Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1915-02-19

all the committee could do was to
make general observations,
I. That the question as TO which
of the lands are available for agricul-
ture is debatable one. That the de-
mand in few years may be such that
some of the land now really consider
ed non-profitable for farming may be
cultivated.
g. That the State lands now
owned do not compare favorably with
other lands in the proposed reserve
8. That the selection of the lands
in the proposed reserve was we'll
made and no better place could be
found in the State.
10. That lands should be held in
large areas in order to lessen the cost
of fire protection and other expense
of refOreStatiOn.
IL. That there are large areas in
other parts Of the State only fit for
forestry, which future commercial
interests may demand the use of for
this purpose.
II. That climatic conditions, while
a, hindrance in growing certain crops,
do more than limit the field of opera
tion, yet with opportunity for fairly
good returns.
Is. Yhat the committee found
large areas which were very rough
covered with gravel, stone and huge
boulders. That large areas-in fact,
a major portion of the lands which
the committee had an opportunity to
investigate are better adapted to for
estry than to farming.
H. That if these areas are used
! for forestry it will not interfere in
any way with the agricultural devel-
opment, neither should farming in
| terfere with forestry. The one
should assist the other.
Is. With 100000 acres undevel-
oped in Northern Wisconsin, and
three and a quarter million non-agri-
cultural-that is Is per cent-there is
sufficient land for forestry and yet no
dearth of land left to farm.
Is. That there are thousands of
acres of lands in Northern Wisconsin
which on account of the poor soil anu
rough nature will not be used for
| farming in this generation or several
to come.
II. That there is no section Of the
State where an attempt at reforesta-
tion can produce quicker illustra-
tion of it's possibilities. That soil
conditions are the very best for a
natural reproduction of pine.
IS. That by reason of the miles of
old logging grades and the hundreds
of lakes an excellent opportunity is
afforded for the establishment of a
cheap and good fire protection system
10. That scattering state lands
should be sold and money used to-
ward the purchase of lands in the
proposed permanent reserve.
20. That the present work of the
department be confined to the pro-
posed permanent reserve.
81. That small forest reserves in
several districts are not practical on
account of expense of operation.
~. That the present state lands in
the proposed reserve are ample upon
which to demonstrate what can be
expected in this work.
%. That much of the opposition to
forestry is occasioned by the demand
for lake frontages.
"a. That by reason of the increased
demand the inferior species of tim
Der now growing on the state lands
will be Of inestimable value.
25. That none of the timber
owned by the state shall be sold I'M
til mature or unless there be a real
demand for the land for agriculture
That all timber lands should be con-
served.
Is. That more recent inyestiga-
tions tend to substantiate the claim
that in order to secure a uniform
stream flow, the head-waters of our
rivers should be protected with for
est growth. That deforestation is
conducive to rapid snow melting and
stream run-of.
27. That the lands in the proposed
reserve be retained and future pur-
chaSeS be limited to that area.
%. That agricultural lands in are
as Of /, 600 acres or more, now owned
by the state be classified and immed-
lately offered for sale to actual sett-
lers. That said lands be sold cheap
ly, on long terms, at low rate of in
terest. Sold Hnder some such proyis-
ions as to bheir occupancy and i'm
provements as now required under.
United States Homestead law. In
tracts not to exceed loo acres. In ac-
cordance with a bill to be presented.
20. That fifty per cent of all the
frontage on each lake i'll the pro-
posed reserve be held by the State:
that no lake frontage be sold unless
classified as of agricultural value and
then only to actual settlers.
80. That the establishment of the
forest reserve has insured the perma-
nent attractiyeneSs of this region for
public recreation purposes.
81. That the present taxation law
if constitutional, provides adequate
relief to the assessment districts for
the loss of taxes on state lands.
30. That a new law for the taxa
tion of private timber lands be enact
ed along the lines of a bill herewith
presented
80. That the following depart
mentS be consolidated under the head
of a board of three members to be
known as the State Conservation
Commission: /. Fish g. Game De-
partment; 2. Fish Commission; 3.
State Board of Forestry; 4. State
Park Board; S. State Conservation
Commission; for which a bill is here
with presented.