The Tri-State Forestry Conference, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Indianapolis, Ind. Oct. 22 and 23, 1919 (Volume 10) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1920. Excerpt: ... owners to clear land. There is a widespread belief that forests should be exempt from taxation, basing the claim on the communal benefit of the forest. To summarize: Indiana is essentially an agricultural State. It is divided into small farms, averaging one hundred three acres, all of which are in the hands of private ownership. An average of ninety-two per cent. of all these farms is improved, leaving less than ninety-one acres of forest land to each farm. The economic conditions confronting the owners; the high price of farm products and nearness to the markets which make farm land worth more than forest land; and the ignorance of the owner of forest management, combine to cause the neglect of the practice of forestry in Indiana. I have interviewed many land owners and all agree that something should be done to provide a future supply of timber for Indiana. They claim that they cannot afford to practice forestry on their small holdings under the present economic conditions, and that the State should own the forest land. Since the condition of the public mind is in favor of State owned forests, I would recommend that the State at once purchase a sufficient area to provide for the future supply of timber, and that the same be paid for by a bond issue to mature in from fifty to one hundred years. (Applause) Some announcements were made by the Secretary. ADJOURNMENT. WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON SESSION. The meeting was called to order at 2:00 p. m., with Dr. F. W. Shepardson presiding. THE CHAIRMAN: The convention will please come to order. The gentleman who presided this morning has been obliged to fill another engagement and the committee in charge has asked me to assume the chair this afternoon. I am going to ask Mr. Sauers to read us a letter that he received f...