The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1910-08-26
STATE CONSERVATION coMMls.
SION TO MAKE NOVEL
RECOMMENDATIONS.
Would Have Legislature Provide for
=
Purchase and Reforestation OF Lands
Not Valuable for Agricultural pur.
poses-Reports From Other Com
mittees.

meetlng IN the assembly hall voted
to recommend to the state legislature
at its next session special appropria-
ton for the purchase OF logged-off
lands not valuable for agricultural pur-
poses, to be given over to reforesta-
ton. The action will depend on the
reports of two committees which are
still to be acted on. but no doubt ex
lists in the minds of the commissioners
that the recommendation will be made.
The matter was brought up by
Frank H. Lamb, member Of the state
board of forest fire commissioners and
one of the highest authorities in the
state on reforestation, and was includ-
ed in the report he rendered as chair
man of the committee on the purchase
of logged-of lands. Seven points were
presented by him in his report, tend
ing to show the measure he suggested
was practicable and advisable.
More Pay for Forester.
The recommendation will ask for an
appropriation with which to buy log
ged-off lands, either from private indi.
viduals or from counties to whom such
lands may have accrued by reason of
delinquency in tax payments. Not
more than So an acre will be paid.
Special experts will be engaged to
supervise the purchase of the land
and the reforestation by means of
which the commission hopes to main
tain continuous supply of timber in
Washington.
Another important recommendation
approved by the commission is to give
the State Fire Warden and Forester
the title of State Forester, and to vest
him with greater powers. in order that
he may more successfully prosecute
the conservation Of forests. An in
crease in salary to $4,000 year will
be recommended, from which amount
he will pay his assistants.
Four Other Reports.
In addition to members of the COM
mission, large number of lumbermeD
were present at the meeting, together
with committee from the washing
ton State Grange which has been ap-
pointed to look into forests from the
farmers standpoint. The committee
sought special information concerning
the making of wood-lots and wind
brakes. George Field of Snohomish,
Fred J. Mess of Orilla and F. j. Cham
berlain of Tacoma were the delegates
from the order.
Reports were made by four commit
tees, in addition to that of the com
mittee on logged-off lands. D. p. Sim
ons, Jr., reported on forest protection,
E. J. Ames on forest taxation, Prof.
H. X. Benson of the state university
on the chemistry of logged-off lands,
and George s. Long on reforestation.
These reports were all voluminouS
and invoked considerable discussion.
The next meeting or the commission
will be held Saturday, September II,
in the assembly room of the White
Building, at which time Lieutenant and
Acting Governor M. E. Hay will prob
ably be present.
Among those present at Saturdays
meeting were J. j. Donovan, Belling-
ham, chairman; Frank H. Lamb, Sc
attic; D. p. Simons, Jr., fire warden
for the Washington Forest Fire Asso.
citation; J. r. Welty, Olympia, state
fire warden: George s. Long, Tacoma;
E. ]. Ames, Seattle; Prof. H. X. Ben
son, George E. Boos, Dean John i.
Condor of the state university law
school, George B. Barclay of the North
western Lumber Co., R. w. Douglas,
secretary Of the commission: e. N.
7 Broulette, Ellwood Lumber and Tim
Der Co.; C. H. Cobb, Daniel Healy.
Harry Thompson, Judge A. L. Flew
cling, Spokane, president Western
Forestry and Conservation Associa-
ton, and NJ R. Hunt, secretary Wash
inston Forest Fire Association.