TIMBER COMMISSIONERS BOARD:

Each report includes a section grid sketched in and/or annotated to show timber location, type, quantity, and quality; areas already cut; and other features of the land. Also included are the examiner's signature, examination date, and date the report was filed. Many reports are signed by the board members (by the state Executive Council after 1925), following a pre-printed statement recommending the timber's sale.

The digitized component of this collection features digital reproductions, in GIS compatible format, of the Reports of Estimates and Appraisals of the Timber Commissioners Board. These are comprised of approximately 2,900 pages. Each contains a map and assessment indicating the extent, value, and condition of timber resources on state owned lands in the northern half of Minnesota. The map also notes the location of timber relative to water features, wetlands, and cultural references. Although both invaluable and unique as documentation of the states' natural resources prior to extensive settlement, as paper records, the surveys cannot be effectively utilized as a benchmark to measure changes in the environment. This is due to limitations inherent to their format; data on paper cannot be effectively compared or analyzed.

To remedy this and to allow for the effective and efficient use of the surveys, the records were digitized with funding provided by the Minnesota Future Resources Fund as recommended by the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources, and the information converted to a set of standardized GIS products. The digital data sets were created in several formats in order to make the information accessible to a wide range of applications. The digital formats have captured non-georeferenced scans; georeferenced scans; vector files of the polygons, lines, and points on the maps; and a database of the text accompanying the maps.

The original non-georeferenced scans are available as records of exactly what the survey recorded and for use as illustration. The georeferenced scans can also be used as illustration or as backdrop to other georeferenced data. The vector and database information can be used in geographic information systems, and the database information can also be analyzed with database or spreadsheet software.

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The records are arranged in the following sections.

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Access Restrictions:

The original records (1.5 cubic feet) are held by the Minnesota Historical Society and are closed to general use.

Use Restrictions:

In obtaining this data, it is understood that you and/or your organization have the right to use it for any purpose. If you modify it, you are encouraged to apply responsible best practices by documenting those changes in a metadata record. If you transmit or provide the data to another user, it is your responsibility to provide appropriate content, limitation, warranty and liability information as you see fit.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Minnesota. Board of Timber Commissioners. Reports of Estimates and Appraisals. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Location of Master Files:

Digital masters of the files are maintained on the Society's secure digital collections storage servers and are managed and preserved in accordance with archival best practices.

Alternate Form Available:

Disks of the GIS Utilization of Historic Timberland Survey Records from the Land Examiner's Reports: Estimates and Appraisals, 1895-1905 series are available from the State Archives. Please call (651) 259-3260 for more information.

Digital File Production:

Saint Paul, MN : Minnesota Historical Society and Minnesota Planning's Land Management Information Center, June 2001.

Microfilm Production:

Saint Paul, MN : Minnesota Historical Society, 1997.

Microfilm available for sale or interlibrary loan from the Minnesota Historical Society.

Accession Information:

Accession numbers: None; 998-54; 2013-28

Processing Information:

Catalog ID number: 001736288

Text for scope and content notes taken from GIS Utilization of Historic Timberland Survey Records three CD set.

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Each volume includes an index by range, township, and section, noting the page number for each report and in some volumes also giving the examiner's name.

The reports are arranged chronologically by the date they were filed (notarized), or by the date of the board's recommendation to sell.

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This series contains files from a three CD set containing digital images, GIS, and tabular data based on the Reports. Each county listed below has files from three discs with varying content.

Content from Disc 1 contains the original scanned images prepared for MHS by Perfect Image of Kirkland, Washington. The 800 DPI, black and white images have been stored in a TIFF, Group IV Fax format. Each image is named based on which of the Report's volumes and page it came from. A ReadMe_CD1.txt file for each county contains more information about the contents of the files from this disc.

Content from Disc 2 contains the entire scanned page georeferenced to DNR's Control Point Generated PLS layer. Each file is named based on which of the Report's volumes and page it came from with an "r" following the page number. Also contains just the georeferenced survey map itself. Each is named with an "rc" following the page number. A ReadMe_CD2TXT file contains more information about the contents of the files from this disc.

Content from Disc 3 contains the points, lined, and polygons appearing on the survey maps in the form of Arc.Info 8.1 export (.e00) files and ArcView shapefiles. Also contains the assessments of timber resources in an Access and .csv format.

The Minnesota Geospatial Information Office may make corrections as needed. Revised files will be posted for free download at: ftp://ftp.lmic.state.mn.us/pub/data/phys_biol/landuse/mhs_timber/.

Aitkin County

Location

Internet

Aitkin County files. 1 ZIP file (201,100 KB):

Download

Content from Disc 1. 431 TIFF files and 1 TXT file.

Content from Disc 2:

ReadMe_CD2.txt

geo_clip folder. 431 TFW files, 431 TIFF files and 1 DB file.

geo_ref folder. 431 TFW files, 431 TIFF files, 1 DB file, and 1 AUX file.

Content from Disc 3:

items.txt

page_trs.xls

ReadMe_CD3.txt

timber.ZIP

Timbsurv.htm

TIMBSURV.LGR

trs_page.xls

inch folder:

export folder. 394 E00 files and 1 log.

shape folder. 394 DBF files, 394 SHP files, 394 SHX files, and 1 log.

utm folder:

export folder. 394 E00 files and 1 log.

shape folder. 394 DBF files, 394 SHP files, 394 SHX files, and 1 log.

Becker County

Location

Internet

Becker County files. 1 ZIP file (21,300 KB):

Download

Content from Disc 1. 42 TIFF files, 1 TFW file, and 1 TXT file.

Content from Disc 2:

ReadMe_CD2.txt

geo_clip folder. 42 TFW files and 42 TIFF files.

geo_ref folder. 42 TFW files and 42 TIFF files.

Content from Disc 3:

items.txt

page_trs.xls

ReadMe_CD3.txt

timber.ZIP

Timbsurv.htm

TIMBSURV.LGR

trs_page.xls

inch folder:

export folder. 41 E00 files and 1 log.

shape folder: 41 DBF files, 41 SHP files, 41 SHX files, and 1 log.

utm folder:

export folder. 41 E00 files and 1 log.

shape folder. 41 DBF files, 41 SHP files, 41 SHX files, and 1 log.

Beltrami County

Location

Internet

Beltrami County files. 1 ZIP file (88,800 KB):

Download

Content from Disc 1. 188 TIFF files and 1 TXT file.

Content from Disc 2:

ReadMe_CD2.txt

geo_clip folder. 188 TFW files and 188 TIFF files.

geo_ref folder. 188 TFW files and 188 TIFF files.

Content from Disc 3:

items.txt

page_trs.xls

ReadMe_CD3.txt

timber.ZIP

Timbsurv.htm

TIMBSURV.LGR

trs_page.xls

inch folder:

export folder: 99 E00 files and 1 log.

shape folder: 99 DBF files, 99 SHP files, 99 SHX files, and 1 log.

utm folder:

export folder. 99 E00 files, and 1 log.

shape folder. 99 DBF files, 99 SHP files, 99 SHX files, and 1 log.

Carlton County

Location

Internet

Carlton County files. 1 ZIP file (48,300 KB):

Download

Content from Disc 1. 103 TIFF files and 1 TXT file.

Content from Disc 2:

ReadMe_CD2.txt

geo_clip folder. 103 TFW files and 103 TIFF files.

geo_ref folder. 103 TFW files and 103 TIFF files.

Content from Disc 3:

items.txt

page_trs.xls

ReadMe_CD3.txt

timber.ZIP

Timbsurv.htm

TIMBSURV.LGR

trs_page.xls

inch folder:

export folder. 116 E00 files and 1 log.

shape folder. 116 DBF files, 116 SHP files, 116 SHX files, and 1 log.

utm folder:

export folder. 116 E00 files, and 1 log.

shape folder. 116 DBF files, 116 SHP files, 116 SHX files, and 1 log.

Cass County

Location

Internet

Cass County files. 1 ZIP file (76,800 KB):

Download

Content from Disc 1. 145 TIFF files, 2 TFW files, and 1 TXT file.

Content from Disc 2:

ReadMe_CD2.txt

geo_clip folder. 145 TFW files and 145 TIFF files.

geo_ref folder. 145 TFW files and 145 TIFF files.

Content from Disc 3:

items.txt

page_trs.xls

ReadMe_CD3.txt

timber.ZIP

Timbsurv.htm

TIMBSURV.LGR

trs_page.xls

inch folder:

export folder. 166 E00 files and 1 log.

shape folder. 166 DBF files, 166 SHP files, 166 SHX files, and 1 log.

utm folder:

export folder. 166 E00 files and 1 log.

shape folder: 166 DBF files, 166 SHP files, 166 SHX files, and 1 log.

Clearwater County

Location

Internet

Clearwater County files. 1 ZIP file (42,900 KB):

Download

Content from Disc 1. 62 TIFF files and 1 TXT file.

Content from Disc 2:

ReadMe_CD2.txt

geo_clip folder. 62 TFW files and 62 TIFF files.

geo_ref folder. 62 TFW files and 62 TIFF files.

Content from Disc 3:

items.txt

page_trs.xls

ReadMe_CD3.txt

timber.ZIP

Timbsurv.htm

TIMBSURV.LGR

trs_page.xls

inch folder:

export folder. 72 E00 files and 1 log.

shape folder. 72 DBF files, 72 SHP files, 72 SHX files, and 1 log.

utm folder:

export folder. 72 E00 files and 1 log.

shape folder. 72 DBF files, 72 SHP files, 72 SHX files, and 1 log.

Cook County

Location

Internet

Cook County files. 1 ZIP file (21,900 KB):

Download

Content from Disc 1. 44 TIFF files and 1 TXT file.

Content from Disc 2:

ReadMe_CD2.txt

geo_clip folder. 44 TFW files and 44 TIFF files.

geo_ref folder. 44 TFW files and 44 TIFF files.

Content from Disc 3:

items.txt

page_trs.xls

ReadMe_CD3.txt

timber.ZIP

Timbsurv.htm

TIMBSURV.LGR

trs_page.xls

inch folder:

export folder. 11 E00 files and 1 log.

shape folder. 11 DBF files, 11 SHP files, 11 SHX files, and 1 log.

utm folder:

export folder. 11 E00 files and 1 log.

shape folder: 11 DBF files, 11 SHP files, 11 SHX files, and 1 log.

Crow Wing County

Location

Internet

Crow Wing County files. 1 ZIP file (25,300 KB):

Download

Content from Disc 1. 49 TIFF files and 1 TXT file.

Content from Disc 2:

ReadMe_CD2.txt

geo_clip folder. 49 TFW files and 49 TIFF files.

geo_ref folder. 49 TFW files and 49 TIFF files.

Content from Disc 3.

items.txt

page_trs.xls

ReadMe_CD3.txt

timber.ZIP

Timbsurv.htm

TIMBSURV.LGR

trs_page.xls

inch folder:

export folder. 56 E00 files and 1 log.

shape folder: 56 DBF files, 56 SHP files, 56 SHX files, and 1 log.

utm folder:

export folder. 56 E00 files and 1 log.

shape folder. 56 DBF files, 56 SHP files, 56 SHX files, and 1 log.

Hubbard County

Location

Internet

Hubbard County files. 1 ZIP file (71,400 KB):

Download

Content from Disc 1. 142 TIFF files and 1 TXT file.

Content from Disc 2:

ReadMe_CD2.txt

geo_clip folder. 142 TFW files and 142 TIFF files.

geo_ref folder. 142 TFW files and 142 TIFF files.

Content from Disc 3:

items.txt

page_trs.xls

ReadMe_CD3.txt

timber.ZIP

Timbsurv.htm

TIMBSURV.LGR

trs_page.xls

inch folder:

export folder. 143 E00 files and 1 log.

shape folder. 143 DBF files, 143 SHP files, 143 SHX files, and 1 log.

utm folder:

export folder. 143 E00 files and 1 log.

shape folder. 143 DBF files, 143 SHP files, 143 SHX files, and 1 log.

Itasca County

Location

Internet

Itasca County files. 1 ZIP file (244,300 KB):

Download

Content from Disc 1. 510 TIFF files, 3 TFW files, and 1 TXT file.

Content from Disc 2:

ReadMe_CD2.txt

geo_clip folder. 510 TFW files and 510 TIFF files.

geo_ref folder. 510 TFW files and 510 TIFF files.

Content from Disc 3:

items.txt

page_trs.xls

ReadMe_CD3.txt

timber.ZIP

Timbsurv.htm

TIMBSURV.LGR

trs_page.xls

inch folder:

export folder. 438 E00 files and 1 log.

shape folder: 438 DBF files, 438 SHP files, 438 SHX files, and 1 log.

utm folder:

export folder. 438 E00 files and 1 log.

shape folder: 438 DBF files, 438 SHP files, 438 SHX files, and 1 log.

Kanabec County

Location

Internet

Kanabec County files. 1 ZIP file (2,600 KB):

Download

Content from Disc 1. 5 TIFF files and 1 TXT file.

Content from Disc 2:

ReadMe_CD2.txt

geo_clip folder. 5 TFW files and 5 TIFF files.

geo_ref folder. 5 TFW files and 5 TIFF files.

Content from Disc 3:

items.txt

page_trs.xls

ReadMe_CD3.txt

timber.ZIP

Timbsurv.htm

TIMBSURV.LGR

trs_page.xls

inch folder:

export folder.

This folder contains no files.

shape folder.

This folder contains no files.

utm folder:

export folder.

This folder contains no files.

shape folder.

This folder contains no files.

Koochiching County

Location

Internet

Koochiching County files. 1 ZIP file (16,500 KB):

Download

Content from Disc 1. 35 TIFF files and 1 TXT file.

Content from Disc 2:

ReadMe_CD2.txt

geo_clip folder. 35 TFW files and 35 TIFF files.

geo_ref folder. 35 TFW files and 35 TIFF files.

Content from Disc 3:

items.txt

page_trs.xls

ReadMe_CD3.txt

timber.ZIP

Timbsurv.htm

TIMBSURV.LGR

trs_page.xls

inch folder:

export folder. 7 E00 files and 1 log.

shape folder: 7 DBF files, 7 SHP files, 7 SHX files, and 1 log.

utm folder:

export folder. 7 E00 files and 1 log.

shape folder. 6 DBF files, 7 SHP files, 7 SHX files, and 1 log.

Lake County

Location

Internet

Lake County files. 1 ZIP file (34,700 KB):

Download

Content from Disc 1. 35 TIFF files and 1 TXT file.

Content from Disc 2:

ReadMe_CD2.txt

geo_clip folder. 69 TFW files and 69 TIFF files.

geo_ref folder. 69 TFW files and 69 TIFF files.

Content from Disc 3:

items.txt

page_trs.xls

ReadMe_CD3.txt

timber.ZIP

Timbsurv.htm

TIMBSURV.LGR

trs_page.xls

inch folder:

export folder. 35 E00 files and 1 log.

shape folder: 35 DBF files, 35 SHP files, 35 SHX files, and 1 log.

utm folder:

export folder. 35 E00 files and 1 log.

shape folder. 35 DBF files, 35 SHP files, 35 SHX files, and 1 log.

Mille Lacs County

Location

Internet

Mille Lacs County files. 1 ZIP file (10,200 KB):

Download

Content from Disc 1. 22 TIFF files and 1 TXT file.

Content from Disc 2:

ReadMe_CD2.txt

geo_clip folder. 22 TFW files and 22 TIFF files.

geo_ref folder. 22 TFW files and 22 TIFF files.

Content from Disc 3:

items.txt

page_trs.xls

ReadMe_CD3.txt

timber.ZIP

Timbsurv.htm

TIMBSURV.LGR

trs_page.xls

inch folder:

export folder. 10 E00 files and 1 log.

shape folder: 10 DBF files, 10 SHP files, 10 SHX files, and 1 log.

utm folder:

export folder. 10 E00 files and 1 log.

shape folder. 10 DBF files, 10 SHP files, 10 SHX files, and 1 log.

Morrison County

Location

Internet

Morrison County files. 1 ZIP file (7,100 KB):

Download

Content from Disc 1. 15 TIFF files and 1 TXT file.

Content from Disc 2:

ReadMe_CD2.txt

geo_clip folder. 15 TFW files and 15 TIFF files.

geo_ref folder. 15 TFW files and 15 TIFF files.

Content from Disc 3:

items.txt

page_trs.xls

ReadMe_CD3.txt

timber.ZIP

Timbsurv.htm

TIMBSURV.LGR

trs_page.xls

inch folder:

export folder. 9 E00 files and 1 log.

shape folder. 9 DBF files, 9 SHP files, 9 SHX files, and 1 log.

utm folder:

export folder. 9 E00 files and 1 log.

shape folder. 9 DBF files, 9 SHP files, 9 SHX files, and 1 log.

Pine County

Location

Internet

Pine County files. 1 ZIP file (27,300 KB):

Download

Content from Disc 1. 58 TIFF files and 1 TXT file.

Content from Disc 2:

ReadMe_CD2.txt

geo_clip folder. 58 TFW files and 58 TIFF files.

geo_ref folder. 58 TFW files and 58 TIFF files.

Content from Disc 3:

items.txt

page_trs.xls

ReadMe_CD3.txt

timber.ZIP

Timbsurv.htm

TIMBSURV.LGR

trs_page.xls

inch folder:

export folder. 59 E00 files and 1 log.

shape folder: 59 DBF files, 59 SHP files, 59 SHX files, and 1 log.

utm folder:

export folder. 59 E00 files and 1 log.

shape folder. 59 DBF files, 59 SHP files, 59 SHX files, and 1 log.

St. Louis County

Location

Internet

St. Louis County files. 1 ZIP file (271,400 KB):

Download

Content from Disc 1. 574 TIFF files, 7 TFW files, and 1 TXT file.

Content from Disc 2:

cliplist.txt

ReadMe_CD2.txt

ref_list.txt

geo_clip folder. 574 TFW files and 574 TIFF files.

geo_ref folder. 574 TFW files and 574 TIFF files.

Content from Disc 3:

items.txt

page_trs.xls

ReadMe_CD3.txt

timber.ZIP

Timbsurv.htm

TIMBSURV.LGR

trs_page.xls

inch folder:

export folder. 416 E00 files and 1 log.

shape folder. 416 DBF files, 416 SHP files, 416 SHX files, and 1 log.

utm folder:

export folder. 416 E00 files and 1 log.

shape folder. 416 DBF files, 416 SHP files, 416 SHX files, and 1 log.

Todd County

Location

Internet

Todd County files. 1 ZIP file (3,200 KB):

Download

Content from Disc 1. 6 TIFF files and 1 TXT file.

Content from Disc 2:

ReadMe_CD2.txt

geo_clip folder. 6 TFW files and 6 TIFF files.

geo_ref folder. 6 TFW files and 6 TIFF files.

Content from Disc 3:

items.txt

page_trs.xls

ReadMe_CD3.txt

timber.ZIP

Timbsurv.htm

TIMBSURV.LGR

trs_page.xls

inch folder:

export folder. 6 E00 files and 1 log.

shape folder. 6 DBF files, 6 SHP files, 6 SHX files, and 1 log.

utm folder:

export folder. 6 E00 files and 1 log.

shape folder. 6 DBF files, 6 SHP files, 6 SHX files, and 1 log.

Wadena County

Location

Internet

Wadena County files. 1 ZIP file (1,300 KB):

Download

Content from Disc 1. 2 TIFF files and 1 TXT file.

Content from Disc 2:

ReadMe_CD2.txt

geo_clip folder. 2 TFW files and 2 TIFF files.

geo_ref folder. 2 TFW files and 2 TIFF files.

Content from Disc 3:

items.txt

page_trs.xls

ReadMe_CD3.txt

timber.ZIP

Timbsurv.htm

TIMBSURV.LGR

trs_page.xls

inch folder:

export folder.

This folder contains no files.

shape folder.

This folder contains no files.

utm folder:

export folder.

This folder contains no files.

shape folder.

This folder contains no files.

Unknown

Location

Internet

Unknown files. 1 ZIP file (1,000 KB):

Download

Content from Disc 1. 4 TIFF files and 1 TXT file.

Content from Disc 2. 1 TXT file.

Content from Disc 3:

items.txt

page_trs.xls

ReadMe_CD3.txt

timber.ZIP

Timbsurv.htm

TIMBSURV.LGR

trs_page.xls

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Access restricted. Closed to general use, researchers are directed to use the microfilm.

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Volumes [A] and B-1 (1895-1900) include volume and page citations to Land Examiners Record, Nos. 1-3, cataloged separately as Volumes 1-3 in the Board of Timber Commissioners: Land Examiners Reports, and to Land Examiners Field Books, Nos. 1-7, location of which is unknown.

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This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:

Forests and forestry -- Valuation -- Minnesota.

Document Types:

Digital maps.

Files (digital files)

Geospatial data.

Microforms.

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