Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-03-27
NEW FORESTRY LAW.
The Following Law Meets With
The Endorsement Of Those
Interested in Forestry
FOREST INQUIRY Commission
Every Association Member Has A Re
sponsibilify Respecting These
Measures


To the Members of the Michigan
Forestry Association
The time has come for the members of
this association to appeal to the legisla-
ture of Michigan for cordial support of
the forestry measures now before IT. The
bills advocated by the association are:
1. The Forest Fire and Game Warden
Bill. This bill extends the duties of the
present game warden to the protection OF
the remaining forests and the cut-over
and waste lands by extinguishing and
preventing forest and prairie fires. II in
creases his deputies to twenty, authorizes
the appointment of local deputies. and,
in case of emergency, to the employment
of rangers. 1t proposes the organization
of complete machine to guard against
fires, not only for the preservation OF for
ests, village and farm property; but, also,
all growing timber and seedlings. And,
also, to protect growing timber from
trespass. Ii substitutes the employees OF
the forest FIRE and game warden for all
other state trespass agents.
2. The State Tax Land Bill. which
proposes to stop the wanton waste OF
money in the repeated sales of lands de-
linduent for taxes, providing for one sale,
then holding the land FIVE years for re-
demption; after that the abandoned lands
are TO be conveyed to and held by the
state. 1t permits sales of state tax lands
upon application, but at public sale after
examination, at a minimum to be fixed
by commissioner of land Office, but never
at less than FIVE dollars per acre for bare
land. 1t will allow the sale of good land
If there is any fit for agriculture at fair
price, and prevent the sale of land not Al
for such use at price below its value for
forest purposes. Such law ought TO re-
suit in saving to the state money enough
for all other present forestry purposes.
). The Forest Inquiry Commission.
This provides for the appointment by the
governor of commission of, say, nine
citizens to make thorough investigation
of the state land problems, the taxation
of forest land and farm wood-lots, the
action of other states in treating the same
matters, what the European countries are
doing with waste and cut-over lands; il
mistakes or abuses are found, what rem
edies can be applied, under our condi-
tions III Michigan; TO report to the next
legislature with recommendation in all
these matters, as 10 what the state can
and ought to do for the best interest of all
our citizens now and for the future.
4. The Agriculture College Forest Re-
serve. To have the Agriculture College
lands in Iosco and Altoona counties with
drawn from sale and made into perma.
nent forest reserve for the use and bene.
fit of the Agriculture College. 1t would
comprise about &c, 900 acres of land, more
or less, only fit for forest, and in com
paratively short time can be made tC
yield an income for the college, which
will grow each year, besides furnishing Z
splendid school for training professional
foresters.
S. A bill to provide tor a state farm
forester, whose duties shall be to assis
farmers and others in the better care O
their wood-lots, and TO lecture to schools
Farmers Clubs, Farmers Institutes
Grange meetings, ETC., and to awaken al
interest in the farm wood-lot in all parts
of the state. This measure has the sane
tion of the Master of the Grange, Mr.
Horton, and numerous prominent far
mers in the state. II is an affair of small
outlay and of great promise. 1t is iutro
duced by Hon. c. b. Campbell of Ken
county in the house.
Each member of the association has
responsibility respecting these measures
for the Michigan Forestry Association
exists because we believe the state ought
to adopt a rational forestry policy il
respect of the public lands which are no
good enough for ordinary agriculture
and TO conserve the interests of the state
by utilizing for timber growth the other
wise waste public lands, and to induc
private individuals to make the best us
of private holdings, growing forest
where their lands can not proftably grov
ordinary crops. The first steps-mos
obvious to every one-are those indicate,
above. Will you nor do your part to
wards securing the States taking tn,
steps, You can do that by expressin,
your wish to have those measures adopted
The most natural and effective way to d
that is to write to your representatives il
! the House and Senate, asking their SUP