Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1908-12-16
RECOMMEND NEW
FORESTRY LAWS
AT ANNUAL MEETING OF WISDOM
SIN CONSERVATION COMMITS
SION YESTERDAY.
STRINGENT LEGISLATION URGED
ASK FOR $4,000 INCREASE
IN APPROPRIATION.

Legislation necessary for the pres
ervation of the natural resources of the
state occupied the attention of the
state conservation commission at it's
meeting in the Office of the chairman,
President Van Hise, yesterday.
Reports were read by State Forester
e. NJ Griffith on needed amendments,
Professor A. P. Whitson on phos-
pilates, Professor e. P. Sandsten on
soils and by Professor l.. S. Smith on
water powers. The joint paper by
Professors Sandsten and Whitson
showed the necessity for a soil survey
for the utilization of lands not now
occupied for agricultural purposes.
The report of Forester Griffiths, which
was approved, recommends the fol-
lowing:
The purchase of lands suitable for
forestry spectators, in order to foster
the manufacturing interests through
the protection of the timber supply.
An act enabling the state board OIL
forestry to issue certificates of indebt-
edness on the state forest reserve
lands for period of 25 years, bearing
a reasonable rate of interest.
A well organized and capable force
of patrols or rangers to handle the for
est fire problems.
Revision and enlargement of the nre
warden law to include system of pa
troll for the forest section during the
dry season.
An annual tax of to 21a cents an
acre on all wild and unimproved lands
to- be paid into the state treasury
and to constitute forest fire fund.
A division of the timber portion OF
Wisconsin into not less than dis
tricts, to be in charge of an assistant
inspector, and each district subdividea
into patrol districts, each one contain
ing not less than SO sections, all to be
in charge of one head inspector.
The employment of assistant inspec.
tors and patrols from April 1 to No
vember 1, and of the head inspector
all the year.
The appointment of the patrols as
fire wardens to secure for them the
authority of law.
Payments of the expenses of the
system to be made by the state,
A provision for the burning OF
slash" requiring the cutters to pile
it and burn the same within a year,
and fine for violation.
Prohibiting the setting of fires from
April 1 to November 1, except for
cooking or warming. without written
authority of the IRE warden. :
Town clerks to read the laws per-
tanning to inspectors, patrols and fire
wardens at the annual meeting
Payment of fire wardens and assist
ants of not less than Is cents, nor
more than 25 cents an hour for time
actually employed.
Town board to have authority to pay
a sum not exceeding 500 for each of
the Sc sections in any one year.
Fines for leaving fires without put
ting them out.
Licensing of guides, and swearing
them in as fire and game wardens.
ent part of the state forest reserve
A law to give timberland owners a
chance TO manage their forests on a
permanent basis by exempting these
from taxation.
The commission also recommends
an increased appropriation. At pres
ent it amounts to $780,, and it is
urged that it be made $4,000, to car.
ry on the work efficiently. The forest
reserve of the state comprises over
100000 acres in II counties. There
are over 400 town fire wardens. The
state has been carrying on forestry
work for nearly FIVE years
Action was also taken requesting the
regents to erect building to serve as
home for the governmental labora-
tories at the university.
Dean E. A. Birge and E. M. Griffith
were appointed to draw up recommen-
dations to the governor to guide him
in urging the laws before the legis-
lature