The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-08-10

now Minnesota Happened to BE
FIRST 30 Far He Knows to
establish Such a Branch of Study
what the Two Courses ~
Study Include,
Chief Fire Warden Andrews ves+er
day gave The Globe an interestin,
history Of the early discussion which
resulted in the establishment of
school OF forestry at the state univers-
1ty, In which James Russell Lowell the
American poet, took a practical inter-
est in assisting its promoters Cen
Andrews said:
1T Is curious incident that orr
great American poet, James Russell
Lowell, should have done anything to-
wards establishing a school Of forestry
IN minnesota, but 1t Is fact, never
thelesS. TO explain this I will have
to mention that it will be twenty
years next February since I introduced
In the ST. Paul Chamber of Commerce.
the project for a national school Of
forestry In this state. Good enterpris
es generally succeed, even If they are
brought about in different form from
what was first expected, and we now
nave am happy to say, a thorough
Iy organized school Of forestry right
here at the state agricultural college.
and supported In part by the United
States. The project introduced by me
was accompanied by q careful report
on the forestry and forest schools Of
Europe. memorial to congress, and
carefully prepared bill for a grant by
congress of 300 sections Q92,O acres)
or land to this state as a permanent
endowment of the school, 1t was unan-
iinously adopted by the chamber Of
commerce. very strongly Endorsed by
the presidents Of Yale, Cornell, Wiscon-
SIN and other universities and colleges
by the governor of Iowa and other
prominent men, and was introduced in
the United States senate by the late
senator Mcmillan. May 10, 1880, ordered
printed with all the papers and refer
req to the committee on agriculture.
1T can be found as senate miscellane-
GUS document No. 81, second session
forty-slxth congress, comprising TWEEN
ty-two closely printed pages. As no
member Of congress took special inter-.
est In the subject, the measure did not
pass, but its agitation may have done
good.
1T was when following the project
up by paper which 1 read at the
American forestry congress at Cincin-
natl. May, 1882, and which body by
resolution Endorsed it, that I called for
ana obtained the assistance of Hon.
James Russell Lowell. then United
states minister at London I wanted
some information about the Central
forest school. which had recently been
wrote to Mr.. Lowell for it. He very
kindly furnished the information, ac-
companted by this autograph note. So
striking for its incisive expression on
the forestry question and which is inn
portant as coming from a man Of the
highest rank in literature aHd patriot
Ism:
Legation of the United States.
LONDON. March 10. 1882.
On receiving your letter of the 18th n,
FEBRUARY I at once wrote to Lord Harrfng-
ton. who the next day sent me the renort
which l now have the pleasure of forwarding
10 you. and especially if 1t helps you IN
awake IN public opinion to the conserva-
slon OF our forests ere 1t be too late. I
ioresee time when our game and forest
laws VIII be draconian in proportion to their
present culpable laxity. Faithfully yours,
Hon. c. @. Andrews.
We now have in Minnesota a school
or forestry; and 1t is an interesting
fact because 1 believe our state was
In advance of all the other states in or
ganizing such school. The state of
New York has this year organized a
college OF forestry at Cornell uniyer-
sity, but our school of forestry was or
gan1zed by the board Of regents of the
state university last year. 1t is under
the charge of Prof. Samuel B. Green
as part of the Agricultural college
SO beautifully situated half a mile north
of the Como interurban line, about mid
way between the Twin Cities. The in
stitution and the fine artificial forest
OF mixed trees near by, which has
grown UP In the past ten years under
the care or Prof. Green, are well worth
visit. The study of forestry is in
cluded under two courses: Course 1.
lLectures-The forestry situation in this
country and its literature; numbering
in Minnesota. forest influences, forest
supplies, forest management prairie
forestry. Course 2, Lectures and Field
W OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES of forest and
orname rtal trees that are hardy in Min
pesota, their value for timber and other
purposes and methods of propagation.
The distinction Minnesota enjoys for
having established the first school OF
the kind in this country should stimu-
late our people to try to keep their
state in the lead on this great forestry
question.
viii the graduates OF such a school
find employment? Look at the MANY
estimators of pine timber who have
been employed on the Indian reserva-
lions for the past two years at good
pay. They should have had the train
ing AFFORDED by such a school. The
standing timber in Minnesota is worth
SlOO.OOO,000 and it will require skilled
men to take care Of it. Besides. think
of the rev field of employment for for
esters opened by the lately inaugurated
policy (of momentous import of Unit
ed States forest reserves Our minds
have been on Manila and Santiago, and
the most Of us probably did not notice
tbat couple of weeks ago the govern
ment at Washington appointed for the
new reserves fourteen forest superin-
tendents, fifteen forest rangers and ten
forest agents. For all such positions
in the future the graduates of our
school of forestry will be especially