The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1906-11-01

constitute the bulk Of the s5oo,ooo that
Gov. Johnson refers to In his keynote
trssps'ses were Ts eommitted after i lad
opv. Johnson and his friends have stu
Has Not Stopped Trespass.
Gov. Johnson says he has put a stop to
sspassing on state lands: He has done
nothng Of the knd IN is more or
Auditor Iverson informs me that about
$4,000 has been collected for trespass
c9nmitted since 1905 See his
merly because there is less timber to tres
pass upon: 1t was my policy and is the
policy Of Mr.. lverson, | presume, to get
posed to trespass. Since left Office prob
ably 2O00OO,0OO feet of timber has been
sold: There is now at the disposal of tho
amount OF money to care for and protect
state lands from trespass than given
me 1o and me same pqp3se WIN tar l 4Ss
means to protect it, is it strange that
there should be less trespass than for
merry? There will be an end of trespass-
ing when there is no timber to trespass
upon, and at the rate timber is being got,
ten rid of in the state that period will
not be deferred beyond a few years.
Governor Law ViOlatOr.
now charge Gov. Johnson with having
deliberately violated the timber law of tho
state. and violated it in such manner as
Section IL, chapter 2O4, General Laws OF
1905 provides that IF the governor and
at least one other member of the board
the record of appraisals a statement dated
and signed by them that such timber Is
in DANGER Of being inHrs4 and 70 tha5
rECT THE STARE FROM Toss" Bear
in mind that not stick Of timber can =, be
sale nda the }bs nS
Is composed of the governor, auditor,
treasurer and attorney general. The audl.
tor, treasurer and attorney general might
be legally made if the governor withheld
his approval.
Under the old law the governor and
timber board were obliged to rely alto
gether upon the reports of the auditors
cruisers to ascertain whether any timber
proposed to be sold was subject to sale.
But under the new law there is an apprO-
priation Of $4,000 annually to provide for
cruisers, independent Of the auditors
Der proposed to be sold is subject to SALE"
viz, to ascertain if it is necessary to pro-
tect the state from loss. (See section IA,
chapter 214, General Laws of 1900.
The intent Of the law is that no tim
Der shall be sold unless it is liable to
waste by fire. windfau or other cause.
The theory is that the state can better
afford to hold lis green and growing
timber than to dispose of it. Pine tim
Der, especially white pine, is enhancing
in value yearly. The prices for white
is comparatively little white pine left in
the state. At the sale of pine timber
held a. at IL the capitol on Sept IS; 1905, about
approval of Gov Johnson, and it is safe
TO say that not to exceed 5 per cent Of
the amount was liable to waste. In plain
terms, the great bulk of the timber was
sold contrary to law: I will admit that
fair prices were obtained for the timber.
But that timber would he worth from
so to rs per cent more, yes, perhaps 100
per cent more, five or ten years hence.
At the sale held only a few days ago
per 1000. At the sale, this year about
10000, 600 feet were sold, making q total
for the two years of Gov. Johnson's ad-
ministration of 12O.OO0,CO0 feet on esti-
the estimate from 10 to 20 per cent, SO
it is safe to say 125,0OO,0OO feet were sold
I repeat, not to exceed per cent of this
vast amount of timber was liable to sale,
and there was no earthly excuse for sell
ing 1t, save that lumbernen made appli-
cation to have it offered for sale.
What the State Loses.
At the rate that timber is advancing in
price and owing to the increasing search
assert that had the timber not liable to
waste that was sold at the last two sales
been withheld from market until five or
ten years hence the state would have
been the gamer to the extent of at least
S5oOo0O! When I assert that the major
portion of the timber sold by the state
in 1866 was sold illegally know where
of I speak. I have transcript of page
after page of the record of appraisals,"
signed by John A. johnson as governor,
in which not a scratch of pen appears
to show that the timber was liable to
waste by fire or other cause.
I will enumerate a few OF the sections
and give the mage Of ''aDCraiSal reCOr0':