Willmar tribune., 1909-11-03
MOVE STARTED TO PLANT TREES
THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
WILL Be SUBMITTED TO PEOPLE
Constitutional Amendment to Fore.
stall Complete Devastation q
Timber Tracts.

estry purposes. This amendment will
be voted upon at the general election
OF 1910, together with another amend.
ment to the constitution, authorizing
the legislature to exempt reforested
lands from taxation.
On the present basis Of valuation,
the proposed tax Of one-fifteenth Of
one mill will yield about $4,000 an.
nually. With this sum, the forestry
board, according to General C. C. An.
drews, state forestry commissioner,
Will be able to purchase and plant
about 5000 acres each year.
Wood 10 Necessary.
Students Of the somewhat new
movement for tho conservation of nat.
ural resources are agreed that no
country can exist without wood. Coal
fields, natural gas, lakes and other
sources Of heat are rapidly becoming
exhausted. The development Of va,
terpowers will help in providing ener.
gy, but not q great deal In supplying
heat. When the coal is gone and the
Ignite and peat, the people must re.
turn to wood, unless some genius dis.
covers a method Of burning water.
The work of reforestation is to be
conducted on land which is not suit.
able for agricultural purposes; in fact.
which otherwise would be wholly USE
less, but which. under intelligent man
agement, can be made to yield bounti-
fully of lumber and fuel.
Method In Germany.
In Germany, where many of the for
ests are under the direct supervision
of the government, the forests now
are more than self-sustaining, for they
yield substantial revenue. Several
of the states have taken up the work,
notably New York and Pennsylvania.
which expend much more than Mime
sofa will under the proposed amend
ment.
Starts Too Late.
1t is said that If Minnesota had un.
dertaken the work of reforestation
when the lumber industry was in its
infancy, it would continue to be one
of the greatest lumber states of the
union, and the lumbermen would not
be required to seek the far west for
their operations.
1t is admitted that it will take many
years before any returns may be ex-
pected, but students of natural econ.
omy insist that posterity will be left
without an inheritance, unless the
present generation undertakes to give
some assistance.
The proposed tax of one-fifteenth of
one mill will amount to z cents on
each $1,000 Of assessed value.
Amendment Proposed.
Both of the proposed amendments
are to article nine of the state consti-
tuition, and are as follows:
Sec. 18-To secure a sustained
yield Of timber for the use of the peo-
pie OF this state. the proper officials
shall annually levy and collect a tax
of one-fifteenth of one mill on each
dollar of taxable property within this
state, the proceeds of which shall be
used for the purchase of land better
adapted for forestry purposes than for
agriculture for the state at not over
So per acre, and for the production
and maintenance thereon of forest &C.
cording to forestry principles.
Unexpected balances shall not lapse
but constitute a fund for forestry pur-
poses.
The timber produced thereon shall
be sold at a fair valuation and the
revenue therefrom or from other
sources shall be paid into the state
treasury, except that one-quarter Of
the net revenue shall be paid to the
towns, or if unorganized, to the coup>
ty, in which the land is situated, in
aid of public schools and roads.
Should any tract acquired be found
better adapted for any other purpose
than the production of timber, it may
be sold and the proceeds used for &C.
quiring or developing forestry land.
Until otherwise directed by the leg
islature, which may supplement these
provisions with necessary enactments,
the state forestry board shall draw
and disburse the money hereby pro-
vided and purchase, manage and con-
troll the lands and forests.
No money shall be paid for any
tract until the attorney general shall
certify to the validity of the title.
It shall be competent for two sue
cessive regular legislatures, by a two
thirds vote of each house, to repeal
any of these provisions.
Sec. 17a-Laws may be enacted ex.
empting lands from taxation for the
purpose Of encouraging and promoting
the planting, cultivation and protec-
tion of useful forest trees thereon.
BLOOD POISON FROM PlMPLE.