Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-05-20
FORESTRY IN THE
BADGER STATE
VAST SCHEME TO CREATE 4
100000 ACRE WOODLAND
RESERVE.
FOR CONSERVATION OF NATUR
Al RESOURCES AND cREA.
TON or RESORTS.

Many people. If asked what forestr,
is, would tell you that it is the plant
ing of trees for the purpose Of grow
ing them into forests and that the
forester is one who sets the .r,ses ane
cares for them. And on a small scale
such a conception of the meaning Of
terms might be excused. But in the
economy Of nations ami of common
wealths forestry is a science and tht
forester worthy OF the name is a sci
enlist and not a tree planter. For
sstry, generally speaking, is the sys
tematie management Of forests to OBJ
tain successive growths of timber bu
in Wisconsin it has still wider sig
nificanee for 1t net only comprehends
the preservation of the forests of the
state but it conte-hplates also the
conservation of che waters at the
sources of all the principal rivers o.
the state As an asset that in the
years to come win be of inestimable
value to the people. In fact forestry
as it is pursued in Wisconsin ha;
three chief ends in view:
First-The protection of the head
waters of the principa. streams Of
the state for the purpose of conserv
ing the waterhow for power pur
poses, etc.
Second-Tne requirement of $500.
1000 to 100000 acres of the vast
lands Of the state wherein to grow
timber for commercial purposes; !,
Third--To create in the northern
portion Of the state where there is a
vast number of small but beautiful
lakes, a great summer resort such as
there is not nor ever can be in any
other state in the union.
To accomplish these purposes the
Legislators of the state have passed
laws creating state board of for.
estry and providing for the appoint
ment of forester who shall be tech
nically trained in that profession.
This board is at present made up OF
the following persons: President
Charles r. Van Hise of the state uni.
versity; Professor II. l.. Russell, dean
of the college of agriculture; q. A.
Birge. director of the state geological
survey; Frank l.. Gilbert, attorney
general of the state and George Boyer
of the city of Oconto. The state for
ester is e. M. Grifiths. technically
trained in the science of forestry
and his assistant, Frank B. Moody, &
man of large practical experience and
an expert forester
The law prescribes the duties o
the state board of forestry and OF tht
forester in general way but grant;
large license in the adoption ant
pursuit of the policy to be pursued 81
that under the law and the policy out
lined by the state board and the chic
foresters Wisconsin has become-ii
the few brief years since these law
we're enacted--chief among the state
in the pursuit of plan of forestr.
and of conservation of natural re
sources. In truth the badger stat
scheme of forestry is the broadcast AM
most comprehensive of any in tn
union and the example of the state i
pioneer In the movement that has s.
recently prompted the president t
call at Washington a meeting of tn
governors of the states and q larg
company of scientists and specialist
to consider for the nation the YER
thing that in Wisconsin has becom
an established policy. This meetin
will convene at Washington May
to Is and among those from Wiscor
sin who will attend will be Governo
Davidson and his private secretary
Colonel o. G. Munson, Senator ]. +
STOUT of Menomonie. Mr.. George Viii
ing OF Neenah, State Forester e. N
lGrlfFiths, President G. r. Van Hise Q
the state university. and William Il
vine of Chippewa Falls, president c
the National Wholesale Lumber nea
ers' association And it is confidentl
Iexpected that out of the meeting wi
grow results that win have larg
bearing upon the future of the couT
try In the way OF outstanding the r.
sources OF the nation.
But this Is aside from the grea
lplan that has been adopted in WiseoI
sin. BY the enactment of the foi
estry law of 1905 the state turne
lover to the board of forestry all tn
Estate land north OF town 33-the mort
boundary line of Taylor county,
constitute a forestry reserve. Thes
ar. chiefly in the counties of Ashland
Bayfield,, Burnett, Douglas, Florence
Forest. Rusk. Iron. LanglSde, Liz
coin. Marinette, Oneida, Polk, Price
Sawyer. Vi'as and washburn and con
stitute a total of 234,07c acres. Some o
them are of course suitable for agri
cultural purposes and as a narke
for them develops they are sold an,
the proceeds converted into othe
lands to be devoted to forest pur
poses. Then. in 1906, Senator l.
| Eo,lattp secured the massage of tay