.76
1-20	.82	16.54	5.00	5.3%	.66	13.25	.16	3.31	.82	16.56
1-25	.95	23.86	6.00	6.4%	.77	19.20	.19	4.77	.96	23.97
1-30	1.10	33.22	7.00	7.6%	.89	26.60	.22	6.64	1.11	33.24
1-35	1.29	45.16	8.00	9.0%	1.03	36.00	.26	9.03	1.29	45.03
1-40	1.51	60.40	9.00	10.7%	1.20	48.15	.30	12.08	1.50	60.23
1-45	1.77	79.85	10.00	12.8%	1.42	64.00	.35	15.97	1.77	79.97
1-50	2.09	104.67	10.00	16.7%	1.67	83.50	.42	20.93	2.09	104.43
TABLE NO. 2—By Mr. E. Cr. Ames.
EXAMPLE “A.”
PROPOSED STUMPAGE TAX
Rate per M ft. b. m.
Total tax to be paid
; on a basis of 50 M ft. b. m. per acre.
PRESENT SYSTEM OF TAXATION, on basis of the tax paid in 1908. per acre, with 6% interest compounded annually.
Period
Per
Annum
For	For	Av. per	50c per
! period	period	annum	For |
			period
Av. per annum
10c per annum for period
to 5 years, to 10 years, to 15 years, to 20 years, to 25 years, to 30 years, to 40 years.
.01 .01% .01i/o .01% .02 .02% ■ 02i/2
II			
$ .05	$2.50	$ .50	$2.99
■ 12%	6.25	.62%	6.99
• 22%	11.25	.75	12.34
.35	17.50	■ 87%	1 9.50
.50	25.00	1.00	29.08
■ 67%	33.75	1.12%	41.90
1.00	50.00	1.25	82.02
II			
5 .60 .70 .82% .97% 1.16% 1.40 2.05
$ .60 1.40 2.47 3.90 5.82 8.38 16.41
1 to 10 years. 1 to 20 years. 1 to 30 years. 1 to 40 years.
EXAMPLE “B.’
.01
.01% .02 • 02%
.10	5.00	.50	6.99
.30	15.00	.75	19.50
.60	30.00	1.00	41.90
1.00	50.00	1.25	82.02
.70
•97%
1.40
2.05
1.40
3.90
8.38
16.41
For Comparison g
j* For Comparison- 60 12
The change from the present methods of taxing forests to a dual system whereby the land is taxed annually,and the timber on yield fehen cut has fLIstinet .advantages,- both to the timber holder and to the State at lar . e, though some difficulties are; in the way of making it.
The advantage to the individual is that the bulk of the tax falls due when he realises upon the crop. If perchance the growing crop is destroyed by fire before it matures,the State justly shares the loss to the amount of the	tax	on	the	crop*
Since the State in this way wpuld assume a part	of	the	risk,
it would be more apt to provide adequate fire protection*
The State at large would benefit by the change,because the new system,by encouraging the holding till market condi-t ions we re right would p romo te c ons e rvat ive	lum.be ring, thus
husbanding the present timber supply.
One of the difficulties in the way of making the cnange is that the tax revenue from the forests would be irregular and less for the first few years. This difficulty is partly overcome by the levying of an annual tax of 10^ per acre on the land,thus providing a steady income of one-fifth of that at present.
The revenue from the timber would be considerably less for the first several years than at present,but would rapidly increase unt il it would equal the present revenus^and fro» tiiat on would exceed it. In the end the State would sacrifice
nothing in the way of taxes, and th» value- of the forest as a
fac-cv.rc'3 would be greatly increased.The criticism has bean sad* that a scheiie of taxation which would defer the tax on the tiaber cfop till it is cut would discriminate against other classss of property. This 3S|fe'
is not the case, On the contrary,the present system of taxation diecrimJnates against th& forest crop. For ssatfple,-th£or*ticalXy,fana crops are taxwd. Practically, they pay very little tax because assessments are made at a tine when there are no farm onpc in the ground? and hy the time the next assessment is male, they have l^ten grown? harvested and very probably marketed. Henxe>as a rule,only the land ic possessed.
The plan outlined in this report calls for an annual tax on the land based on a fair value,and not only does not ask thc.t the timber crop be exempted froi* taxation3but provides for the equivalent of an annual tax equal to the present tax* and allow the State a rate of interest on deferred payments above what the State would have to pa^f for borrowed money.
As stated,farm land is taxed annuafLy,- theoretically,the crop ie taxed once,and that when harvested. This report asks only that for purposes of taxation,forest property be placed on the same basis as farm property*eo that the timber crop world he taxed but once and that v.hen harvested,- with this difference,- that whiile farm crcpo usually escape taxation,this report provides that the tax on the timber crop shall actually he pafd.
This report has pointed out that the proposed modification of the present tax system would undoubtedly tend to conserve the present timber supply.ta'
14
The point has been made that it might be to the highest interests of the State to hasten clearing on so much of the timber area as is suited to agriculture,since such land,if under cultivation,would produce a larger income than it will in timber. In answer,it is only necessary to call attention to the fact that, as this report 3ho/ws later on, the re are today probably 1,500, OOO acres of possible agricultural lard already cleared and awaiting the plow. it will be many yeare before this land is all taken up and settled. Moreover^ more timber land fit for agriculture is being cleared every year,-even in this period when the cut is relatively light,than is being brought under cultivation in several years. It is apparent that it is folly to cut the forest faster than market conditions warrant and agricultural needs demand.
Attention has been called to the fact that under the proposed plan the revenue would accrue disproportionately to the different counties,since the cut is relatively unequal in them* To overcome this difficulty,it has been suggested that the cutting tax be covered into the State treasury,to be equitably distributed by the State among the counties concerned.
TAXATION OF LOGGED-OFF LANDS-
privately owned in
The total land area, o# Washington west of the Cascaded
A
is 8, 700,000 acres. Of this area 27.#, or 2,500, OOO acres,are
logged—off lands,and about 45G,OOO acres,or but little ever 6% is classed as improved lands\ that is,land under cultivation or in pasture. The state survey of logged-off lands ha-3 cPao'O”*- - 6.)
3b
jfied about 60% of the area so far covered as agricultural land- the balance of 4O?r being absolute forest land.
I'Taturally the most accessible timber, that abcut ‘the Sound and along the water courses, and on the more level land was cut firstc It is net,thereforb,probable that of the remaining virgin forest land so large a proportion has agricultural possibilities. Probably of the total ares, west of the Cascades not. over bO^t can ever be used for any form of agriculture. This means that upwards of 4,OCG,OOO acres west of the mountains;now in private ownership,will never be fit* for anything except the growing of timber and should be devoted permanently to this use,
An unknown p*rr;poirtion of the present unimproved logged-off land area has reforested through natural agencies. The rest lies idle and represents so much non-productive capital*
This non-productive area will be constantly increased as additional lands are logged off,until eventually a large proport ion, perhaps the greater part of the 4,000,000 acres will be in a deteriorating.non-productive condition,unless taken over and reforested by the State,cr unless conditions are created whereby private initiative can afford to do it. A3 idle layds they will in time become an incuznbe ranee upon the State; if reforested,they will produce timber in great abundance. But it will be a long time before theState can pur-ch&ee and refcre3t an area of this magnitude. A large portion of it sans t be reforested by private owners, or lie idle.The Constitution requires that the logged-off laftdg be aaseaaed annually,at first as waste land-but that later,the value of the timber,if any,be added. Even under these conditions there is a considerable acreage of cut-over but reforested land in private ownership* This reproduction has taken place by natural reseeding following logging operations. As additional lands are cleared a certain percentage can he expected to tfeed in the same way. With some care in legging, this new crop could be greatly increased with very little additional outlay. Just how far private capital can afford to go in the matter of reforestation is problematical. Some where between the cost of holding land for a second crop that seeds up naturally with little or no expanse,and the maximum cost of
hoi ding it where the crop must be established by artificial
i
moans vis a dividing line beyond which the individual cannot go. and here the State must come to the rescue. The turning point at best will coma soon enough to give the State all it can handle.
As an encouragement to private initiative in the matter of reforestation ard to enable it to go further than would otherwise be possible, it is commonly proposed to lay an annual tax on the land,and exempt the growing timber from taxation Tfcill cut,the tax to be based on a certain percentage of the ^tumpage value. It is the belief of your sub—committee that the State should £0 a atep farther and exempt both the land and the timber frcm taxation till the timber ia cut,the accumulated taoc against both to be levied then against the timber*65
17
According to figures compiled by R, S. Kellogg and B. A. Ziegler in their report on "How Much Does it Cost to Grew Timber",pub 11 siied in American Lumberman for July 24; 1909, taxae on the present ba£is of assessing timber land constitute? roughly from 20 to 30 per cent of the total cc*3t of growing T)ouglr<s ^ir*varying according to the aye at which the timber is cut.
So large a proportion of the cost -0* falling due annually" on a crop which imtures obly on a long time rotation is certain be have a discouraging effect on private initiative in the project of reforestation. This is particularly true when it is remembered that however effectively the growing crop may be guarded ayainst fire,the owner always takes a chance of having it burn bef< re it matures. This is a risk the State should
share, as it wvuld do if the tax were not paid till the timber
in
is cut. Or,to put it another way,the State cannot xtik#, justice e.rx.ct a tax on a crop which through no fault of the owner may n-vtr he harvested.
attention lias been called to the fact that taxes are a large factor in the cost ciS growing timber. A large proportion of this cost occurs as a tax on the land aside from the timber* If the land is assessed annually at even a so-called nominal figure,the tax mounts up into high figures in long time periods. It requires 80 to 100 years for even a rapid-growing true like Douglas ^ir to develop into saw timber of good quality. A tax of 5j? per acre if paid annually,and &% compound interest is allowed on the payments»amounts in 80 years to £48.56,and in 100 years fo *100.50.Among the questions in the circular letter mailed to timber owners,were these three hearing on the question of taxation*
1.	Have y$>u ever abandoned cut-over land because of taxation?
2.	Are you holding your cut-over land for a 2nd cut?
3.	Y/culd exemption from taocafion on young growth until cut,and a tax then to be paid upon the stumpage value,influence you to hold your cut-cver lands for a second cut?
In the 133 replies received to date,only 3 forest owners say they have abandoned their cut-over land; 1.9 answer that they are holding their cut-cver land for a second cut; and 42 reply that exemption from taxation till cut would influence them to hold their cut-over lands for a second crop*
These replies make it very clear that owners are holding on to their non-agricultural cut-over land,and that a considerable porportion of it would be held for a second crop if relieved of the tax burden till the crop is cut.
Twelve states,viz: Alabama, Connecticut, Iowa, Ifaine, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Hampshire; llorth Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin have already acknowledged their obligation to render assistance to private forestry by the enactment of tax laws calculated to encourage the growing of timber.
In Washington the law (undoubtedly unconstitutional) entire^ emempts from taxation forest trees artifically grown.67
19
In conclusion,your sub-committee is agreed:
1* That as applied to virgin timber a change in the method of taxation which would lay an annual tax on the land5 and a yield tax on the timber when it is cut,would be highly to the interests of the State as a whole, in that it would aid distinctly in perpetuating the forest as a resource,
2.	That as an encouragement to private capital to hold cut-over land for successive crops, the State should exempt both the land and the growing crop from taxation till the timber is cut,- the accumulated tax on both then to be assessed against the timber.
It is understood that a constitutional amendment would tax be required before the above reforms could be brought ab o ut «
Sub-Committee on Porest Taxation-
(Signed) Prank G. Miller, Chairman.
J. J* Donovan-
?J. G. Ame s •68
This Committee is especially indebted to the U. S. Forest Service with which it has cooperated in the work of investigation to determine the actual burden of taxation on forest land,and its Effect on the management of forest property.
Gs M. j Chairman.VIEvTS 0? EXPERT AUTHORITIES
THEODORE ROOSEVELT:	Second	only in importance to good
fire laws well e.nfcrced is the enactment of tax laws which
will permit the perpetuation of existing forests by use*
GI2TOHD PliTCHOT:	Land	bearing	forests	should	be	taxed
annually on the land value a!?.one,and the timber crop should
bs taxed when cut, so private forestry may he encouraged.
KCRTH AMEBICAH CONSERVATIC2T CONGRESS, WashingtonD.C. :
Believing that excessive taxation on standing timber privately
owned ia a potent cause of forest destruction by increasing
the cost of maintaining growing fcrests,we agree in the wisdom
and justice of separating the taxation of timber land from the
taxation of timber growing upon it8an& adjusting both in such
manner as to encourage forest conservation and forest growing*
The private owners of land unsuited to agriculture,one 3
forested and new impoverished o» denudeds should be encouraged
by practical instruct ion,adjustment of taxation,and in other
ways,to undertake the reforesting thereof*
C-ifford Tinchot	Sydney Wisher	Romulo Escobar
Robert Bacon	Clifford Sifton	Miguel A De quevedo
James Ho Garfield	Henri S.Boland	Carlos Sellerior
Commissioners	Commissioners	Commissioners rep-
r-yon.c«an+ mg the	representing the	resenting the
W’iuwed States,	Dominion of Canada	Republic of llexicc.
E, H- 0'<iterbridge C vimmiiBT oner repr* s-snt :-.ng the Colony of Newf oundland.FKSD. R. FAIRCHILD,Professor of Economics, Yale University, Member Intemar.icnal Tax Ponf^-rence:	The	movement away from
the general property tax is unmistakable. In its adherence to this discredited tax the United States stands almost alone to-day. Other countries generally abandoned it long ago. Income,not property,should be the basis of any correct tax system.
Probably nothing more effectually discourages investment then uncertainty as to future ccats. And whatevermay be aaid cf the present system of taxation-there can he noquestion of its arbitrariness and uncertainty. If to all other risks of forestry we add uncertainty as to what the ta.ves are going to be,we can not blame investors for some hesitation in emoark-ing on an enterprise which may have to pay taxes fifty years before the returns come in. And mor© than this,- the investor can not safely base his calculations on the continuance of the present lenient administration of the property tax. As has been shown,the tendency xc-day is toward a stricter enforcement 'of the law and a heavier burden of taxation.
State constitutions stand to-day in the way of many plans fcr reform in state and local taxation. The icvement toward their amendment is growing as part cf the general programme cf tax reform.
Rhe real problem of forest .'taxation is in connection with the
future of cur timber lands rather than with th.-ir past. The
-2-preservation of the forests in a matter of utmost importance.
So fer our forests have been exploited with little or no regarcf for the future. But the present methods cannot last much longer. Forestry must ccme seme tim3,ancf. its early coming is a thing greatly to be desired, And whenever we are ready to seriously undertake it we will find our present methods of taxation a severe handicap. Strictly enforced,according to the letter of the law,the annual tax on the full value of the land and standing timber ia almost pure to result in excessiv® taxation,and the timber o wiser can not count on the continuance of the present lenient enforcement of the law. Even if the tax might not be excessive,its uncertainty would be a sericu3 obstacle to investment. We can hardly hope to see the general practice of forestry as long as the present methods of taxation continue.
To be equitable,taxation of timber lands like taxation of anything elae,should be based on income or earning power.
With regard to it& effect on revenue,there is little to be feared from the tax on yield. Eventually,revenue will be increased by a method of taxation which does not prevent the development of forestry, forests paying a moderate tax are better than waste lands abandoned and paying no tax at alio
The tax on yield has many decided advantages. It avoids ths evils of the general property tax. It is equitable and certain. It is in harmony wi^h the peculiarities of the business of fortstry,and will be a distinct encouragement to the
-5-J
practice of forestry, jto adoption by the States would remove one obstacle to the perpetuation of the Nation>« forest resource B ,
NATIONAL CONSERVATION CCMIISSION-APPOINT!!) BY THE PHI’SI-DJ?NT OF THE UNITmD STATES:	It	is	far better that forest land
should pay a moderate tax permanently than that it should pay an excessive revenue temporarily and then cease to pay at all.
We tax our forests under the general property tax*- a method of taxation abandoned long ago by every other great nation. In some regions of great importance for timber supply, and in individual cases in all regions* the taxation of forest lands ha* been excessive and has led to waste by forcing the destructive logging of mature forests,as well as through the abandonment of cu-over lands for taxes. That this has not been more general is due to under-assessments to lax administration of the law,but to no virtue in the law itself. Already upon forest lands are being increased by the strict enforcement of the tax laws. Kven where this has not yet been done, the fear that it will be done is a bar to the practice of forestry*
V* §toau>d so adjust taxation that cut-over lands can be held for	onA	crop. We should recognise that it costs to
grow tinker fts well as to log and saw ir.
From now on the relation of taxation to the penasnsnt usefulness of the forest will be vital. Present tax l£.t*rs or'*-verf; i sforestation on cut-over land and the perpntvar, ion o'* existing forests for use.J. S. 5’OR/ST SJfR',TICE:	The actual tax burdens imposed on
forest ladds of the same value are not equal or "proportionate" as the Sate Constitution requires.
it is evident that the old method of taxing forest property, as well as other property,at its supposedly full value,as wj Lj.,as the value of the timber increased and is recognized, put	a premium	on premature and reckless	cutting,and	will hinder
any	effort to	reforest cut-over lands.	Ho business	man will
engage in an undertaking where the returns are so long deferred and	the risks	are uninsurable unless he	can estimate	th* probable expenses	and a reasonably large profit.. That	the forests
themselves,irrespective of their ability to stand taxation,are
of great value to the communities in v;hich they are d.ocated3fcr
scenery in
water protection,lumber supply>and/resort regions is undoubted.
The fundamental difficulty is that the tax should be in proportion to yield or income and not in proportion to the market value of the land and the standing timber. Economists are substantially agreed that this principle is applicable to the taxation of all kinds of property with certain exceptions. Where there is a reasnably certain annual yield or income the market value is theoretically dependent upon it. A wocdlct or forest,however,usually in this country has no annual yield.
It is unjust to require the owner to carry the full annual burden of taxes,risk and protection in every year for the chance of a yield once in fifty years,and it is impossible for the Q'TAer to do it:for the taxes with compound interest would con-f 1bcate Ms entire capital.
:• 'TA'ff0UTAf: CONFERENCE HELD AT TORONTO:	Resolved:
-5-That it is within the legitimate province cf tax laws to encoura£e the growth of forests, in order to protect watersheds and insure a future supply of timber; and legislation or constitutional amendment where necessary,is recommended for these purposes.
AIJERICAJJ FOREST OONGJRTSS*® Resolved:	That	we	earnestly	coilmen t to all State authorities—------------------------------------- reducing the burden of
taxation on lands held for forest reproduction in order that perse nr. and corporations may be induced to put in practice the principles of forest conservation.
KaJlOTLVASlA BEPARTifENT OF PCRESTHY:	Tax	assessors have
different ideas of value and th&ir assessments vary widely.
The only remedy for the forest owner it so appeal from the assessment to the county commissioners,andsif her« unsuccessful, to the county court,a matter involving both time and expense, and frequently more costly than the difference in taxes to be gained,but_at_ the_ s_ame_time the fact^is weJ^cogniscd that fcrested land is both unequaULy .and unfairly taxed.
TElhiy 3OLOIT GRAVES: CHUT? FORESTER OP THL UNITED STATUS:
In the first place,the State should cooperate with private own** ers to control fires»through fire laws,education of public
Sa<^ H
sentimemt against fires:and a fire-fitting organization; aish an orgronlzaticn,for example, as is being introduced in a numler of northern states. In the second place,there should he a lair sygtem of taxation so that the owner need not fear that all P03.3ihle profits in forestry may be eaten up by taxes.
-6-P 1 LIBERT BCTir,PR0PES3CB C? ROR!: STRY, UITP/1RSITY OP IflCH. , STATE IRE WARDE1T Of IflCH I GAIT, - (Speaking of'frequent local attitude toward non-resident owner):
Though,in truth,these resident people often make their living from the tax money of the non-resident,and though the latter contributes toward ev^ry rod of road and every sohool-house built,and other improvement,yet lie is treatea as if he were a wrong-doer, is taxed unmerqifuily, and, in addition,*. trespass on his land or forest is excused and it is almost impossible in many places to get conviction.
If the State a d local people had treated the r.wnens of timber honestly and had spent a reasonable part of the taxes in giving the protection which the owner had a right to expect under the Const it ut ion, there would still be more than half of our pinery lands covered by forest. But this was not,and. not the case. A certain forest owner in Michigan paid during the last twenty-five years over $600^000 in taxes,and it would be difficult to prove that a cent had ever been expended in the protection of real improvement of this property.
"Forestry is no "sugar trust baby",as so many arfc trying to make it cut® Porests can pay taxes as well as any other property. Porestrv is li&e any other honest business,it can not stand confiscation.
Suppose you had a twenty acre lot of sugar beets and the assessor would hang around until the beets ce ripe and tiien figure:	"The land is fxod; I assess it at -75 per acre,and the
♦
crop is worth $75 mere,so that this property will stand $15C.-
-7-What would you say? But the assessor who assesses the timber as part of the real estate and assesses the same crop of timber year after year does precisely this thing. He assesses land and crop for the ownt>r of a wocdlot and forest,while for all other farmers he assesses only the land.
Let th© State pass a few simple laws; provide for the protection of forest property as we provide for other property; prevent confiscation under the guiss of taxation; stop forcing its poor tax land® on the market, a4id go ah^ad with a good example on its own lands , - and instead of holding thv-m in waste land condition protect them and grow timber.
A. T. HAJ)IOT,PKRSID35NT YAW? UKIVJSKSXTY; We have it in our power to i«ake intelligent for .stry by individuals mere profitable. The margin between bisiness that succeeds and lousiness that fails is a narrow om, and bu just covering that margin by differen£es in tax_la^£,- by differtiices in protective laws,-by laws for the prevention of fires*- can ml:® profitable an industry which the public needs,but which today is unprofitable.
JMTjS 0. DAVIDSON,GO’TBJOB 0? WISCOSTSIS:	It is to be
hoped that laws will be passed encouraging omrs to cut timber conservatively under forestry regi^lations,rather than cbllge them '0 cut as quickly as possible to escape the injustice of taxation.
ppa;F. FRA3K G. 21LLT.R,TmvraSITY 01? WASHINGTON:	Uext	to
fire t.hs most s*ricuo handicap to the pro^rrece cf forestry 5s our -o \ia.iiicohod cf forest taxation. Laying: as we do a y^-rXf tax o.i 'bcai the rrov^irg orop and the land? the burden of tama-
-6--j i i
makes the he Idiny; of land for a seccnd crop prohibitive as far as the privsme uwner .1? oonc .rned, lemefial legislation is essential * To this e::i liie State Constitution should he so asie nded as to secure equitable taxation of cub--over lands,
The farmer pays yearly tax on his land, and a tax on his crop each time he harvests cue. This is usually annua}ly* However,if through drought,insect invas ion,or other m:£fortune he loses his crop he is not called upon po pay a tax upon it* SENATOR RTSD SIIOCT, 03? UTAH; Chairman Section of T?orects, Mational Conservation Comission. One of tile urgent tasks before the States is the immediate passage of tax laws which will enable the private owner to protect and keep productive under forests those lands *•	suitable only for forest growth. In
our discussion in committee meeting here trhere was a question raised by a member present as to this reccmmendation,claiming that it wruld encourage great monopolies in securing larger timber holdings, if an annual tax was not required on the timber itself. I ha've studies, this question in foreign lards:partJc-ularly in Germany and Swj.tserAand, ard I find that iihe result has been exactly opposite-, it is a short-sighted policy which invites, Mirou.-h excessive taxation, the destruction of the only crop which steep mountain lands will produce profitably*
Ta&eS on forest land should be levied on the crop when cut,- not on the basis of a general property tax— thaw unsound method of taxation long abandoned by every other great
-9-o 4 6
OOvfRdTCR KJUWROM C. BLAuCHABD, of Louisiana:- Under the present tax laws of many of the States,large assessments are put on timber	lands,and this	is forcing timber holders-	the
owners cf saw	mills— to cut	off that timber too rapidly.	At
least it is having much effect that way. Give them the encouragement to hold back and not force their product upon the market,and then exempt,by a system of wise tax laws,cut-over larJs devoted	to purposes of	reforestation.,
KABYLJUD	STATE BOARD OF	TQKDSTRY:	As timber becomes	more
boaree and advances in value,there is the tendency of each r.ew assessment to greatly increase the valuation of woodlands having thereon a good stand of timber. The present method is to assess woodlands under the general property tax;making the assessment high where the timber is valuable and placing it low where the timber has been cut off* There is in the operation of this system-a tendency to cut oif the timber before it reaches maturity to avy-in the high rate of taxation. A premium is placed cn forest destruction a.nd a penalty on fcre3t conservat icn.
The growth of timber us slow and under present stumpage prices and ratc.s of taxation thee are comparatively few cases where the sale value cf the crop equals the cast of growing it, if a fair rental of the land is considered. It is true that most of the forests are on the lands that could not be	for
anything else.bit it is not fair feo eocpect the land owner tc produce timber which is a public necessity,- the use cf which is only less universal than food crops,at a financial eacri-f.w’ve. Increasing prices and better forest management aro
-10-70
raiieiinp the situation to some extent,but the most efftctive as the most equitable way, is through a change or modif icat: on of present tax lairs.
PR Of'. ]fDVrIP R. A. SELIGI1AN:	The gene ral property tax as
actually administered, is beyond all doubt one of the woest taxes known in the civilised world. 3ec&use of its attempt to tax in* tlE^ifrlLe as well as tangible things, it sins ayainst the cardinal? rules of uniformity, of equality*and of universality of taxation.
PRO?. AL?XED Alf iAl!, GEQBGXA UtfH'ERSITY:	One	reason	why
it (the general property tax) is so outrageous in practice is that it is wrong in theory* The mere possession of property ma^ or a.ay not be an index to the ability of the owner to pay ta;:. It all depends on whether the pro^rty brings Income.
ALLTH HOLLIS, SECRj-TARY SOCIETY FOR PBoVEdTXCH 0? 'TM HATSKIR? ?0R£SrS2 Taxation today, in my opinion, is the greatest menace to forest prest-.rvation.
One principal is absolutely ©ound--we all know it s and what we have to d© is to jytake everybody else know it3« and that is,that the annual taxation on a crop which ie constantly in-cr^asinr in velue each yeat means confiscation of that property.
In meat states taxation is based upon valuation alone3 without regard to income except as indicating value. Cur constitution enjoins equality in valuation and assessment. ?!o uc-ool’Jit i.3 taken of peculiar circumstances which sourer-:. this coa.-itmtirnhl scheme of equality into an instrument of h.amcf-shjf snd v;a-3t<>.
ft i.t: submitted here that no single factor "bears so dmf<
-1>initely upon the future of cur forests as this constitutional requirement of equality in taxation. As a business proposition, no _pne can afford to hold woodlands and pay annually two per cent upon their actual value, increased each year by growth and advancing, prices,during the fifty to one hundred years necessary for maturing the crop.
CKAS. LATKROP PACK, DIRECTOR AITBICA2T EC RETRY ASSOCIATION: While the nation and State aiv working to devise ways and means of conserving our forest resources,we are at the same time,in a real sense,taxi :g our timber to death.
Cur present tax laws prevent reforestation on cut-over lands and rhe perpetuation of existing forests by proper use and economic cutting.
STATE OE Id HI GAN FORESTRY COiU’T ^lON, (Extracts from Report to Governor) :	The system of taxation should be modified so as
to stimulate timber production instead of represing it.
There is no logical,moral or political reason why a crop of growing trees should be included in the assessment,in addition to the actual value of the land,that does not ap. ly with equal force and reason to faro: lands which are continuously cropped with grains,root crops or hay. The uncertainty of realizing upon a tree crop is very mSch like the uncertainty of a given farm’s producing its crop in full. The only difference is that the forest crop is subjected to the vicissitudes and chances of a long series of years,while the farm crops are rubject only to the vicissitudes of about one year- Many of
12-the crops are subject to the accidents of five or six months.
In the present stage cf forestry in this country',what is mcst imperatively required is such a treatment of the subject of taxation of forested lctnds as will induce private owners to retain their forests until ripe for the harvest and to reforest denuded lands. This would apply to those feaving lands suitable for such purposes, or otiiers who might purchase aiodg suitable therefor,who,under the present diverse,and often inequitable practice of assessments,can not be induced to make investments of that character.
REPORT 03? SOCIETY 70R PROTECTION 01? fEW KAIFPS'TIRE FORESTS, Ex. Gov.Prank W. Rollins,President:	The	law	of Hew Hampshire
requires that all property shall be tamed equally,according to its value,a law constantly and necessarily violated by assessors of forest property throughout the State. Its strict application even fdr a short period would go far to rid the state of its standing timber. The reason for this is that timber is a [growing crop— the only crop taxed more than once,- and if taxed annually at its full value, the cost to the owner of holding the property would be so excessive as to require its hasty disposal. Assessors everywhere f^el instinctively the inherent injustice of taxing a growing crop at a high annual rate,and violate the law and their oaths of office with impunity. The result is.-chere are as many systems of forest taxation in the Si: at a as there a^sesao rs, and gluing inequalities exist,nom only between neighboring towns,but also in some instances brcween different parts of the same town.
-13-82
The unequally high rate placed upon the timber of nonresidents is wholly iniquitous.
MEW KAFPSHiRE STATE GRANGE, COIf 'ITTEE OH AGP ICITL fTJ HE.
Jlany of the towns in our State invite the. misuse of forests by over taxation. This should he guarded against. By reasonable thrift we can produce a constant wood and timber supply beyond our own need,and with it conserve the usefulness ol cur streams for water supply, navigat ion and power, and at the same time increase the value cf our farrosc
ELI GRIFFITH, STATE ^OR: STTR OF WISC0HSX2T:	While	the	Na-
tion and State are working to devise methods and means of conserving our fast waning forest resources,we are at the same time taxing our timber to death* "’orests are a crop just as much as wheat or corn when the private owner is obliged to pay an annual,and often increasing*tax on his growing timber,it is no wonder that he cuts,and usually cut3 all,to excape practical confiscation through taxation.
The present methods of taxing timborlands is hostile to the forestry interests of the State,as a single timber crop is taxed heavily and repeatedly and the owners are forced by our present lav/s to cut their mature timber in order to wscape inequitable taxation,** to sacrifice their young growth, and to disregard conservation metlods of forest management.
Taxes are unfortunately a very valid reason in many sections of the state for not practicing forestry* Many town f.ss^ssors! seem to feel that they must tax the timber land owner, cxpeei-lly the non-resident owner,as heavily as possible,and
-14-S3
naturally in self-defense the owner is forced to cut his timber and so reduce the taxes to a rtasenable amount<> Then,when it is too lace, the towns find that they have "killed the goose that laid the golden egg.” Howevcr,the loss of taxes on the timber is but a drop in the bucket as compared the irreparable damage to many communities from losing the industries which depended upon the forests for their raw material. To appreciate this one only needs to visit towns in which the saw mills have shut down on account of lack of timber.
Of late ytars the end of the timber had. b-en largely hastened on account of the excessive taxes placed upon it. The whole system of forest taxation in this country is wrong*for it puts a premium on forest destruction.
RALPH C. HAVL7Y, INSTRUCTOR I IT "’ORES TRY, YALE UNIVERSITY:
A system of taxation which discriminates against timber, onw of the chief natural resources of the commonwealth,is to be condemned*
KENTUCKY STATE DEPT.03? AGRICULTURE HJ-.PCRT:	When a rise
in the valuation of	other	than forest property becomes
necessary because of the greater development of the resources of the regeisi/the valuation of forest property should be increased* with f’r^at caution in order that the forest lands may be held to advantage for the production of future timber crops. A timber crop :s marketed only after the young growing timber has been held for a long term of years*during which time the foretst lias been yielding only a very slight revenuer if any<to the rwner* If the valuation of the forest or its rates of Wii: :.ut ion go beyond a comparatively low limit; the holding of
-15--84
forert lari€. for' a second, crop of timber is .impracticable or n€A>-?.y prohibitive. Thjs condition has prs*r£3.ed in mony ether £ tal es where now hhe problem of taxation i3 a difficult one to solve.
AI’FIWD GAflULL, STATE FGR.FSTER FOR >IEW JERSEY: - The p recent practices favor and encourage the untimely cr wasteful rn.se of standing forests,discourage the prorogation of ethers,and tend to hasten the time when the country siiall be forced to face a wood famine.
The problem is intricate, and perhaps on that account has
failed to receive the attention it de3erves7but the time has
arrived when its consideration can be put off no longer, The
welfare of every state requires that it be f?.ced> No other
question concerning the woodlands' of the country,save that of
fires, is so important, and we shall make little subc'tantr.al
progress in the effort to induce private owners to maintain
the
their forests until/present condition shall have been relieved end the forests he so rated that they shall bear no more than
their fair share of the cost of the government.
i
It would be impossible to apply the European system here with anything like	the	emactneas that attaches to it
in the old countries.because we have not the means of knowing the true worth of forest soil, or forept crops ,hr.t the principle is coplicable e/eiywhere.	Even in the hands of non-expert
ar'sass rs it goves ?* fairer basrs of valuation than our present metho iJ;. and on the long run will insure larger returns*
-2 6-J. E. 1TR0ST, TAX CGEJinsSIGHER OF WASHINGTON:	The	State 's
system cf taxation is obsolete and only 15 civilised communities in the world have such an out-oaf- date system. The Stats is confined by the constitution to property tsmgwell known a3 a primitive system,utterly incapable of copnn^ with modem business. It can be remedied only by recognising the different classes of taxable property.
1)3.PRAf CIS L. Me University President and Tax Expt it:
The suggestions which have been made from tyme or time regarding the taxation of timber have as their fundamtr.tao. principle the separation of the value of the land frr m the value ol the timber. Thir plan meets wf the criticicm of die loca3 e.3L' ess Lhg officer by providing a baa is of taking annually a pa; I >x the valuation and of producing some in*caw for the local gov>.rmaeutIf it id understood then that the land may be t9xed ar rurally and the timber pro due I wnen it is out; we have under tnis plan a s.imp'ie LC.v.me of taxation which will unqucs t \ orably meet the difficulty that ito now urged against the general property asses ment of timber lands. Under the old plan of valuing annually the property it was difficult to secure an appraisment that w as satisfactory to anybodymsnd what wa3 more,as the years went by,the local governments found their assessed vri/fej decreasing an! the burden of government materially inorca3iny vi fch the decline in amount of standing timber. The anruai1 ■'.a/.at aon of the land upon whioh the timber stands meets tM,.- dif *aculty5 - while the taxation of the pro due “ at the time of harvestirg, provides' a plan that is fair "fe-e both to th-3 dar,al yo*'ernm mac end to ’ohe ev/nsr vf timber.
- 3 7-COLORADO CONSHRVATliRTT JSOIfLlISSIOlT:	Resolved,That it is
the sense of tilt Colorado Conservation Commission that the goverhor and legislators should submit to the people at as early a date as possible an amendment to the Constitution, exempting from taxation lands devoted solely to the growth and culture of new .timber, and if such amendment is adopted, the same to be followed by suitable legislation,
OHBrOH STATF CCiTSKRVATlON COMMISSION:	Constitutional
amendment and legislation should be invoked to permit a low
fixed tax on cut-over land during the period of no return to
the owner,the State to be compensated by a tax on the crop
when cut. Obviously this inducement should be offered only
to those holders of cut-over land who will reciprocate bu
furthering the object sought. The result of such a system be
would/not only perpetuation of the forest and its attendant industries and pay-roll,but also a far greater tax return then tht present one of encouraging potential forest laud to become worthless and non-taxable.
LEGISLATURE OP MINiQDSOTA:	MSeC.17a.	Laws	may be enacted
exempting lands from taxation for the purpose of encouraging and prompting the planting,cultivation and protection of useful. fore81 tiieea thereon." This is the text of an Act amending the Minnesota constitution passed by the legigVture and now before the people for ratification at genersl s.-act ion.Conservation Convention held under the auspices of the
WASHING TO IT CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION, Walla Y,ralla,Kay 1.3,14, ’09
7/KEREAS?the question of holding cut-over forest land for
a second crop is of paramount importance to the State* aid
WI-IFIHJIAS?this in made impossible on the part of pro rate
owner3 by our present method of forest taxation -whereby the
owner is obliged to pay an annual tax on the land as well as Iv
an annual1/repeated tax on the same growing crop, therefore he it EPSOLVED,t,hat this Convention favor such remedial legislation as w.i ?..l encourage reforestation of the privately owned lands)and be it further
KT>SOLViED that it is the sense of this Convention that as applied to reforestation such remedial legislation can he secured by a plan which will levy an annual tax on the land and an income tax on the forest crop only when the crop i3 harv es ted*
FIRST NATIONAL CONSERVATION CONGRESS,August>1909.
RRoGIVED that we urg-3 ‘the adoption of a system of taxa-•tion under wh:mh woodlands wi.U pay a moderate annual land tax and the 'mmber tic ill he taxed only when cut.Apptndix to Report on Reforestation:
-1OT YORK-
i
New York Leads all states in the purchase of forests,as well as in improving them* It began a policy of state acquisition of forest land as far hack as 1885,and in 1890 began to buy heavily.
It has now considerably over a million and a half acres,-mostly once cut-over or culledjand purchased at an average price of $3.60 an acre,but now worth over §20 an acre. Spend** ing sometimes $350,000 a year for the purchase of land and reforestation,it still shows that investment to be an excellent one. Under the new 1910 law a bond issue of $200,OOO ic to be made for further land purchase,and an appropriation of &3O,OOO is allowed for one year’s reforestation work.
Hew York lodges the power for this business with a Porest, Fish and Game Commissioner,who has under him a forest department headed by a trained forest superintendent.lt is the duty of the Commissioner,-with the consent of the Governor- to purchase or condemn lands,structures,or waters within certain regions specified by law,when advisable for the interests of the State.
Ownera of condemned	land	may	reserve for not	more than
15 years certain species	of timber over 10 inches	in diameter,
and in such ca.se payment	need	not	be made by the State until
this timber is removed,unless	the	Commissioner so	directs. Ins Sj
2
ordinary purchase without ccndemnation, lands may be taken subject to more liberal reservation of species down to 8 inches diameter with right to remove- subject to any lease, mortgage, or other incumberance,not extending more than 10 years beyond date of purchase. The amount of any such incumberance is deducted from the purchase price.
With the approval of the State Land Office,the Commissioner may contract for the purchase of land and exempt it from taxation for State or county purposes pending final conveyance to the State, on consideration of certain rights en^oy^d. during this period by the public and the State. Such contract may reserve to the owner a right to clear 1/10 of the area,but in general he can remove only mature timber.
The State pays the usual county taxes jipon it3 forest reservat ion.
In addition to means of acquiring forest land described above,the State also secures title through tax sales,foreclose ures of mortgage,and sale of bonded lands.
Honeys received from use or sale of lands are used to buy more. Several direct appropriations for buying land under these lawg have been made,- once as large as $500,COO. The la?/ also authorizes bond issues.
The State is liberal in improving the condition of its forestry lands?maintaining 4 nurseries and planting about a, million trees a year. Besides 750 fire wardens,it employs in90
3
forest work 4 scientific fcresters,5 inspectors,3 land appraisers, and a legal department.
The above account of forest reserve extension in New York does not cover the Special Act creating the Highlands of the Hudson ?orest Reservation of about 30,000 acres, in which the State itself lias little actual ownership as yet,hut which it is charged by the law to manage under Hmethods of modern forestry. K This is one of the often-quoted examples of State regulation of private holdings in the interest of the public. This Act gives the ITorest,Fish and Game Commissioner practically unlimited power,-both to regulate,or to buy the land,but by app ropriat ing only $5OOO restricts present activity to regulation and protection.
-PEIOTSYLVAITIA}-
<
Pennsylvania has about 863,000 acres in forest reserva-t ions.
The ?orestry Reservation Commission has power,- with the consent of the Governor,- to purchase any suitable lands that in its judgment the State should possess for forest preservation,- provided that not over $5 per acre is paid,- or more than &3OG,OOO is expended in any one year.
It is also authorized,-with the approval of other State Departments involved,to buy in delinquent tax lands, - either after they have been forced to sale,or from the owners..
Counties may not dispose of delinquent lands without giv-fr£ the State such opportunity to buy such as are suitable for91
4
Fo restry.
Comparatively little restriction is placed on the Commission by Statute in the exercise of its judgment in buying and managing forest reservation lands.
It sells timber and leases mining rights. Half of any net revenue goes to the township involved,- provided this does
I
not amount to more than twice the taxes which would be received if the land were privately owned.
There is also a fixed annual charge upon State forest reserve lands of b cents an acre for the school district involved, and 2 cents for the road district involved,- paid to said districts by the State Treasurer in lieu of taxes that they may lose.
Funds for the purchase of lands are derived from proceeds of existing reserves and from direct appropriation,that by the last session of legislature being $100,000.
The State maintains an excellent forestry system to protect and improve its forests,the last appropriation,for two years amounting to over half a million dollars,as follows:
Salaries and expenses main forestry office- $23,000
Traveling expenses of Commission members-	3,500
Forest Hangers’ salaries-	10G,000
Foresters’ salaries-	70,000
Surveys-	30,000
Draftsmen and supplies-	3,000
Labor-	70,0CO
Incidental expenses-	60,000
Examination of titles-	15,000
Purchase of land—	100,000
Payment of counties in lieu of road and
school taxes-	80,OOP
$554,000In addition to its system of State purchase,Pannsylvania encourages municipalities to adept the same policy,commencing an Act for this purpose passed in 1909 with a preamble stating that properly managed municipal forests should be "important sources of municipal revenue>tending to greatly reduce the burden of municipal taxation."
This law empowers towns and cities to acquire or lease tracts suitable for the growth of forests to be administered under scientific forestry principles Uiider the direction of the State Commissicner of forestry. Funds for the purchase of such land may he appropriated by ordinance,or raised by the sale of bonds. Revenue is to go to the municipal treasury. The town or city can sell such land only if the ordinance so ordering is approved by a majority vote of the citizens at regular election.
The forest-owning principle so fully endorsed in Pennsylvania is no new step,but has grown steadily in strength atong the people since the first purchase Act 13 years ago-(1697) The State also enforces most rigid fire laws,and grows young trees for sale at cost to private owners who desire to reforest their lands.-MINNESOTA-
Minnesota has about 5,000,000 acres of school and swamp land estimated to contain $15,000,000 worth of timbcr,but is also acquiring as fast as possible,additional land on which to grow forests .
A nuclsus was formed in 1892 by a special Park Grant from the United States,to which certain lands were added later,and in 1699 $20,000 was appropriated to buy private holdings therein.
Another early step was to make an annual appropriation of &1GCO for the purpose of perfecting tax titles to lands secured for forestry purposes. Little such land becoming available, this fund was later turned into the Forest Reserve Purchase
Fund.
In 1903 the forestry Board was authorised to buy land for
reserves,at not over $2.50 per acre,but this particular Act
/
carried no appropriation.
In 1907 certain State Park legislation,governing a standing appropriation of $5000 annuallyjbesides considerable land already acquired as mentioned above,and an accumulated fund, was amended to transfer the project to the reserve system,
About $42,000 became immediately available and was spent for additional land,making by the close of 1908 about 43,000 acres in State Reserves,at a total cost of over £lOO,OGO.
In addition to the standing annual appropriations to buy reserve lands, the last legislature make a special appropriation of $10,OCO to be used bybthe State University to purchase land. S	81
7
for forestry demonstration in/connection with the forest school*
In all,the rc^tnts received *31,000 for forestry advancement,-aside from that allowed the "Forestry Board proper.
The law allows the Forestry Board to accept timber land donated by private owners and to pay taxes pn it up to $800 a year,the owners having 10 years to remove mature timber.
Besides the sum mentioned above for land purchase,addition appropriat ions are made for tree planting, fire prevent ion, etc. and four or five thousand dollars a year are made already through timber sales from reserve lands,although most of the timber is still too young.
Increase of acreage under the system ifl effect being too slow,the last legislature (1909) passed a bill to submit to popular vote a constitutional amendment to enable a special state tax of 1/15 mill for the sole purpose of buying forest land at not over £>3. an acre and managing it according to forestry principles. Revenue from timber grown thereon goes ©/4 to the State Treasury and l/4 to local school and road funds. If any land proves better adapted for other purposes than for forestry,it may be sold and the proceeds used to buy forest land. This amendment will be voted on by the people and if adopted,will waise about §72,000 upon present valuations.95
-TTISCORSI2T-
Although beginning hut five years ago,Wisconsin is now one of the most active States in acquiring lands for reforestation. The total acreage at present is about 300,000 acres, valued at fully £o,OOO,OCO.
In the words of the State Forester,- "This,then,is the chief and foremost forestry policy in the State,- viz:- to maintain adequate forest rtscn/ts on the head waters of cur most important rivers. Second,- to in time,secure a steady and permanent supply of timber which will help to keep within the State many industries depending upon forests for their raw material,-- to act promptly before all the young timber is cut or destroyed by fire,- for then the State would be buying nearly a desert which would require a very large expenditure to refc rest.M
In pursuance of this policy,the legislature of 1905 set aside all state lands within suitable limits to be administered as a ^orest Reserve by the State Forester with the approval of the Board of Forestry. The State Forester is authorised to sell such portions as are agricultural/- or not advantageously situated for forest management,and to use the proceeds to buy other lands to solidify the portions retained.
With the "revolving” fund so obtained,and from the sale of timber and other products,the State Forester has already purchased about 75,000 acres,- mostly cut-over land bought from lumber companies at prices ranging from fe.50 to $4 an acre*be96
9
sides employing the necessary cruisers and other assistance.
The statute do es not restrict him to any maximum price per acrfc, The last legislature also allowed &10,000 a year by direct appropriation,for the purchase of additional forest lands. It also provided by law that the State shall have first opportunity to purchase lands forfeited for delinquent taxes, for forest reserve purposes,but so far,little desirable land has become available in this way.
In Wisconsin as elsewhere,where States have begun to acquire and manage timberland in a scientific and systematic way, instead of regarding it as a mine to be worked cut,one of the first results of investigation is to realize that delay means loss. Purchases are of necessity restricted mostly to cut~ over land,which is desirable in the measure of its situation,* cheapness, and condition as to reforestation. It is usually deteriorating rapidly from lack of protection,or where this is not the case,enhancing in value through the maturing growth,or the progress of settlement. Immediate purchase is desirable in either event,- especially when in the latter,the State,instead of the speculative owner,may make the profit. This cannot be managed under the slow revolving fund plan.
Hot desiring to ask the people to meet this situation by direct appropriation,or special tax,and being prevented from bond issue by constitution,Wisconsin proposes to have the legislature authorize the Board of forestry to issue certificates of indebtedness on the reserve lands already owned,-th^se certificates to bear not to exceed 5^ interest. The in-97
10
creasing value and proceeds from the land,with a supplemental water power tax,are believed to amply insure meeting interest and principal. Since the Supreme Court has held that such a loan is not a bond issue/out a public debt,the Attorney General has pronounced this plan legal,and it has been recommended to the legislature by the_State Conservation Commission,as well as by the Board of Forestry.
The Wisconsin authorities consider a straight bond issue, to be met in perhaps 50 years when the forest proceeds are grea6 est,to be the best system where it is constitutional,- the plan mentioned above to be second in desirability,and a special annual state tax of one-tenth of a mill to be the next practicable resort.
-NEW J-EBSEY*
New Jersey authorizes the State Forest Park Reservation Commission to fix price and purchase lands for forest reservations upon Attorney General’s approval of title,- and since 1906)when this Act was passed,has appropriated $60,000 for this purpose,and acquired about 9,000 acres.
Municipalities may use their lands for forest purposes,-sell timber therefrom,and contract with the State for control aid management.• • 93
n
-1-LASSACHTJSETTS-
Appropriates $10,000 annually with which the State forester, with the advice and consent of the Governor and council, may purchase lands adapted for forest product ion,at not over &5 an acre.
Special appropriations to buy forest reservations in 1898,1902 and 1903,carried $25,000,^20,000, and £35,000 respect ively,
Towns are authorized to vote money to buy land for municipal forest3,by condemnation if necessary,and arrange for help by the State Porester in managing them.
-IIARYLAITD-
Kas begun a State reserve system^and already acquired 3540 acres as a xl&slk nucleus. Has a small fund for this
purpose.
In 1904 created, a Public Domain Commission, - wholly non-political,— with an appropriation of f9f50C to handle tax-deed lands. ,Has so far set aside 277,000 acres for forestry purposes, and is prohibited by law from allowing this to be reduced to less than 200,000 acres. No provision for buying lands.325592
12
- CONNECTICUT-
The State forester is empowered to buy land for forest purposes with very little restriction upon his discretion, except that not more than §4 an acre may he paid. He may exchange such land for other land,and execute deeds in ‘behalf of the State, l?unds are by direct appropriation,- the last (?fjO9) being ^5,OGO- May buy land before timber is cut,® former owner being given tint; to remove. This relieves owner of taxation and allows State to protect and provide for reproduction*
- HID IAHA-
Board of forestry authized to buy 2000 acres for “a At at e 7orest Reservation, laboratory of forestry demount rat .ion, and State nurseries.” The last legislature (1909) a'-lo'vired $7500 for this purpose.
-KAI1JE-
It may he of interest to know that while Ifaine is not buying land, it utilizes the special tax principle by levying li mills on all property within the forested portions of the State for the sole purpose of fire prevention. This raises $64,OOO a year.
Committee on Reforestation,**
v	Geo.	S.Long,Chairman-*
R. W. Douglas.University of Washington Library
Date Due
■ n •? 1 T			
F L B 2 >•	ld4U		
MAP 7	1940		
Der. is m			
May	24 r4sr		
MAR 1 ? *	75		
(Si X 3	&l3r- ■"		
MAK t 1	3^		
			
NOV 0 4	1330		
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
S. F. No. 3173- 1938.	10M	1-38	1169-A.