REPORT OF THE FORESTRY COMMISSION. To the Legislature: The members of the commission appointed by the Governor and Council in accordance with the provisions of a "joint resolution for the appointment of a commission to ascertain the feasibility of purchasing and preserving the forests of New Hampshire," approved August 16, 1889, having attended to the duties assigned to them, respectfully submit for your consideration the results of their investigations as embodied in the following report. The joint resolution just referred to may be found on pages 139 and 140 of the Pamphlet Laws of 1889, and reads as follows: 46 "JOINT RESOLUTION FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF A COMMISSION TO ASCER TAIN THE FEASIBILITY OF PURCHASING AND PRESERVING THE FORESTS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. "WHEREAS, the preservation of the forests of New Hampshire is essentially necessary, not only for the prosperity of our vast manufacturing interests, but also to preserve and increase that natural beauty of scenery so attractive to our visitors; and, "WHEREAS, the hills and mountains in this State are being rapidly denuded of timber and rendered unsightly by the acts of private parties owning the same, therefore "Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: "That the Governor, with the advice of the Council, is hereby authorized and empowered to appoint a commission consisting of three able and discreet men who shall examine and ascertain the feasibility of the purchase by the State of the whole or any portion of the timber lands upon the hills and mountains in the State, near summer resorts, or bordering upon the principal sources of the water-supplies needed for manufacturing purposes, with the view of preserving the same as public lands and parks, and report their finding to the next session of the Legislature. |