The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-13
EX-GOVERNOR JOHN 8. PILLsBURY
PROMISES 1T SOME VIRGIN
FOREST AREAS
If IT WILL PRESERVE THEM.
CONFERREES YESTERDAY PRE-
PARED A BILL FOR SUBMIS-
SION TO LEGISLATURE.
FORESTRY
" ASSOCIATION, TOO
VIII Meet Soon to Take Action Upon
the Bill as Agreed Upon by
Others.

Minnesota. I think, will soon have
fine forest reserves said Gen. c. c.
Andrews, state fire warden, yesterday
afternoon. 'Ex-Gov. John S. Pillsbury
has given me assurances that as soon
as the legislature passes bill looking
to the proper care Of such forest areas,
he will donate to the state some tracts
of fine timber in the Northern part of
the state"
A joint committee. representing the
various organizations in the state in
terested in forest preservation, met
yesterday to consider a. bill drafted-by
Capt J. N. Cross for presentation at
the approaching session of the legls-
lature. Capt. Cross was requested to
prepare such a bill at the summer
meeting Of the horticultural associa-
ton, and in addition to the considera-
ton which it received by the general
committee, will be further considered
by committee of the forestry asso-
citation. There were present at the
meeting D. R. McGinnis, S. NJ Owen,
A. w. Latham, Wynnan Elliott, Capt
Cross, Minneapolis; ]. o. Barrett. of
Browns Valley, and Prof. S. B. Green,
Of the agricultural college.
The bill. lengthy one, was accepted
by the committee after a few minor
revisions.
The bill provides for a forest reserve
area to be owned and controlled by the
state, this area to be created from
lands set apart for the purpose by the
state, or given to it by persons, cor
porations or the United States govern
ment for that purpose. All such lands
are to be exempt from taxation except
that any part of the incomes from
them which go to private persons shall
be taxed.
To look after this forest reserve area
there is created a state forestry board.
which shall consist of nine members,
as follows: The fire warden, the pro-
fessor of horticulture in the agricul-
tural college of the university, three
persons to be named for terms of four
years by the regents of the university
for their expert knowledge, respective
ly, of forest creation and preservation
in the prairie regions, in the forest
regions and the third for his knowl-
edge of the sources of supply of the
various streams of the states four
persons to be elected by the following
named bodies for terms Of two years;
the state forestry association, the lum-
bermen's association, the horticultural
society and the fish and game commits
sion.
The board shall appoint a secretary, ;:
but no member of the board shall be
paid for his services. The state treas
urer is to act as treasurer Of, the:
board. The bill prescribes, the duties
Of ha Y1 of 1an crth a nd olIth nT ~izpc
it to appoint an executive committee
with executive authority. The boards
Of town supervisors and county COM
missioners are constituted town and
forestry boards.
The specifications of the manner in
which private persons may deed forest
| or barren lands to the state for the
creation or preservation of forests, re-
serving the use of the lands to them
| selves for all purposes, such as mining,
! which do not interfere with the forests,
are lengthy and detailed.
| The income of such lands so decided
! to the state are to be divided into
years, and these three parts shall be
| given to the state, the educational in
| stitution or system which the donor
of the lands may designate Cor the pub
lie school system and university in gen.
eral, if there are no specifications by
the donor, and the third part shall
| be given to the donor of the lands or
his heirs until the expiration of a peri
cd of seventy-five years following the
| date of the deed
This provision is very important
and unusual one, and it is believed that
| it will be a great stimulus to private
| owners to deed their unused lands to
the state should they be of a nature
suitable for forestry purposes.
The state is further authorized to
lease for any purpose low meadow
| tracts or other tracts for pasture where
doing SO will not interfere with the
growth Of forest trees, to sell dead and
fallen timber and to deed parts of such
tracts where public improvements de-
mand alienation of them by the state