The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-09-06
FORESTS TO
 BE SURVEYED Appropriation Made by
 Commission. OF INTEREST TO TIMBERMEN Contracts Ordered for Tax Exemp-
 tion of Lands. Conamission Was Addressed by Expert A. B. Recknagel of National For estry service-Report of
 Secretary wallace.


 were set in motion. There was a full meeting of the Board.
 An interesting visitor, who was in- vited to address the Commission. was A B. Recknagel, of the United States Forestry Service Mfr. Recknagel Is chief of the section of reconnaissance of the service and is especially versed in forestry survey work. It was on this subject that he talked to the mem- bers in a very practical and interest ing way yesterday.
 The members of the Commission present besides the Governor were Hon. J. P. Powell. who Is also a member John H. Wallace. Jr., Secretary, who is also State Game and Fish Commis- sioner: Hon. J. A. Wilkinson, who is also Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries; R. S.. Mcintosh, Professor of Forestry in ahe Alabama PoIytech- nie Institute. and John Raul. a practi- cal lumberman who lives in Birming- ham
 Perhaps the most important action of the Commission was the passage of 6 resolution appropriating $200 of the States money to combine with funds of the United States. for the purpose of getting a preliminary survey of the forests of Alabama. It is regarded as q very essential thing to do. the inalx /
 The survey Is to be made at the ear- Hest possible moment by experts of the national service. The survey will result in the compilation of useful in- formation for the timber interests of the State and in the relative location on paper of ali kinds of forests.
 Such a survey would also awaken, as nothing has yet done. the timber de- stroyers to a realization of the limited supply of timber in Alabama. It is calculated to stimulate thereby cheek in the indiscriminate cutting of small and second growth forests.
 A committee. composed of Commis. sioner wilkinson, Commissioner Pow. ell and Commissioner Wallace, was ap~ pointed by the Governor to draw a form of contract between the State and those land owners who would avail themselves of the exemption feature Of sxhe State forestry law. The commit '&Ae win also describe the form of pros Adure for determining just what lands A M subject for exemption.
 M Proyislons of Exemption.
 &he law in general terms provides 4NNf tha owners of any land denuded of &reea or other lands of which the asaSssed value is s5 or less per acre may have such lands exempt from taxes 1T they agree 10 plant tnereon sirefui timber trees and keep the same protected against fire and to main tain them in healthy condition. Ihe r,arfoa If exemption is ten years.
 Tf is believed that if the State urges ,,.ia feature of the law sufficiently 1t will result in a decisive movement TOT thinner culture in the State.
 esscratarv Wallace was commended $or hiE zeal in carrying out the pro- visiona of the law and spreading < sanfinnent for forest preservation fhrouRhout the State. He had present. "a his semi-annual report 10 the Con, mission. In 1t he told of the oenenciai sffects of the forestry laws of Ala hama ana how it is possible 10 en' rorsraxe-new timber growth. The re- port in full is as follows:
 T~ Aba State Commission or Forestry
 Tr1 con formity with the plan outlin "a by- the State Commission or For egtrv bulletins have been issued dl -Sc4inv the attention of the people U l,s,. aeanomic value of the forests O A1ohama Although circumscribed II arFior on account of the very limited snnTonrlation made by the Legisla +,,re stiIl such labors as we have oeei ah1e to prosecute have been Irulliu of most excellent results. To a lars axtent the wreckless destruction ol useful timber trees has been checkeo the annual burning or forests mas oeel dlacouraged, and many inquiries nav heen made by the people with vtev of engaging in the art of timber cul t,,ra. Electric-lighting appliances that were formerly attached to tn beautiful trees along the streets O the towns of Alabama that worke certain death to these municipal orna nents. have been removed.
 In Monroe county conviction ha been had for setting fire to the for est of another. The offender was fine S25 which amount has been paid in 10 the forest reserve fund. The abso Iute impossibility of securing the en forcement of a criminal statute tha Is not committed to some we'll pal specially constituted service has lonI aince been made evident to thinking minds.
 The forestry law provides that tn courts of county commissioners O boards of revenue of this State ar authorized to appropriate a sum, no exceeding $250 annually. to be pal quarterly as compensation for the ser vice of forest wardens in enforcin the laws of this State relative to tn preservation and protection of the for ests. The attention of the courts c county commissioners and boards c revenue has been directed to this pro vision, and they. have been urged t make some appropriation that woul guarantee a vigilant protection o their timber interests.
 Set Fire to Grass.
 1t has been the custom for year past for a certain class of hunter to set fire to grass, stubble and for ests wherever they thought gam might turk. others have wantonly fire woods with no purpose tn view save t see a confagration. When the peopl of this State appreciate the fact tha whenever the field or forest Is burne the fertilizer which nature has gath cred from the air to enrich the soi goes up in gas and smoke and tha . every tree to the age of four years destroyed. and that all young grow ing timber is so scared as to impai its value as a future lumber producer they will take care to see that in tn future their timber rights are pro tected A wholesome sentiment ha already been generated among tn citizens of Alabama. favorable to tn preservation of their timber asset! The State Commission of Forestry constantly receiving communication asking for information on the subjec of forest preservation. In Crensha1 county the Probate Judge has had tn forest laws. together with an explan ation thereof. printed in pamphle form for distribution among hi people
 It should be most gratifying to tn State Commission of Forestry to knoI that the Department of Agriculture a Washington classes the statute. tha brought us into official existence. a