Daily globe., 1883-08-09

but interested in the subject, we're also
present, several ladies also gracing the oc-
casion with their presence.
WELCOME OF hon. GEO. L. BECKER.
Called to order by President Loring. he
introduced Hon. Geo. L. Becker, president
of the Minnesota State Forestry associa-
ton, who welcomed the congress to st.
Paul and Minnesota, and said it seemed
that somebody bad announced him to well
come the congress to Minnesota on behalf
of the State Forestry association. 1t is
both privilege and pleasure to greet
such an sssemblage. You are on the
border of what was formerly known as the
great American desert. We have lived to
see the iron rail and electric wire traverse
this great stretch of country, once con-
sideyed desolate wastes, peopled with
thriving communities and dotting In
every direction with growing crops. When
came to Minnesota / started out with
the proposition that God never made such
country without providing means for the
support of the human race upon it. also
believed that in time coal would be found
to supply the want ocoasioned
by the lack of growing timber.
Thirty years have passed since
then, but coal suitable for fnei
has not been found, and whether the means
of furnishing heat and light are to be
found in the bowels of the earth, OF are
produGed through forestry cultivation, yet
remains to be ascertained. The Minnesota
Forestry association is young IN years, and
and as yet has only been teaching the A.
B. C.'s of the subject. At first the prairie
farmer would not believe that forests could
| be successfully cultivated. But that idea
has been dispelled, mainly through the
| teachings OF the State Forestry association.
The message 1 bring you, gentlemen, IS
| tinged with sadness. The founder OF the
state society is dead. ] refer to Leonard
B. Hodges. He was the author of our
pamphlet on tree culture, an able, an hon
est man, and an energetic worker. His
body lies in our beautiful cemetery, buthis
monument, more enduring than marble OF
brass, is found in the long lines of trees
along some of our prairie railroads
and in the many groves of
trees that are found scat
tend upon our prairie farms. And now.
gentlemen, want to say that 1 am pleas
ed to give you hearty welcome to Mime
sofa. will now introduce our chief mag
istrate, Gov. Hubbard, who will say few
! words to you as the representative OF the
state.
GOV. HUBBARD's WELCOME.
The remarks of MIR. Becker were receiv
ed with hearty applause, at the conclusion
of which Gov. Hubbard was introduced
and addressed the society substantially al
follows:
Gentlemen of the American Forestry
Congress:
We extend TO you hearty welcome *
our state. We assure you gentlemen, tina
you have come among a people who ap
preciate the great importance of the in
terest for which you are laooring, and wht
earnestly desire to aid you in your efforts
as we'll as to profit by them. 1t was mos
appropriate that Minnesota should be des
ignated as the place of your meeting a
this time. Oar people have the pas
few years given much attention
to the subject of tree culture
and the prairies Of our state to day bea
witness to what may be accomplished b!
earnest and systematic effort to preserv
and perpetuate the growth of our fores
trees. The encouragement given by legis
; lation, national and state, to the promo
ton Of timber culture, supplemented b,
the intelligent action ofyour body and on
state association upon the subject, ha
made forestry a feature of our agriculture
, industry in many localities, and has ren
: dered habitabie and even hospitable man
an otherwise bleak and dreary waste
Your efforts, gentlemen are deserving c
! cordial recognition. Your work is a grea
public benefaetion. The people of th
northwest, and of Minnesota especial!
realize the value as ] have said, of the IL
terest you seek to promote, and they vel
come you cordially to our state who's
broad area already illustrates the gref
,, !, good you are doing.
PRESIDENT LoRING's ADDRESS.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Hubbard's r
J marks, Hon. Geo. B. Loring, president {
!. the society, delivered the annual addres
g which he preceded with the remark thi
q he was sure he expressed the sentiments
all members when he said the cordial T
!, ception accorded the congress was mo
gratefully received. He also said that
\ was most appropriate that the sessio
d of the congress should be he
: in Minnesota, as no other state had a mo
o vital interest in the subject. Gen. LorIr
y then proceeded to read his address:
}; Commissioner Loring commenced
y stating that in former address he he
y dwelt largely upon the value and impor
ance of providing for the qualification
s. our refined tastes by the ornamentatio
e that comes from the planting of trees. I
now proposed to confne himself to Il
q condition of our forests, and to make ce
q, tain suggestions relative to their increas
=. preservation and economical use. In the
+ increase both nature and art were engage
y. The cultivator's first work was to reno
vegetable growth, and when he pauses &
forests return to their place. The acrea,
rs of woodland is increasing in those sectio
d where farming has become unproftab
RI and this is also true of the numbering di
a. tYicts. In still other sections lands expo
D. ed to annual prairie fires, and former
l. bare, are now growing up to wood und
mans protection.
D. In addition to this natural increase, ,mu
a has been done In many of the states in tt
% planting, and much more ought to
d done. The establishment of arbor-da1
o. and the inducements held out by legisl
OF ton, have operated very favorably on t
work of what is called village impro0