The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1909-01-16
STATE LAND LAWS INADEQUATE
Contlnued from page one

tered in Chicago.
3. IL has not settled the lands, for
95 per cent Of all lands in this part of
the state are unimproved, land over SO
per cent not settled
e. II has lost 20 the state the control
over important watersheds and water
powers.
8. II has not helped the lands nor
the tree growth, but has resulted in
further forest devastation.
9. II has developed contempt for
these lands and has thus encouraged
firing and other vandalism and tres
pass, much TO the harm OF the people
and the owners of private lands
PLANS FOR REFORESTATION.
Considerable space in the report is
devoted TO the discussion of forest
taxation. and II is clearly pointed
out that private enterprise cannot un-
dertake the reforestation Of the cut
over lands, unless-.a modification Of our
present methods OF taxation is secured.
To tax forest plantation for the land
and trees the CROP, while farm land
is taxed only for the land, is evidently
unfair. On such plantation, the
same crop would be- taxed for many
years. Concerning the taxation OF
woodlots on the farm. the commission
advocates an Assessment of land only :
for forest plantations. tax on land
and special tax ON the timber when
ever il is cut With regards TO exist.
ing forests the commission offers no
particular solution. but agrees that our
method discourages the holding of for
est and thus leads to exploitation and
devastation
The report assumes that the tax land
practically al the state lands left
have been sifted by our taxation metn-
DDS 50 that they represent the culls ;
that they are widely scattered and DO
not occupy in any case more than 27
per cent Of any entire county. IL is
maintained that the forest is the only
cafe and natural crop 20 be expected
from these lands; that this crop will
come largely without planting, but
does require adequate protection a.
gainst ire TINT tho state cannot be
expected to do all there is need for in
to- matter Of reforestatiou and that.
therefore, the state must make il pos
sible aud give encouragement to pri-
waite owners Of land TO take part IN
this work
WHAT SHOULD DE DONE
The commission submits and recon
mends 90 the legislature number Of
measures the most salient points Of
which are the following
T. That the state with lraw at once
All tax and homestead lands until the
legislature can decide more fully what
the proJect proposed shall be- and
thereby put a stop TO the waste hereto
fore explained That this snould he
done without delay and should form
the tirst step is patent TO every honest
citizen in the state
2 The auditor general should for.
mally deed the lands 10 the state nc
cording 20 law and should not hold
snch lands indefinitely and incur Oh,
useless expense OF continuous adyertis
ing as in lhe past
b Lands should not loo olIered.fOi
sale for the taxes. when once bid IN
by the state. and be thus given over tc
land skinners, often TO the detrimen
OF the real original owner
a The disposal % the tax landi
shall be in three ways. according /,
circumstances
la Where large bodies Of these landl
occur close together they shall be use,
"a state forest reserves
tbl Scattered tracts not used FOL
state reserves, may be sold 10 settlers
providing the land Is agricultural
When sold the minimum price shall b
~ per acre plus the value OF the tim
her
tcl Lands not used by the state ant
applied for any purchasers may b'
! applied for by the actual residen