The Saint Paul globe., 1899-01-05
SUBJECT OF FORESTRY.
Timely to Adopt Il Policy in the In
tercst OF Forestry Culture.

The subject of forestry is receiving con-
siderable and well merited attention in the
state. As Yet, the tine has probably net
arrived for undertaking it upon the scale
or on the lines that has been done in foreign
countries and in some CT the Eastern states
In fact. our natuTa. forest area has not vet
been aScerta med and cannot we'll be until the
reports OF our geological survey have been
published and fuller statistics obtained on the
subject 1t IS uSees to talk of reserving
arabic land capable of agricultural cultivation
for forestry. Any forestry reserve lines estab-
!lsned this year would undoubtedly be modi-
ned next year, and so on continuously until
the arabic section Of the state becomes pretty
vel defined The most imrortant branch Of
the subject at this time is intelligent legisla-
ton looking TO the prevention of forest fires
In this work. it seems to me YOU should
De able to secure efectual cooperation from
the owners OF our Dine and other forests
1t Is time-y, however, to adopt at this time
a policy that will make it practicable to un-
dertake forestry culture on a large sea e
When we reach economic conditions that make
such undertaking practicable With thar in
view, I would recommend that provision be
made for increasing the extent of Itasca park
as recommended by the game warden 1t
would also be vel, perhaps, TO prohibit the
alienation by the state of the fee in the
public lands which are Clearly within the
permanent forestry area of the state At this
time I think that the utmost that public
sentiment would uphold conditions Justify
on that subject is for the state to retain title
10 what It has in that region. rather than
" acquire Dy purchase. Much controversy
exists also in that part of the state in re,
gard to the payment of taxeH by the owners
or the timbered lands. It is possible that
out Of that condition the state might acquire
title to large areas by forfeiture for unpaid
taxes, and also by voluntary conveyances
from the owners.
WISE FORESIGHT
If by such means, or any other. that in
volved no great outlay Of money the state
could become EOS essed of the tit,e to large
state, it would certainly be wise foresight to
avail ourselves of the opportunity. The state
would then have the lands when scientific
forestry culture becomes an imminent prac-
teal question, az it viii some day On this
SUBJECT. Ike many others it is futile TO IN
dertake legislation in advance of well
defined. active public opinion. So long as
n1ne-tenths Of cur people would rather cut
a tree than plant one time devoted to the
discussion Of scientific forestry is usua "
wasted. All we can hope to do is as have
suggested lay the foundation for it in the
future. The European countries did this bv
Introducing the subject in their schools early
IN the century. If we would create an in
terest in the subject that shall be productive
of results should do the same Our boun-
ty plan has been productive of some results.
but the plan that in my opinion would be
productive of greatest results would be to
REQUIRE each country school district to have
large pot Of ground connected with il uDon
which the children. under the guidance of A
competent teacher, would learn TO grow and
love tree. BY that means each community
would nave a nursery and it would not he
many generations before our now bIeaI,
praIries would present the appearance of
parks. Horticulture and forestry should ba
made regular studies in our normal schools.