The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-22

Wisconsin has started crusade |
against timber trespassers, who have
been cutting pine on state forest re-
serves. The state board of forestry
has served notice that in addition to
civil suits, the state will hereafter
prosecute such trespassers criminally
The old regime of settling for the bare
E. NJ. Griffith of Madison, the state
forester, has issued a public statement
of the change in policy, which is espe..
cially interesting as an explanation OF
the Wisconsin forest reserve system.
The statement follows:
Same Sort of Thief.
1t Is a curious fact that man who would
never think of stealing your pocketbook or your
clothes will deliberately steal all the timber
he find. But the practice is OF such long
standing that taking timber is looked upon some
what the same appropriating an umbrella,
and when the is accused of being nothing
less than thief, he is both surprised and in
dignant.
The state of Wisconsin has entered upon a
broad sforest policy and at the last regular
session of the legislature all state lands north
of town 33 were withdrawn from sale and set
apart to constitute the state forest reserve.
All lands which found to be suitable for
agriculture will be sold and the proceeds used
TO buy other lands adjacent to the forest re-
serves and only suitable for growing timber.
The state is thus acquiring forest reserves on
the headwaters of most important rivers,
which will protect and maintain the stream flow
and in time furnish much needed supply OF
timber for the industries which are dependent
upon the forests for their raw material.
The interests of the whole state will be
seriously affected If the rivers, and so the valu-
able water powers, not protected, and the
state cannot allow timber thieves to destroy
the forests which 1t Is going to much pains
and expense to save. Largely due to the IN
creased value of all kinds of timber. there has
been Il considerable amount Of trespass, both on
state and private tmberlands, during the last
winter.
Will Prosecute Criminally.
The state board OF forestry at a meeting held
April passed the following resolution:
That in view of the statement by the state
forester that during the last winter there has
been considerable timber trespasS on state forest
reserve lands. and that in the past 1t has
trespnssers payment of the actual stumpage
value and such procedure has tended to en-
courage trespass, therefore, it is resolved by
the stute board of forestry, that hereafter the
board will ask the district attorney Of the
county in which the trespass is committed to
bring criminal action against the respasser IN
addition to such damages as may be collected
under the civil liability for forest trespass.'
The state board of forestry thought 1t was
only lust and right to give due notice to all
VINO might be tempted to commit tresDass on
state forest reserve lands. 1t is high time that
timber trcspasscrS were treated Just the same
as other classes Of thieves, and a few convlc-
lions will make this road to quick riches not
so easy to travel.
The Wisconsin law provides for col
lecting double value in case OF timber
wilfullv taken, and also makes 1t ms
demeanor, punishable by a fine of $25
to 81 600 or imprisonment from fifteen
days to three years, or both.