New Ulm review., 1910-11-02
Proposed Constitutional Amend
ment for Reforestation Ex-
planned by Forestry Com
missioner.

i1l1SSlO1SIs
On the eighth of November next the
electors of Minnesota will have a
chance to make an x on separate
pink ballot opposite the proposed
constitutional amendment for an
annual tax of one-ffteenth OF mill
on each dollar of taxable property
(equal to seven cents on each thousand
dollars) for refOrestation. TO adopt
the amendment requires majority OF
all votes cast at the election. The
elector will probably first vote for the
several candidates for state offices,
members of the legislature, county
officers and representatives in Con-
press, whose names will be on another
ballot. anu he may feel too much in a
hurry to stop to vote for his amend
ment Besides, there is natural fee
ling in every one to vote against an
increase of taxes. So, in spite OF all
the talk for reforestation, this amend
ment is liable to fail.
IF the amendment be adoped, there
will annually be raised about SIT, 600,
which the forestry board can use in
the purchase at not over S. 90 per acre
of forestry land and in planting it ac.
cording to forestry principles.
Naturally, land at that price will be
mostly sandy or rocky, and only tit to
produce pine trees. The experience. oi
Germany shows that pine planted on
such land will, on an average, yield
$4,000 board feet per acre in eighty
years, at which time the trees will be
about twelve inches in diameter
breast high, and that the investment
will net three per cent compound in
terest. The present generation will
get the benefit of the S72, 900 yearly in
payment for labor. Future genera.
tions will get the timber, and the public
generally will derive benefit IN the in
crease of wealth, in increased beauty
of scenery, Improvement of climate,
soil, water-fow and covert for usefu
game. Good roads 60 with forests
The European state forests are health
and pleasure resorts for the people
Since it's first settlement the pOpula
tion of the United State has increased
at the average rate of eighteen PEI
cent every ten years. At the same
rate it will in eighty years b.
100000, 900.
It is very seldom that individual
will plant forests when they have t.
wait eighty years for a crop. Th
state must do it. Of the present.ens
over pine lands in Minnesota, onl.
about five per cent have become vel
restocked with valuable kinds O
timber. It would take centuries TO
nature alone to restore our forests
Nature has better chance to rene7
forests in Prussia than in MINES ota
yet Prussia plants fifty thousand acre
Of forest annually.
The question is sometimes asked
why should the state buy land when
now owns land? The land which tn
state owns is school and institutio
land, which, according to the constitu
ton, must be offered at public sale
the school land at not less than $50
per acre, and the state institution Ian
at not less than S3.75 per acre, th
proceeds to go into permanent funds
Besides, the most of the state land wi
be utilized for agriculture.
AS source Of a leading industry
the Minnesota forests will be e.
hausted in a dozen years. The stat
should begin reforestation.
It will give our state honore BILE di!
tinction if she adopts this amendment
Every public-spirited citizen shoul
try and have his county give it
handsome majority. Further info1
nation will be furnished on applics
tion to the Forestry Commissions
G. G. Andrews,
Forestry Commissions
CT Paul January Is. 1910,