The San Francisco call., 1899-01-23
FOREST PLANTING IN MINNESOTA.

NA INNESOTA is one of the States that was be-
leved by its early settlers to have "inex
4 haustible forests" Accordingly they cut
the timber recessy, let fires ravage it and wasted it
in every way that human carelessness and negligence
can do Minnesota is still a young State. Hardly a
single generation has passed away since the first
pioneers began to chop wood and start forest fires
within her borders, and yet she is to-day consider
ing what she can do to restore the trees to large
areas OF land from which they have been swept
away.
The State at present makes provision for the SUI
pervsion of the forests by an official bearing the sig
nicant title of State Fire Warden thus showing that
his chief duty to fight FIRE Protection for the
naming forests, however, is not enough, and re-
Gently there was obtained from DR.. c. A. Schenck,
formerly official Assessor of Forests in Hesse-
Darmstadt but now superintendent OF George Van
derbilts estate at Biltmore plan for reforesting
large area OF the State with detailed estimate of the
probable cost and the profits likely to
From a review OF his report given by the St. Paul
Pioneer Press it appears there are 100000 acres Of
vacant land in Minnesota, which includes land that
has been cut over as we'll as land regarded as un-
suited to agriculture. OF that amount it is estimated
that at least 1000 900 acres could be we'll and profit
ably replanted with forests. AS good portion Of
the area has already been forfeited to the State for
eved the whole 1000 acres could be purchased at
an average of 2 cents an acre. The further estimates
are given as follows:
The cost of planting per acre. with pine, is esti-
mated at 81 25 adding which to the cost of the
land makes total of $11 So Added to this must be
the loss of taxes, the cost of protection and admin
istraton, which, assuming the two million to
be acquired gradually, estimated at $50000 per
annum The various items of expenditure, dis
tributed period of eighty years, thus seen
to foot up follows
Cost Of land 2,OOO,O 900 acres at 25 cents per
acre S50O,000
Expense for planting $4,000 acres per year,
at $11 25 per acre, $281,25O, in eighty
years 22, 500 900
Taxes, protection and administration $780,
600 per year for eighty years. 100000
Total .......... .......... ........ .$27 000,0 900
When to that sum is added interest on the money
expended during the eighty years. is calculated the
reoresng of 100000 acres will cost Minnesota the
for the neglect take Of the forests in the first
place The penalty however will not have been paid
in vain for it is estimated that at the end of eighty
years the land will be covered with timber
ing 1900 feet board measure to the acre. worth in
the aggregate $725ooooo at present prices and ca
pable OF yielding to the State yearly revenue of
many millions OF dollars
The moral for California to draw from these esti-
furnished to Minnesota is that an ounce of pre-
vention is worth a pound of cure and that it would
be great deal better for her preserve the forests
she has than to let them burn and then replant the
land at cost OF millions and wait for years to get
return