The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-08-16
MARKED GAINS in
STATE FORESTRY
LEGISL N
Thirty-three States Now
Provided for in Ac-
tivities.
Is IN FEDERAL FUND
Pennsylvania, Under New
Commissioner, Leads All
Other States.
Is IN FEDERAL FUND

Probably never IN tne history
OF this country has there been
such marked interest In forest
preservation by state Legislators as
AT the present time, report officers
of the forest service. United states
Department OF Agriculture. Notless
than tbirty-three states have now
provided for some sort Of forestry
activities and twenty-five OF these
share in the Federal cooperative
forest production fund, allotted 10
States maintaining an elective hre
detection and suppression system.
Two others have applied recently
for such assistance. Public back
ing of the movement to preserve
the remaining forests from destruc-
tion by fire, and TO put idle forest
lands to work growing trees. is be-
coming widespread. and the effects
of the popular demand for action
is shown clearly in the State laws
passed this year.
Pennsylvania Leads.
Pennsylvania, under the direction
of clifford Pinchot, the new COM
missioner of forestry, leads all
States in forest activities. The
bienniel appropriation passed by
the legislature and approved by the
governor carried sI.S7o,oOo. an IN
crease of sS3s,s00 over the APP
preparation of 1919; 100000 of
the total is for fire protection. The
legislature also passed an act en-
towering the Federal government
to acquire lands on the watersheds
of navigable streams within the
State, by purchase or condemnation,
and to control and regulate such
reserves.
The Minnesota Legislature was
more generous with the State For
estry Board than ever before. A
total of $275.000 for general forestry
work was appropriated for the past
two years. of which Sl25.000 a year
is for the fire protection. The last
named sum was augmented by an
additional allotment OF $144, 900 from
the State Board of Relief. For the
equipment of a flying field near the
Twin Cities. $4,000 was voted. This
provision was to meet the offer OF
the Federal government to furnish
the service with twelve planes IL
the necessary hangers and flying
field were provided. While the
primary purpose of this agreement
is TO supply aerial mail communica-
ton. the planes will be able also
to render effective service in spot
ting" forest fires.
In California, where there has
been much favorable sentiment to-
ward forestry for many years. the
legislature voted a substantial in
crease in appropriation for the
State Board of Forestry. for the
biennial period beginning July l.
For the prevention and suppression
of fires $4,000 was appropriated:
for general administration, SCI, 900;
for a study of watershed areas. $I0,-
600. and to establish and maintain
State forest nurseries. $4,000. The
legislature also voted $4,000 for the
purchase of redwood cumberland for
park purposes along the State high
way in Mendocino and Humboldt
counties. the area to be adminis-
tered by the State Board of For
estry.
New State Legislature.
Other important State forestry
legislation passed this year was as
follows:
Bills for the compulsory teach
ing of fire prevention in public
schools were passed by California.
Rhode Island and West Virginia.
A similar measure was passed by
the New York legislature but We
toed by the governor. New Jersey
already has such a law.
Maine increased the annual tax
on land within the forestry dis
trict from rs to az mills on the
dollar, the taxes thus collected to
be used exclusively for protection
from fire. of the forests within the
district: provided for the creation
and management of State forests.
acquired by purchase or gift, by
proved means for controlling the
disposal of numbering slash. and
the encouragement of cumberland
owners to practice forestry on their
lands through a concession in tax
alton.
Ohio passed a forest-fire law and
appropriated $1,000 a year for two
years for the prevention and sup.
preston of fires: also made an ap-
preparation for the purchase Of
lands for State forests.
Tennessee passed a general for
hi at 81