The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-07
ALABAMA FORESTS
 ARE ID BE MAPPED State Commission Holds Im-
 portant Meeting ENCOURAGE CULTIVATION A Committee Is Appointed to Confer With Land owners-Tax Exemp-
 N
ENCOURAGE CULTIVATION

Montgomery, September 6-(Special)- The Alabama forestry commission, of which Gov. B. B. Conner is president, and John H. Wallace, Jr, secretary after an all day meeting in the office of the governor yesterday decided to have a map of the Alabama forests made, see to the location and marking of the several kinds of forests and timber growth and in a general way gather information that will tend to the up building of the forests and the saving of thos now intact. Every man in terested in the movement regards that in this lies prospect of vast good for the future timber interests of the state
 A committee composed of J. A. Wilk- inson, J. B. Powell and John H. Wal lace, Jr, was named to confer with land owners and undertake to have them avail themselves of the exemp- tions that the forestry law gives tc those who will cultivates three All lands that are cut over or for any oth- CT reason worth less than $5 an acre may be exempted for 10 years from taxes If the owners will agree to plant trees and cultivate them, not cutting any for 10 years. It Is hoped that in this way the tree culture will be great ly encouraged in the state.
 Gov. Conner expressed great interest in the progress that had been mada and is of the opinion that this Is great move in the interest of rebuilding the forests that have been depleted All the members of the commission were present, as follows: Gov. B. B. Conner, Commissioner of Agriculture A Wilkinson Tax Commissioner J. B. Powell, Game and Fish Commissioner John H. Wallace, Jr., and John L. kaul of Birmingham.
 Secretary's Report.
 The report of the secretary, John H Wallace, Jr., follows:
 ITO the state commission of forestry.
 Tn conformity with the plan outlined by the state commission of forestry, bulletins have been issued directing the attention of the people to the economi value of the forests of Alabama. Al though circumscribed in action on ac count of the very limited appropriation made by the legislature, still such labors as we have been able to prose cute have been fruitful of most excel lent results. To a large extent tn, reckless destruction of useful timber trees has been checked, the annual burning of forests has been discouraged and many inquiries have been made b. the people with 0 view of engaging 1n the art of timber culture Electric lighting appliances, that were former ly attached to the beautiful trees along the streets of the towns and cities o1 Alabama, that worked certain death to those municipal ornaments have beer removed.
 Tn Monroe county a conviction has been had for setting fire to the forest of another, the offender was fined $25 which amount has been paid into the forest reserve fund. The absolute i'm possibility of securing the enforce ment of a criminal statue that Is not committed to some well paid specially constituted service has long since beel made evident to thinking minds.
 '"The forestry law provides that the courts of county commissioners or the boards of revenue of this state are au- thorized to appropriate a sum, not ex- ceeding s250 annually, to be paid quar- terly as compensation for the servics of forest wardens in enforcing the laws of this state, relative to the preserva- tion and protection of the forests. The attention of the courts of county com missioners and boards of revenue has been directed to this provision, and they have been urged to make some appro- priatiOn that would guarantee vigilant protection of their timber interests.
 Set Fire to Grass.
 Tt has been the custom for years past for certain class of hunters to set ever they thought game might turk, others have wantonly fired woods with no purpose in view save to see con flagration. When the people of this state appreciate the fact that whenever the field or forest is burned the fertilizer which nature has gathered from the air to enrich the soil, goes up in gas and smoke, and that every tree to the age of four years is destroyed, and that all young growing timber Is so scared as to impair its value as future lumber producer, they will take care to see that in the future their timber rights are protected. wholesome sem timent has already been generated among the citizens of Alabama, favorable to the preservation of their timber as- sets. The state commission on forestry is constantly receiving communications asking for information on the subject of forest preservation In Crenshaw county the probate judge has had the forest laws, together with an explanation thereof, printed in pamphlet form for distribution among his people.
 Tt should be most gratifying to the state commission of forestry to know that the department of agriculture at Washington classes the statute, that brought us into official existence, as pre- eminently superior to any law ever en- acted In the United States for the preser- vation and protection of the forests. The state commission of forestry should con tinue to disseminate useful information among the people, that will awaken them to an active interest in the preservation of their woodlands.
 Virgin Forests Cut.
 within a decade practically every vestige of the remaining virgin forests in Alabama will have been cut away, hence the problem which will confront the people of the state is the care of their second growth growing timber. which in time, if properly treated, will