The Lumber Inspectors were established under Session Laws of 1864, ch. 167, to protect the rights of owners of logs floated downstream to market. Six districts were created, each with its own inspector. Between 1864 and 1895, eleven more districts were set up in the same format. Session Laws of 1919, ch. 502, replaced the 17 old districts with four new districts which covered the entire state. Lumber Inspectors were abolished altogether under Laws of 1927, ch. 474, section 1.
The Lumber Inspector's job was to record contracts, liens, and other agreements involving lumber; at the request of the owner, record the number of logs and board feet and the log marks of shipments of timber; record log marks and stamps used by the lumber owners; and report annually to the State Legislature the amount of logs, timber, and lumber surveyed or scaled in the past year.
