= er Rp rng ee NSE NS sont by Nal Nee _PROCEEDINGS OF THE American Forestry Association ji AT THE Thirteenth and Fourteenth Annual Meetings, December, 1894, and January 1896, at Washington, AND AT THE SUMMER MEETINGS AT Brooklyn, N. Y., and Springfield, Mass. Votume XI. PY. & WASHINGTON, D. C.: 1896. Ne Ty rs Vi 4 The proceedings of the American Forestry Association have hitherto been published irregularly, the volumes not being numbered. With the improved financial condition of the association, and its increased membership, a regular issue of the annual proceedings in future appears warranted, and it seems desirable to designate, by numbers, not only the coming volumes but also those previously issued. The present volume is, therefore, numbered XI. The series of previous volumes includes the following publications. Of these, those marked * are out print: NWOT Teas * Vol. I.—Proceedings of the special meeting at Montreal, August, 1882. Papers read before the meeting printed separately by the Cana- dian Government in the Ontario Fruit Growers’ Report. (The proceedings of the first annual meeting, that held at Cincinnati, April 25-29, 1882, were not published in pamphlet form.) * Vol. II.—Proceedings of the second annual meeting, at St. Paul, August, 1883. Also, Forestry Bulletins No. 1 (May, 1884); No. 2 (Sep- tember, 1884); No. 3 (January, 1885). *Vol. III.—Proceedings of the special meeting at Washington, D. C., May, 1884, and third annual meeting, at Saratoga, New York, Sep- tember, 1884. * Vol. IV.—Proceedings of the fourth annual meeting, held at Boston, Sep- tember, 1885. * Vol. V.— Proceedings of the fifth annual meeting, held at Denver, Colorado, September, 1886. (Newspaper report.) *Vol. VI.—Proceedings of the sixth annual meeting, held in Springfield, Illi- nois, September, 1887. Vol. VII.—Proceedings of the seventh annual meeting, held at Atlanta, Ga., December, 1888, and of the eighth annual meeting, held at Philadelphia, Pa., October, 1889. Vol. VIII.—Proceedings of the summer meeting, held in Quebec, September, 1890, and of the ninth annual meeting, held in Washington, D. C., December, 1890. Vol. [X.—Papers read at joint session of the American Economic Association and the American Forestry Association, held at Washington, D. C., December, 1890. Vol. X.—Proceedings at the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth annual meetings, held in 1891, 1892, and 1893, and of the special meeting at the World’s Fair Congress in Chicago in 1893. OFFICERS FOR 1896. ELECTED JANUARY 24, 1896. Hon. J. STERLING MORTON, Washington, D. C., < - President. Sm H. G. JOLY pz LOTBINIERE, Quebec, Canada, - — 1st Vice-President. Hon. GARDINER G. HUBBARD, Vice-President for the District of Columbia. FREDERICK H. NEWELL, 1330 F St., Washington, D. C., Corresponding Sec'y. GEORGE P. WHITTLESEY, Washington, D. C., - Recording Secretary. HENRY M. FISHER, M. D., Philadelphia, Pa., - ~ - Treasurer. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The executive committee consists of the president, vice-president for the District of Columbia, the secretaries, the treasurer, and the following members : B. E. Fernow, Chairman. Wii1iam H. Paitures. GirForD PINcHOT. CuHaRues C. BINney. Epw. A. Bowens. Cuarues A. KEFFER. VICE-PRESIDENTS. Sir H. G. Jony pe Lorsrnrere, Pointe Platon, Quebec. CHARLES Mour, Mobile, Ala. THomas C. MoRag, Prescott, Ark. D. M. Rrorpan, Flagstaff, Ariz. AsBoT KINNEY, Lamanda Park, Cal. E. T. Ensien, Colorado Springs, Col. Rogert Brown, New Haven, Conn. Wa. M. Cansy, Wilmington, Del. A. V. Crusss, Pensacola, Fla. C. R. Prrcrez, Sandersville, Ga. E. T. Perxrys, Boise, Idaho. L. B. Sipway, Chicago, Ill. James Troop, Lafayette, Ind. Tos. H. Macpripe, Iowa City, Iowa. J. B. Toosurn, Syracuse, Kan. A. M. Brown, Eliazbethtown, Ky. Joun E, Hoxsss, North Berwick, Me. F. H. Appieton, Boston, Mass. W. J. Beat, Lansing, Mich. C. C. ANDREWS, St. Paul, Minn. Wriuu1am TReLeEase, St. Louis, Mo. GerorGe P. AHERN, Fort Missoula, Mont. CHaruzs E. Bessey, Lincoln, Neb. Wn. E. CHANDLER, Concord, N. H. A. W. Cutter, Norristown, N. J. Epwarp F. Hozarrt, Santa Fe, N. M. Warren HIGLey, New York, N. Y. J. A. Hones, Raleigh, N. C. W. W. Barrett, Church’s Ferry, N. D. REvuBEN H. WaARDER, North Bend, O. E. W. Hammonp, Wimer, Ore. J. T. RorHRocs, Philadelphia, Pa. H. G. Russet, E. Greenwich, R. I. H. A. GREEN, Chester, S. C. L. McLours, Brookings, 8. D. Tomas T. Wricart, Nashville, Tenn. W. GoopricH JONES, Temple, Texas. C. A. Wuitine, Salt Lake, Utah. REDFIELD Proctor, Proctor, Vt. Epmunp S. Meany, Seattle, Wash. A. D. Hoprrys, Morgantown, W. Va. H. C. Putnam, Eau Claire, Wis. Etwoop Megap, Cheyenne, Wyo. GarpDIneR G. HuBBarD, Washington, D. C. Joun Onalc, Wa. Lirrze, Ottawa, Ont. Montreal, Quebec. / ln Ua ee ‘ e " 10.208) Gas id bing AON FLD “a Shiga OKs it iT aT iat i) 1 UAT ae ; ‘* uF ; ie CA MEMBERS. * Life Members. ALABAMA. Carney, Miss Alice ................+00 Williams, Ala. Mrone Dr. Olarles: o\.cicecss ence cssces 931 Dauphin St., Mobile, Ala. ARIZONA. EREMOETE TROND cae net icavenctacesens . Flagstaff, Ariz. ARKANSAS. MNES WOE 5) glpenacte Sadan cnascens -Paragould, Ark. * McRae, Hon. Thos. C............... Prescott, Ark. CALIFORNIA. Saivore, Henry B:;.-..--'-:.:0+-..->s San Jose, Cal. PAL WORGEY W RULIATH: js ccs eacncess cles. 400 California St., San Francisco, Cal. *Atvord, Mrs. William: ..........:.. 2200 Broadway, San Francisco, Cal. MHCBENON, ETOL. de Mo... sctsccavsse Stanford University, Cal. AMIIIAN ES) E05 vaceck <0 che e/verasecscses Eureka, Cal. * Blanchard, Nathan W............. Santa Paula, Ventura Co., Cal. PETERSEN cock 0 os shns-w's sevene 1019 Bush 8t., San Francisco, Cal. * Fernald, Charles....................Santa Barbara, Cal. Gallaher, Frank M ................. Santa Barbara, Cal. WATS V EAU soccassonccavsodescsvess Lamanda Park, Los Angeles, Cal. TREE ETE desi oe'norcovsadisecseeres ask BBAGONAY Oal. ORME PONT 5. cocecasconcxenes vive Supt. Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, Cal. Simro. MS, A. Mee... 5 keccecese San Mateo, Cal. PURMMGPENILN canes duc cves. sees arancwccesiy Niles, Alameda Co., Cal. RMSE le Ph ac cu ciiy cians sageas sxeses Santa Barbara, Cal. *Sutro, Adolph.......................30 Montgomery Block, San Francisco, Cal. (LL SATIEIN® BD. sdocebunos Airs sconeciee ous Santa Barbara, Cal. W0d, AGOIDN:, ics iiteiceneccsseseas San Bernardino, Cal. COLORADO. Berthoud, Edward L................ Golden, Colo. Crandall, Prof. Chas. S............. Fort Collins, Colo. BOIL. 65. Occ vaes auccicevenapeestnee Glenwood Springs, Colo. Breveneax, WB ccsoneesosesesepnoves Glenwood Springs, Colo. EIS S Ws 0 bas iddeoiren axemOnrpanasos Centerville, Colo. PEEIO, LOTUS TR. cscce castes evexnsnuee Colorado Springs, Colo. 6 COLORADO— Continued. Ensign, Edgar T.....0....s0sscorerces Colorado Springs, Colo, Grimes, (Dire crevasse ornonnslspeesse es Box 450, Denver, Col. Givonnead: WADE. oto. csconsaecesens General Land Office, Washington, D. C. Pellew, Henry Ti...... 1.52 )scosssenss 1637 Mass. Ave., Washington, D. C. Phillips, Wm. Hallett............... 603 La. Ave., Washington, D. C. PepeaTE ARTY OW cop ane.s sacwenavacas sas 1301 Mass. Ave., Washington, D. C. Proctor, Hon. Redfield..... ........ U. 5. Senate, Washington, D. C. (Vermont. ) BEN EUIOE i coh.snae's enone cncesssessea- Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. CURE OU ES ee ee Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. Sudworth, Geo. B. ....00. 20000000. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. ...1600 I St., Washington, D. C. .1600 ISt., Washington, D. C. ....U. 8. Geological Survey, Washington, D. C. ....1504 H St., Washington, D. C. Howard University, Washington, D. C. 1430 Staughton St., Washington, D. C. Washington, D. C. Pacific Building, Washington, D. C. ....Gen’l Land Office, Washington, D. C. FLORIDA. ...-Pensacola, Fla. pres Grove City, Fla. ....Pensacola, Fla. GEORGIA. Meendon: Sz Gi. .s.c.ccenaseceseoeee Thomasville, Ga. Pringle SO URAcie iv vxsctaces stercace eee Sandersville, Ga. Redfern) (sits sss vcotessesoseecsaces Savannah, Ga. Reppard | HB iisie cvs cevcyonacicese=t Savannah, Ga. IDAHO. Chrisman, Lieut. Edw. R.......... University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho. Perkins, Edmund T., Jr............ U. S Geological Survey, Boise, Idaho. ILLINOIS. IBOWEIs; LiOyG | Wisesscoviecccaresaterat Law Dept., C. & N. W. R.R., Chicago, Il. IBTOWDS Ha ecnts p etceecdesccoesetraeres 5520 Madison Ave., Chicago, Il. Brown, Samuels drsscsscccsseaeeear Room 1001, 155 La Salle St., Chicago, Hi. Closson, Prof. Carlos C............. University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill. Coulter, Prof. John M.............. Lake Forest, Ill. ; CTAWLOLA Oc Wirescsaclautaccenteesncse Masonic Temple, Chicago, Ill. Deering, Charles W.........0.:ss00+ Fullerton and Clybourn Ave., Chicago, Ill. Haines; Jamesiiicsscscses bidceteres Pekin, Ill. Ball; Mllsworthidvicc..s sree. ssevbevees 7100 Eggleston Ave., Englewood, Ill. Kent, Norton Ay... ccssccass) ease epee 2944 Michigan Ave., Chicago, Il. Lombard, a listsccekeercksee nies eaee Title Guarantee and Trust Bldg., Chicago, Ill. Maniers (Geo. HWriicss-scasheneren thee Minier, Il. Nash; Bey: (Oye: -c.scssence WeGaneoesens Olney, Tl. #sPetersons PiiSzcsessue scceeeeecates 164 La Salle St., Room 21, Chicago, Ill. Forber Wii. W)'\73,7..2sascenrdusee nes 16 Fullerton Ave., Chicago, Ill. BIO WAY, dai ie Soe cl eee 802 Monadnock Block, Chicago, Ill. Bimonds, OO s watecersatserttu aries Station X, Chicago, Ill. INDIANA. : Troop, Prot. Janies.sc.soreceuseren Purdue University, Lafayette, Ind. IOWA. Berryhill, James G.. .........200.08- Des Moines, Iowa. everett, Brank.ice-..-c-sssceseee ee U. 8. Geological Survey, Denmark, Iowa. Macbride, Prof. Thomas H.......... Iowa City, Iowa. * Perkins, Charles E........:.. .. ..Burlington, Iowa. BAGS ELOL eke svcsedisvsesSekssueey Des Moines, Iowa. WY RUPOUS Os Ms cy scsccceseevererenore Des Moines, Iowa. KANSAS. Adams, FranklinsG, <..:s:cs.sc. cscs Topeka, Kansas. Georgeson, Prof. OC. Christian....State College, Manhattan, Kansas. Marlatt, Frederick A. ..............- Manhattan, Kansas. IMABON PrOLdS sO! sccscstcescenecers Manhattan, Kansas. PAW HG IN ieccecsvussselvacspscteesects Kansas City, Kansas. POPENOG, HELOL Mi, Ans scceosseessr ice Manhattan, Kansas. SUHODULTIN IO is wecteseeusvicssoconpecnes Syracuse, Kansas. 9 KENTUCKY. RCIOCES, Ek. WK: sn scatuguvesucernpinioveal Elizabethtown, Ky. BOLORIL-» Vic, DA: stew abaiiedcimeen cuewesney Hopkinsville, Ky. MAINE. Adams, Dr. Charles E............... Bangor, Maine. OMFG, AUST cccaedscnene vider ~ East Machias, Me. PMS HN. Sena dann cecuaiin deansplaabwadin Box 264, Bangor, Me. SPOBDY, WSO soca stxenccicessssacun Bangor, Me. PRGISy DSNIGL ET sotichenscaseeccne cesses Bangor, Me. Eastman, Theodore Jewett........South Berwick, Me. AGS, ELON: FOUN nies: since wvernan oxnge Ellsworth, Me. ERODE sh ORT Win vncaca csvavarsvevans North Berwick, Me. * Jackson, Thomas............ ......Portland, Me. ROME CO AS1 Fesvaucsvassuht.osoysnutvaess Augusta, Me. Sawyer, Robert Wm....... .........Bangor, Me. PEO GOD: Miactutes sastcesensee acne Portland, Me. WURLEGI. od ONE Wie. caniwasignccscaveses Cumberland Mills, Me. MARYLAND. Alexander, Julien J............ reaaee Box 241, Baltimore, Md. Gordon-Cumming, A. P............. Freedom, Carroll Co., Md. MASSACHUSETTS. Adams, Charles Francis............. 23 Court St., Boston, Mass. Appleton, Francis H................. 251 Marlborough St., Boston, Mass. To Lh SEO, Dg) OB a P. O. Box 1338, Boston, Mass. Atkinson, Edward..... .......0ss00<0 Brookline, Mass. Bartol, Elizabeth H.................17 Chestnut St., Boston, Mass. BEBO UG as EIOTEOM ss vvecacccusesossse 36 Temple Place, Boston, Mass. Beebe, J. Arthur......................06 Temple Pl., Boston, Mass. Bemis, Albert Farwell............... The Charlesgate, Beacon St., Boston, Mass. RUIN T TOES oxhice dinses bv skcd stonasatey The Charlesgate, Beacon St., Boston, Mass. PEM EAOUEY O),. 0502 vc0sse assseu sass: Springfield, Mass. Re MAPS 0. Ws cose casenscnesse The Charlesgate, Beacon St., Boston, Mass. «Bowditch, James H........... .... 60 Devonshire St., Boston, Mass. Brewer, Francis W..........2s- sss Hingham Center, Mass. BPEHORBy EIGHTY): acvat catnns asvneeresss West Medford, Mass. Brooks, John Henry. ............. Milton, Mass. SPER. SOs irnssgcarnengeate ranexs 7 Arlington St., Boston, Mass. Byington, Miss Alice................5tockbridge, Mass. SENS, CAOO- Ss ocrssec xs aca Ne egetaante P. O. Box 1302, Boston, Mass. ~~ Godman, Philip.......02210csces-ee0e- Brookline, Mass. Brerrord, Geo. "T.cevecvsecadunyenkia 85 Water St., Boston, Mass. Denison, John H......0s.ccessasendaes Williamstown, Mass. MRVOANOC, THOMAS. .50cccsccccssdnvesaas 21 City Square, Charlestown, Mass. 10 MASSACHUSETTS— Continued. The Charlesgate, Beacon St., Boston, Mass. © Dunn SATAY, ..0ccccccecssencasvasenses Edmunds, Prof. J. Raynor......... Cambridge, Mass. Hhiot, CHATICS 2. .21-scoccesnscce senses . Brookline, Mass. LONI Pay Ss ea I ee a oncond as, Gapcpacc Ane Emmons, N. H Estabrooks, John A Farlow, Dr. W. G *Fay, Joseph Storey *Fay, Miss Sarah B eee ee eee ee ee eeneee Fields, Mrs. James T............-++. Flagg, AUQUStUS ..........sseeeeeeere * Forbes, John M Forbes, W. H Forbush, E. H French, Jonathan *French, J. D. W * Gardner, John L (GIN PEO WALG: sssesvess neat sactans=s GoodalesDrsiGelirs.ssaccsteccienees Graves, H. S Hammond, George Warren . *Hemenway, Augustus Hounnewell, Hc sc ccenesossecees Iasigi, Mrs. Oscar Jackson, Edmund.............4..0+0: Jackson, Robert T James, Geo. B See e ewe eee ne weee Peete ree ee teeee sO eee ee neee wanes Ammen ee ee eee tant eeeee stew eereneee ere e ree eee errr reer eee. Jewett, Miss Sarah Orne............ eee eee ee wee eet eee Ane eee teen eenee Teme eee eee eee SRR eee Hee eee ee Renee ee tweeee ee ee eee Ree meee eneeee Pere eee eee CCC eCeereeer ary Lodge, Mrs. Mary E Lodge, Richard W..........s0c..s-« Loring, Caleb William.............. * Loring, William Caleb........... EMGOW sO ONT ive dibicshversacdeceneus abe Manning, Miss A. A..........6.. Manning, Jacob W..........0 Manning, Robert Manning, Warren Marsh, D. J a eee eee em ee ewes SOR rene we eee eee LAHOT A MLIGS sas Is cra san eeescndes eve Peer eee err ee rere ere es ee eee eee ewe e ew eeeeee Perec eee eee eee eee ee eee ee eee) .149 Tremont St., Boston, Mass. 40 Water St., Boston, Mass. .Milton, Mass. 24 Quincy St., Cambridge, Mass. Woods Holl, Mass. Woods Holl, Mass. 148 Charles St., Boston, Mass. Little, Brown & Co., Boston, Mass. Milton, Mass. Milton, Mass. Stanwood Hall, Malden, Mass. 160 State St., Boston, Mass. 160 State St., Boston, Mass. 22 Congress St., Boston, Mass. .7 Tremont Place, Boston, Mass. Cambridge, Mass. Andover, Mass. ..... Hamilton, Commonwealth Ave., Boston, Mass. 10 Tremont St., Boston, Mass. 87 Milk St., Boston, Mass. Stockbridge, Mass. Marlborough St., Boston, Mass. 35 Gloucester St., Boston, Mass. 220 Washington St., Boston, Mass. 148 Charles St., Boston, Mass. Topsfield, Mass. 39 Court St., Boston, Mass. Milton, Mass. Duxbury, Mass. 68 Chauncy St., Boston, Mass. Stockbridge, Mass. Groton, Mass. Box 2221, Boston, Mass. Box 73, Swampscott, Mass. Mass. Inst. Technology, Boston, Mass. Prides Crossing, Mass. -50 State St., Boston, Mass. Chelsea, Mass. ... The Charlesgate, Beacon St., Boston, Mass. .... Reading, Mass. 101 Tremont St., Boston, Mass. Brookline, Mass. Springfield, Mass. 1 Walnut St., Boston, Mass. 11 ‘ MASSACHUSETTS— Continued. May, John Joseph ..........000 scenes Box 2348, Boston, Mass. MECRtON, Dr. Hel. < .cciscswurensenstt 17 Chestnut St., Boston, Mass. MEOLCOI, CORN 3D)... us. seskacencons Vaeehs 151 Milk St., Boston, Mass. Morton, Nathaniel ....... ena ..+++sPlymouth, Mass. Olmsted, Frederick Law............ Brookline, Mass. EEHEGOG cD a: C2 .ccbcs a tovnnnvenasdeactae Brookline, Mass. Reet Es Ec ssceden « ss games Ran maa som 6 Joy St., Boston, Mass. Warker, AUGUstus....cssscscesateonsts 218 Seaver St., Roxbury, Mass. Parsons, Miss Katherine............ 54 Garden St., Cambridge, Mass. Peabody, Oliver W.......-.cses.0e00 Kidder, Peabody & Co., Boston, Mass. ERBOTOG, DBVIG scccsesescesscanarcanvhe Salem, Mass. MALVOrs, GOO. Bis, Tesssastis vues’ ...Milton, Mass. BPEOMING, Wis Eh. sanecsarssnnansates 252 Marlborough St., Boston, Mass. RE PIOOTIOTE «3 70 65 Forest Leaves........++. Se pa ee as 36 56 Dec. 15, 1898. Postage, $24.70; type-writing, $32.15; papers, LOO peeecay on aren dccca ten ude en aseeeb eee damien Sirhddeansyersloncces 72 66 PPP jaan nok cance. secag> setae eee LS) 20 10 Forest Leaves, 1892 audi 1893, 3,297 copies at 8 cents, 263 76 Painting for World’s Fair.. apie eer aaseces 50 00 Counsel before Oomnbitteds on EPablic Tend. voatinas apa 125 00 Dec. 31, 1894. Postage, stationery, and Expressage.........s0..-ssee-eeees 128 41 Printing proceedings, circulars, CtC..........sessesesseeees 400 80 Forest Leaves, 1894, 2,272 copies at 8 cents............. 181 76 Type-writing, $9.50; clerical service, $49.78.......... 59 28 Dec. 31, 1895. Postage, $143.74; stationery, $21.15................scee0e 164 89 Printing proceedings, CbC..2..02....2c..cccssscse ecces ccescee 393 70 MELO Gr PCAC a arencananscscsel teieaesinca aces secancaaresdaescstie 223 04 Clerical services ($60.74, $183.36), Secretary’s travel- PTET GR ONSORY aac decades -csaaeeuntes ssenacctnsas sencbv sec cers 269 10 Advertising, $8.00, express, CfC...........ccccsccscsesesces 12 81 Bonds 2, $1,000, U. S. 5’s ($1,053.80 from general MUCLOLALY ACCOUND)'- cece tavesdseevenesoscuecesnas'sstasseasce 2,297 50 Balance current expense account........ ..cesesseee seeee 114 30 Balance life membership account............sscsceceeseeees 332 98 $5,726 86 The report of the Executive Committee was then read as follows: The year has witnessed a very considerable increase of interest in the for- estry movement, which is reflected not only by a large increase in the mem- bership of our Association and by a more general appreciation of our efforts in the press (and more especially the lumber trade journals), but also by definite progress in the establishment of forestry principles in various parts of the country. Of more interest to us directly is the progress in the establishment of a rational policy with reference to the public timber lands. At the last annual meeting, occurring during the Christmas holidays, it was a pleasant duty to announce the passage by the House of Representatives of the McRae bill, which provides for an administration of the forest reservations. The passage had been secured through the efforts of our fellow-member, the Hon. Thomas C. McRae, after accepting various compromises with the wishes of western representatives, which, while somewhat weakening the efficiency of the legislation, left the principle underlying it clear and undisguised. The same bill essentially was passed in the Senate with various additional amendments, some desirable and some objectionable. Unfortunately, how- 40 ever, the form in which the amendments were made, namely, by striking out from the bill passed by the House all after the enacting clause and substituting the same reading with additions, made it appear like a new bill. Hence, in the unfortunate absence of the Chairman of the House Committee, who would have recognized the disguise, the Senate bill was sent back to the Public Lands Committee instead of going to conference, where the differences could have been adjusted and the enactment as a law made possible. Further action was precluded by the adjournment of Congress. In the present Congress the same bills, slightly modified, have been intro- duced in each house, namely, 8. 914, by Senator Teller, and H. R. 119, by Mr, McRae, securing the same number which it had during the last Congress. It is hoped that the fact that these bills were passed in the two houses of the former Congress will naturally aid in securing their enactment as a law in the present. The consent of the Chairmen of the Public Lands Committee both of the Senate and the House to address the present meeting with reference to this legislation lends additional hope for this long-desired action. Meanwhile not much activity has been exercised in securing an extension of the forest reservations, since without proper administration, sought through the legisla- tion referred to, such an extension did not appear especially desirable to the executive officers of the Department of the Interior. There are, however, a number of proposals for reservations prepared, to be brought forward when the administration feature has been provided. The discovery of valuable ore deposits on some of the reservations, and the consequent attempt to have them returned to the public lands for entry under the laws relating to mineral lands, makes the passage of a law regulating the use and occupancy of all reserva- tions the more urgent. While, then, in national matters a slow but sure advance has been made, several States have also progressed towards a more rational forest policy. In Pennsylvania the splendid campaign of the Pennsylvania Forestry Asso- ciation has resulted in the permanent establishment of the office of Forest Com- missioner in connection with the Department of Agriculture, and the appoint- ment of Professor Rothrock to the position has placed the movement upon a business basis as far the State is concerned. From New Jersey comes encour- aging news regarding the growth of the State Forestry Association, which is accentuated by the establishment on a permanent basis of a journal, The For- ester, appearing in bimonthly issues and promising in interest and general character. The two States of Minnesota and Wisconsin, alarmed by the disastrous fires of the preceding year, were induced to pass forest-fire legislation proposed by the Forestry Associations of the respective States—one the oldest, the other the youngest of such associations. In Minnesota a special forest-fire warden, one of our charter members, is active in organizing the fire service, while in Wisconsin the function is unfortunately assigned to an officer already charged with other duties. The Forest Commission of New Hampshire continues its laudable efforts to lay the basis for a permanent forest policy of the State. The Forest Commis- sioner of Maine, in addition to exercising the functions of a fire warden, issues a valuable report with studies of the mercantile side of forest growth in that 41 State. New York has increased the area of the Adirondack reserve by purchase of 75,000 acres. For the Southern States an opportunity was had at the Cotton States and International Exposition to present not only the wealth and varied character of their forest resources, but also their condition, their reckless exploitation and the evil consequences of irrational deforestation, in a specially constructed forestry building, awakening the interest of her own people as well as of North- ern visitors. This exhibit, at which the American Forestry Association was properly rep- resented, has been pronounced the most instructive and attractive of its kind ever seen in this country. From the far West we hear of a growing appreciation of a needed change in the national forest policy, and although in Colorado and California no return to the official recognition of the abandoned State policy can be noted, the inter- est seems more generally diffused among the people. Utah has entered among the States having forestry associations, and from Montana indications come of the possibility of establishing one. Two special meetings were held during the year; the one, a peripatetic meet- ing, in May, in connection with and at the invitation of the New Jersey Forestry Association, was designed to inspect the encroachment of the sand dunes, as a result of destruction of the protecting forest cover, which damage many of the seaside resorts of the lower coast, and also to give an impetus to the efforts of securing protection against the forest fires which ravage the plains of that State. The other meeting was held at the invitation of citizens of Springfield, Mass., in connection with the meeting of the American Association for the Advance- ment of Science, advantage being taken of the presence of many scientific and influential men. At this meeting the Executive Committee was instructed to exert itself in securing the appointment of a commission to investigate and report on the conditions of the public timber lands, as a basis for further leg- islation. It was, however, decided by the Executive Committee that such a move would be prejudicial to the passage of the definite legislation now before Congress. The Secretary of the Interior, however, who again in his annual report refers in strong language to the need of a change in policy with regard to the public timber lands, has proposed to submit the question to the National Academy of Sciences, the legally constituted adviser of the Government on matters scientific, asking for an expression of opinion on the need and manner of such a change. With all this quiet but persistent growth of the forestry movement, the Ex- ecutive Committee feels that greater responsibility comes to the Association and its officers. The work of the Secretary is growing more and more burdensome, and it may hardly be expected that it can be much longer carried on by a busy man in jeisure hours. The need of a paid Secretary, urged again and again, becomes more apparent as we grow, but so far the Executive Committee has not felt jus- tified in making an appropriation for this purpose. If, however, the mem- bership, by the exertion of the present members, increases at the rate of the past year, it is expected that the current income of the Association will presently permit this most desirable departure. 42 It has also been the subject of consideration in the Executive Committee and at the Springfield meeting, whether in addition or instead of the volume of Annual Proceedings the publication of a regular monthly or bimonthly journal would not be a desirable—nay, necessary—policy, in order to keep the member- ship informed and interested in the progress of the movement. At present the members are supplied with Forest Leaves under contract with the Pennsylvania Forestry Association, but as the movement grows in Pennsyl- vania that journal, by necessity, must give more and more space to local con- ditions and questions, losing thereby partially in interest to our members in other sections. The appearance of The Yorester in the neighboring State of New Jersey would make it appear that the field of journalism in forestry was by no means exhausted; but, while these journals may readily satisfy a local constituency, it is thought that a publication from the National Association should have a dif- ferent character, and one more difficult to determine. Garden and Forest, while an admirable journal, devotes a preponderant space to the first subject of its title, and cannot be expected to fill the object of the contemplated publication. Diffidence in our ability to sustain without a paid editor a high-class journal, which would satisfy the needs both of intercourse with our membership and with the general public regarding the forestry movement and give instruction on technical matters that would be welcome to those who desire to apply forestry principles in practice, has deterred the committee from launching such an enterprise. It is, however, proposed to begin with the present year the issue of a series of bulletins, appearing more or less regularly, which shall test the practicability and desirability of a more regular publication. Another matter of important internal organization has come before the com- mittee, namely, the need of a plan for affiliation with the various State organ- izations. From the inception of the National Forestry Congress and the organization of the American Forestry Association in 1882 it has been the policy of this As- sociation to encourage the formation of State Forestry Associations; and the meetings of this Association have been held again and again with this object in view. While in this way local interest could be best secured, no definite plan of co-operation or relationship between the mother and daughter associations ° was developed. The absence of such a plan of affiliation has become more no- ticeable of late, and a committee has been appointed to formulate a plan, which it is proposed to bring before the present meeting. The difficulties that originally surrounded the incorporation of the Associa- tion under the national law, namely, lack of sufficient members resident within the District of Columbia, has been happily overcome, and the articles of incor- poration are now drawn up, and only await the formalities attendant on filing to make the Association a body corporate. In submitting this report your Executive Committee feels that the Association and the public are to be congratulated upon the progress within the year, and the rich promise of the immediate future. Increased efforts are demanded on our part with the growth of the forestry movement; the membership should be doubled within the next year, a watchful interest should be sustained in 43 matters relating to State and national legislation, and above all the Association should further in every possible way all efforts to disseminate information of what constitutes rational forestry. For the Executive Committee, B. E. Frernow, Chairman. The report was accepted and made the basis of a discussion of the various subjects embodied in it. Prominent among these was that of effecting an affiliation of the Association with the State as- sociations. A subcommittee of the Executive Committee to which this subject had been assigned for consideration had made a report, which the Executive Committee brought to the consideration of the Association. This embodied an amendment to the constitution as necessary in order to carry out the proposed plan of affiliation. After considerable discussion of the plan, it was referred to the Committee on Resolutions. The subject of issuing a monthly or less frequent publication was then considered. The discussion resulted in showing a general opinion that an endeavor should be made to effect the consolidation of existing publications before undertaking the issue of another of similar character, and the subject was referred to the Committee on Resolutions. On motion, it was voted that a Committee on Resolutions be ap- pointed, to consist of not less than five members, and a Committee on Nominations, not to exceed three. Messrs. French, Smock, Moses, Binney, Ledyard, and Keffer were appointed as the Committee on Resolutions, and Messrs. Bowers, McLanahan, and Newell the Com- mittee on Nominations. Mr. Egleston in a brief address declined a re-election as Record- ing Secretary. AFTERNOON SESSION. The Committee on Resolutions reported the following resolu- tions: Resolved, That the subject of the publication of a forestry journal be re- ferred to the Executive Committee with full powers. The Executive Com- mittee, however, is requested, before coming to any final decision, to corre- spond with the managers of Garden and Forest, Forest Leaves, The Forester, of New Jersey, and other papers published in the interest of forestry, to see if any measures can be adopted for the publication of a forestry paper repre- senting the interests of all concerned. Resolved, That the Executive Committee is requested to send circulars to all the Vice-Presidents and prominent members of the American Forestry Associa- 44 tion in each State and Territory where there is no local forestry organization, asking that a meeting be called annually of all the members resident in such respective State or Territory for the purpose of forming a section or branch of the American Forestry Association, to promote closer relationship with the National Association by advocating such measures as are set forth in its con- stitution or may be adopted at any time by vote, and also to increase the mem- bership of our society. The foregoing resolutions were discussed and adopted. The committee also reported an amendment to the constitution, Article 3, which, after discussion and amendment, was adopted as follows: ‘‘The members of any local forestry association which shall vote to affiliate itself with the American Forestry Association, under such rules as the Execu- tive Committee may adopt, may become, by virtue of their membership in the local association, associate members of the American Forestry Association, and be entitled to all of the privileges of regular members, except the right to vote and hold office in the American Forestry Association.” The following resolutions were reported by the committee and adopted: Resolved, That we recognize in House Bill No. 119, introduced in the present Congress, the principles of genuine forestry for which we have long contended, and we urge upon Congress the speedy passage of a bill to accomplish the objects contemplated therein. Resolved, That we note with satisfaction the enactment of laws in the States of Minnesota and Wisconsin for the prevention of forest fires, and we express our hope that similar legislation, adapted especially to local needs, may soon be enacted in other States where the interests of the forest demand it. The Committee on Nominations reported a list of officers to be appointed for the ensuing year. Their nomination was approved and officers were elected, as shown on page 3. The following resolution was offered by the Committee on Reso- lutions: Resolved, That the thanks of this Association are hereby extended to Dr. N. H. Egleston for his long and faithful service as Recording Secretary of the Association. The resolution was adopted. Mr. Birkinbine offered the following, which was adopted: Resolved, That the American Forestyy Association desires to express its ap- preciation of the excellent display of forest interests at the Atlanta Exposition by the U. 8. Department of Agriculture. Several persons were proposed for election as members of the Association. Their nomination was referred to the Executive Com- mittee for action. 45 The Auditing Committee reported that they had examined the accounts of the Treasurer and found them to be correct. The subject of special meetings of the Association, in connection with an invitation from Portland, Maine, was considered, and, with the annual meeting, was referred to the Executive Committee for decision. The Association adjourned subject to call of the Executive Com- mittee. N. H. Eatezsron, Secretary. In the evening a joint meeting was held with the National Geo- graphic Society, at Metzerott Hall. Hon. J. Sterling Morton pre- sided and made a brief address, and then introduced in order the speakers of the evening: Hon. Fred. T. Dubois, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Lands, Hon. John F. Lacey, Chair- man of the Committee on Public Lands of the House of Represent- atives, Hon. Thomas C. McRae, and Mr. William E. Smythe, of Chicago, Ill., President of the National Colonial Clubs. REMARKS OF FHion. J. STHERLING MORTON, SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE AND PRESIDENT OF AMERICAN Forestry ASSsocraTION. [At the Joint Meeting of American Forestry Association and Na- tional Geographic Society, January 24, 1896.] During the 20 years from 1875 to 1894 American farmers sup- plied nearly twelve billion dollars in value for foreign markets, or more than 75 per cent. of all the exports of the United States—the result of labor and skill applied to the cultivation of the soil. Dur- ing the same 20 years American axemen cut down enough trees to make lumber and timber for export of a value approximating 500 million dollars, or 25 million dollars per year—the result of labor and skill applied to the despoliation of our rich inheritance in forest wealth without thought of reproduction. This export has increased in later years, reaching a maximum in 1890 with near 294 million dollars, and averaging more than 28 million dollars since. These figures are mere indices of the vast areas of land which have been culled or denuded simply for the purpose of export. It 46 is no exaggeration to say that, since such materials must be of a high grade of quality, the 500 million dollars paid to the exporters of forest products in these 20 years represent the spoliation of wood- land equal to as much as one-fifth of all remaining forest growth in the United States ; while home consumption, which is estimated to equal in value each year this large export figure for the 20 years referred to, must needs hasten this process of exhausting our tim- ber wealth at a still more alarming rate. It is needful, therefore, that the American Forestry Association reinforce itself with zeal and intelligent members in behalf of forest conservation and also of reforestation in some sections of the Union. Loss of soil by erosion and consequent sterility are visible in each one of the older States as a result of inconsiderate devastation of the forest cover on the slopes. In Ohio there are reported to be more than a million of acres of land now unproductive and unused, which have been defertilized in this manner. While no estimates are at hand to enable me to give a grand total of the lands which have been destroyed and rendered infertile throughout the United States, it is well known that the evil is wide-spread and the area must be enormous. It is time that as a nation we do something that will arrest this loss of our very bases of existence. Permit me to quote from Irving, as a conclusion to these some- * what arid statements, that— “There is something noble, simple, and pure in a taste for the cultivation of forest trees. It argues, I think, a sweet and generous nature to have this strong relish for the beauties of vegetation, and this friendship for the hardy and glorious sons of the forest. He who plants an oak looks forward to future generations and plans for posterity. Nothing can be less selfish than this.” And from another citizen of this Republic, who said with great vigor of truth: , “Keeping up a fit proportion of forests to arable land is the prime condition of human health. If trees go, men must decay. Whosoever works for the forests works for the happiness and _per- manence of our civilization. Now is the time to work, if we are to be blessed and not cursed by the people of the twentieth and twenty- first centuries. The nation that neglects its forests is surely destined to ruin.” 47 THE NEED OF A FOREST POLICY FOR THE WESTERN STATES. By Frep. T. Dvuszors, U. S. Senate. As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Lands I am necessarily much interested in all questions which relate to the policy of their treatment,—their forest cover included. In addition I represent a State in which the forest stands in intimate relation to all the leading occupations of the people, sup- plying timber for her mines, affording a reservoir for her irrigation systems, and thus becoming a factor in her future agriculture. It affords me, therefore, great pleasure to meet with you this evening and to participate in your discussions of a problem which affects directly the varied interests of the West, and of my State in particular, and is at the same time one of the most important and the most difficult. I cannot hope to solve the question of an ade- quate forest policy for our Government, nor do I have very definite ideas as to what is best to be done, but I can at least express my sympathy with the objects of your Association, and my earnest hope that some measure will soon be adopted by Congress by which the timber lands which yet remain in the public domain may be protected and managed rationally, for the benefit of the present as well as the future of the States in which they are situated. In the earlier years of our country’s history the public lands were disposed of with reckless prodigality. The country was vast, the inhabitants few, and the first need of the new nation was that its domain should be peopled and be made productive. Almost two hundred years elapsed before the presence of the yast treeless plains was known. From the first the American pio- neer on the Atlantic coast had to clear away the forest in order to make a home. And by reason of this necessity we seem to have become imbued with the spirit of forest destruction. We have watched the disappearance of the magnificent white pine forests of New England without regret, and almost without comment. It has only been in the last decade that there has been anything like a general awakening of public sentiment on the forestry question. The whole East is a great forest, and in spite of farmer, and logger, and the fire fiend, the country east of the plains is yet rich in forest wealth. In the West we have known from the first that our timber sup- 48 plies, outside the coast region, were limited to the mountains. Not a Western State or Territory but has vast stretches of dry plains which only need water to make them the most productive fields in the world. Unlike the Eastern country, where the whole land is a potential forest, there are hundreds of miles in our great Western country where no tree casts a refreshing shade, where rivers hide their waters beneath burning sands in the dry midsummers, where without man’s aid desolation reigns. In the earlier settlement of the mountain States the farmer con- fined his operations to the mountain valley, where each man could turn the water from the stream onto his adjacent fields. With the rapid development of the country and the need of more extensive farming operations, it was discovered that the great plains, lying miles away from the snow-clad heights, needed only water to make them as productive as the mountain valleys ; and with the experience that the forest cover of the mountains has, as you teach, a close relation to waterflow, I have no doubt the interest in forest pro- tection will grow accordingly. At first the Western settler, like his ancestors of Eastern pioneer days, found the forest cover an impediment. It was in his way in prospecting, in mining, in farming, and he used the quickest means of getting rid of it—the fire. The railroads that crossed the mountains cleaned their right of way by fire and permitted it to spread beyond control, taking no thought of the tremendous damage done both within and beyond their limits. The mountains were everywhere forest-clad, and the few inhabitants considered them as inexhaustible, as were the pineries of Maine and Michigan looked upon by the loggers of earlier days ; and this feeling is still abroad. In the mountains of the West we have yet to create a public senti- ment favorable to the protection of the forests for the sake of the future. The efforts of the Government to protect the forests of the public domain have thus far been futile, mainly for the absence of such sentiment. Government agents have found it well nigh im- possible to convict men for the violation of the timber laws because the whole sentiment of the people was opposed to the laws, beliey- ing rightly, I think, that they worked a hardship on the individual settler, while not protecting the forests against corporations which sought gain only. In the East—where the needs of a great population, coupled with wasteful methods of logging and the action of fire, have reduced the productive capacity of the forests very materially, destroying, 49 indeed, forest industries in many localities—public attention has been more readily directed to the necessity of forest conservation, and considerations of the future appear more natural. With us in the West the present demands all thought, all energy; with a limited population the timber supply seems still unlimited, and the rela- tionship of forest cover to other conditions has hardly yet dawned on us. It may be that the increased perspective which distance gives has enabled the membership of this Association to gauge relative values better than those of us who consider a tree only as a possible min- ing prop, and so look upon the contents of our mountains as of in- finitely greater value than the trees that cover them. You would teach us a better appreciation of relative values, and you would impress deeply on the Western mind a lesson that it is slow to learn—namely, that there is an interdependence between the elements that constitute the wealth of the West; and at the base of them all, supporting them, and making possible their highest de- velopment, demanding the best thought of their people for protec- tion and care, stand the mountain forests. My own State of Idaho is, to a great degree, typical of the moun- tain States as regards the importance of its forest areas, as well as regards the attitude of the people toward theories of forest protec- tion. Throughout its entire area Idaho is traversed with mountains which group themselves variously into well-defined ranges, such as separate the State from Montana, or into great irregular circles, such as mark the confines of the Coeur d’Alene, or into tangled masses of short ranges, which seem quite without order, such as mark the central portion of the map of the State. Separating these great mountain regions is the Snake river with its tributaries. In the south this river runs through a vast treeless lava plain, which traverses the State from the east and extends along the western border, embracing 30,000 square miles in its ex- tent, a wide plain with its mountain borders remote from the great river, which has its sources in the forests of northwestern Wyom- ing. The central mountains of Idaho, while they support a consider- able forest cover, are poor in this regard when compared with the northern part of the State, where the forest wealth is developed second only to that of the Pacific States in economic value. Here we claim to have the only large amounts still standing of magnifi- cent white pine—a different species, to be sure, from the Michigan 50 pine, that is just furnishing its last logs to the mill, yet a very good substitute. Here larch of dimensions and quality superior to the famed European article invites the miller, and giant cedar with trunks up to 12 feet in diameter cast a sombre gloom over the mossy floor of the deep valleys. Red firs, lifting their spires 200 feet above the mountain side, suggest the yet greater forest wealth of the Pacific Coast. The Coeur d’Alene region in northern Idaho presents, perhaps best, the condition of much of our mountain forest and its fate. Here are working, within an area of but little more than 9,000 square miles, the opposing forces of man and nature. Hidden away in the mountains of the Coeur d’Alene is a wealth of mineral that is even yet only partially revealed. Covering their slopes and darken- ing their narrow valleys with their crowded crowns, pine and fir and hemlock and cedar clothe the region in perennial green. From the first settlement, man has delved for the metal and con- sidered the forest cover only as so much additional waste to be cleared away—as so much débris, compelling additional labor for its removal, and increasing by so much the cost of mining. The soils of the Coeur d’Alene are nowhere of the highest fer- tility, and in only limited areas are there good farming lands. The soils are too porous, and do not retain moisture. With a heavy rainfall and freedom from frosts the forest growth had developed to a phenomenal degree, so that thirty-four years ago, when the first Government road was opened through this region, trees of the largest dimensions abounded everywhere. When the road through the Coeur d’Alene was built, emigrants flocked westward along the trail to the valley of the Columbia. The deep stillness of the Coeur d’Alene valleys was depressing to the spirits of these wanderers, who longed for the sun they had so hated on the plains, and they set fire to the woods, if only to make a hole in the dense leaf canopy and let in the sunshine. Then the railroad, that vanguard of Western civilization, sought a route to Puget Sound. No aid so potent to man as fire to cleave a pathway through the impenetrable woods, and with only best intentions the torch was applied. True, the railroad owned but a certain amount of the land; but nobody owned the rest—it is so much easier to regard the Gov- ernment as an entity here in Washington, where great buildings and thousands of workers give it a personality, than in the West, where the only evidences of its existence are the broad spreading, unoccu- pied acres !—nobody owned the land beyond the railway’s claims, 51 and the fires which swept away thousands of the great trees burned deep into the soil and crept over hundreds of miles of this forested country, all but ruining its reproductive power. And after these came the miner. The precious metal was discovered in the Cour d'Alene, and the busy prospector ‘covered the hills, seeking every- where for leads. The miner, like the pioneer and the railroad builder, burned away the forest cover; his only interest was in the few acres immediately about him, but he had no timie to guard against the spread of the fire, and during the past fifteen years hundreds of miles of forest have been thus destroyed.* An agent of the Department of Agriculture, in an interesting re- port, yet unpublished, on the forests of the Coeur d'Alene, says: “In 1884 I traversed miles upon miles of primeval forest in a jour- ney through the Coeur d’Alene to Montana. In 1895, along the same route, there was not a single foot that the axe and fire had not run through, and the larger quantity had been uselessly and totally destroyed.” Fifty per cent. of the accessible forest of this region has been absolutely destroyed, and 20 per cent. more has been culled, in the brief period since Mullin’s road was built. Unlike the fires in the East, which sweep through the forest with such rapidity as to be a menace to human life, the moist woods of the Ceeur d’Alene burn very slowly, and life is not endangered. Thus the only great incentive to the protection of the forest—the element of personal danger—is reduced toa minimum. Fires have been known to smoulder in the humus-covered forest floor of this region for two months, beneath deep snows. Hence, once ignited, it becomes a matter of the greatest difficulty to quench them, and is usually only possible with the aid of the returning rainy season. Thus we have here an example which can be duplicated in every State of the West; before even a settlement is effected much of the natural wealth has been destroyed uselessly ; snowslides, landslides, washing of the soil, excessive water stages in rivers, have been in- vited by the denudation of the mountain slopes, and the future made more difficult. Now I appreciate that this treatment of our great forest resource is not rational. While at present we have more than we need, the rapidly developing West requires an increasing supply of timber for its varied interests, and it should be home grown—not, as has be- come necessary in many regions, brought from long distances. The mines, much the largest users, should be saved the expense * John B. Leiberg, of Hope, Idaho. 52. of long hauls. The cities and towns, which are springing up on every hand, should not be put to the disadvantage of freighting lumber from far distant sources. The varied manufacturing inter- ests that are sure to follow the development of intensive farming, made possible by irrigation, the whole progress of our great moun- tain country is threatened by the wholesale destruction of our tim- ber supply. For the Cour d’Alene is only extraordinary in the wealth of its forests and their quick destruction. Throughout the Rocky Mountains the traveller has only to glance from the car win- dows to see great stretches of blackened tree trunks, or a worthless young growth of stunted poplar, where once magnificent forests of pine and spruce covered the land. The devastation is widespread ; but the mere destruction of merchantable material, however in- trinsically valuable, is as nothing to the greater danger which threatens our water supply. The water supply of Idaho, taking the State as a whole, is large, the quantity in comparison with the total area of land to be irri- gated being probably as great as that of any State of the arid region. Unfortunately, however, a great part of this water supply is not available for the development of the dry agricultural lands from the fact that it occurs in the great rivers draining the high mountains and narrow valleys of the northern part of the State or flows in the deep gorge cut by Snake River. Thus it happens that with the exception of the Snake River, near its head waters in the eastern part of the State, the streams of importance to agriculture are rela- tively small, and depend for their supply upon the lower, less rugged catchment areas. From these there is less runoff in proportion to the rainfall, and to reach the highest and best development possible for the rich farming lands commanded by its waters every drop should be saved and utilized. The farmers who have lived in the country and watched the streams year by year believe that the runoff is closely connected with de- forestation. They assert that on account of the destruction of the forests by fire, or injury to the character of the covering of the soil, the amount of water available is diminished either by being less in quantity or by coming in destructive floods. These floods, even under the best conditions, are wasteful, and reservoirs must be built in the future upon or near many of the streams to equalize the flow and to hold water until later in the growing season. The problem of protecting these from being filled by silt is one of the most im- portant considerations, and one which in many localities can be solved 53 only by protecting the verdure npon the catchment basin, this in turn holding the soil from being washed away. Even in the case of the head waters of the Snake River, deriving its supply from over .10,000 square miles of mountain area, it is questionable whether the wanton destruction of the forests will not seriously affect the flow of the stream. The farmers believe that it will, and as a rule, wherever their attention has been called to the subject, are in hearty accord with the objeets of the Forestry As- sociation. In the State of Idaho there still remains vacant land to the extent of about 75,000 square miles, this being very nearly +5 of the whole area of the State. Of the remaining portion, only about 5,700 square miles has been disposed of by the General Government, this being between 6 and 7 per cent. of the entire area of the State, and 3,500 square miles is reserved mainly for the use of the Indians. No forest reservations have been made, although the State contains vast stretches of heavily timbered land from which come the streams employed in irrigation. Considering the State as a whole, there is estimated to be in timber forests nearly 11 million acres, and in woodlands over 21 million acres, including under this head lands which do not furnish trees of size for dimension timber, but from which firewood and mining props can be cut. This leaves about 21 million acres as absolutely treeless, the greater part being broad undulating plains covered, during a part of the season at least, with a scanty vegetation furnishing forage for cattle. According to the last census the total area of improved land was a trifle over 600,000 square miles, most of this land depending for its value upon the water supply. What shall be done? It is one thing to recite the story of existing evils, and quite another to effect a remedy for them. Many considerations, diffi- cult to understand at this distance, must enter into the determina- tion of a practical working policy for the forests of our public do- main. Were the forests which the United States owns situated in the East, surrounded by a dense population, motives of self-interest or of public welfare would render their protection easy. Located as they are, remote from centers of population, far distant from the markets of the world, usually difficult of access even from the moun- tain cities, without roads, with no definite boundaries, and sur- rounded by a population accustomed to a very liberal interpretation of private rights in public property, the difficulties in the way of 54 an efficient management are indeed great. It must not be forgot- ten, moreover, that a hundred years of neglect of the public domain has instilled in the minds of the people impressions that will be difficult to eradicate. Indeed, the very slow progress of the for- estry movement here in the East,is proof enough of this. Our people feel themselves in great measure justified in their treat- ment of the public timber lands. They are jealous of interference with their rights ; they fear curtailment in their use of the resources at hand. From the bills now pending before Congress, which I believe are partly or wholly endorsed by your Association, I see that the pro- posed administration provides not only for protection but f for use of the timber. This is a correct principle. If the United States Government proposes to.retain these moun- tain forests, it should not only guard them properly, but aid instead of preventing their use, and make their rational exploitation possi- ble. Experience has shown the existing legislation to be vicious, to result in hardship to the settler and miner, without preserving the property. That a change is desirable has been urged for many years by various Secretaries of the Interior and by all people who have an interest in the matter. What that change is to be permits, however, of wide differences. of opinion. Mr. Teller, in Senate bill 914, has proposed a plan which his familiarity with Western conditions would warrant me to accept in the main as practicable. It is, in the first place, intended to be ap- plied to the forest reservations, but might with advantage be ex- tended to all forest lands of the public domain. Once inaugurated in a proper manner, when it is shown that the intention is to allow the use of the forest resources by the people of the States, with only such safeguards as will prevent their anni- hilation, I have no doubt that the sentiment of the people them- selves will be with your endeavors. One of the most hopeful aspects of your movement is that, as far as I have been able to observe, an increasing public interest is everywhere manifest, and with its growth Congressional action will not be wanting. I close, then, with the hope that the problem of establishing a rational forest policy for the Government of the United States may have a speedy and wise solution. ee eS 55 THE DESTRUCTION AND REPAIR OF OUR NAT- URAL RESOURCES. By Joun F. Lacey, M. C., Oskaloosa, Iowa. The people of this continent do not sufficiently appreciate the immensity of the period that nature employed in building the New World and preparing it as a home for civilized man, nor how easily those advantages may be destroyed. When first Columbus set his foot upon these shores the vast forests and splendid prairies lay rich and inviting as the home of the coming race. The forest, which has done so much to prepare the earth for man’s use, was en- countered by the early settlers along the whole Atlantic shore. The necessity of clearing away this vast mass of vegetation led the pioneer to look upon the woods as the enemy of man. The axe was used unsparingly, and but few specimens of the original continental forests still remain. Trees have their poetic as well as their practical side. While sensible to their beauty, we are now deeply concerned in their utility. All they have asked heretofore has been standing room. Give them but place, and they will patiently do their work. Their long arms have reached out for ages, and gathered from the air the elements of growth which they have added to the soil. As one poet has expressed it: ‘* Cedars stretch their palms like holy men at prayer ;” and another speaks of them in winter,— ‘‘ With their bare arms stretched in prayer for the snows.” They gather the sunshine year by year and store it away for future use. They fertilize the soil; they beautify it. In a few old churchyards on the eastern shore of Maryland may be seen the remains of the splendid forest that once covered that region. The sight of these specimens makes us regret that larger areas of the ancient forest had not remained untouched. It was necessary to cut down a part of the forests, but man has swept them from the earth with the besom of destruction. We are beginning to realize the wastefulness with which we have treated the gifts of nature. We found this continent a storehouse of energy and wealth. The climate was salubrious. The soil was 56 fertile. The forests spread on every hand. The rivers teemed with fish. The earth and air alike furnished supplies of game. Great coal deposits were found in almost every State. Coal oil and nat- ural gas arose to the explorer from the bowels of the earth. The prodigality of the sun is something amazing. When we think how few of its rays strike the earth or any of the planets in proportion to those that are constantly shed from its surface, we are led to wonder if they ever can be exhausted. Manis as prodigal of his natural possessions as the sun of its heat, ight, and energy. We have not been content with improving upon nature, but have acted the spendthrift part in wasting her stores. The coal has been preserved in spite of man by vast strata of earth and stone, and there has been less wasteful extravagance in the use of this valuable mineral than, perhaps, any other of nature’s gifts, and yet we are beginning to compute the time when the anthracite will only be found in the collections of museums. The coal oil has been wasted and wells have been opened and fields destroyed as though the supply was inexhaustible. Natural gas deposits have been tapped, and the wasting gas set on fire, lighting the country for miles around. These vast stores of nature’s forces are being rapidly exhausted. It has not been so very long ago that terrapin were so plentiful in Maryland that it was found necessary to enact a law preventing masters from feeding their slaves more than a given number of times each week upon that toothsome viand. Terrapin three times a day, three hundred and sixty-five days in a year, was found to be monotonous. No such law would be necessarynow. In Connecti- cut the law forbade that an apprentice should be required to eat salmon more than twice a week for the same reason that the slave was protected against too much terrapin. Now the Connecticut salmon is a delicacy for the rich alone. The extermination of the buffalo is too recent and too shameful to speak of excepting in the highest terms of indignation. Instead of taking these vast herds and, after giving them proper marks of identity, dividing them up and assuming proprietary rights over them, they have been slaughtered by the hundred thousand for the sheer pleasure of killing, until now a little handful of two or three hundred is all that is left of the millions which roamed the plains forty years ago; and this was called sport. It required nothing like the expert skill of the pig sticker who, covered with blood, pre- sides over the scenes of carnage in one of our great slaughter- houses. 57 The same indiscriminate slaughter which has practically destroyed the salmon of Connecticut has been followed on the Columbia. Fish- wheels along the banks of the stream have been throwing out of the water enormous quantities of the most beautiful fish in the world, catching them at the very time when they were en route to the head waters of the stream to deposit their spawn. Legislation upon the part of Oregon and Washington has at last been reluctantly enacted, in time, I trust, to save these fish from extermination. It is to the forests that we wish more particularly to direct our attention at this time. But the streams are the children of the forest, and the fish are the children of the streams. In the early days men often cut down trees for the wild fruits that grew upon them. The beautiful service-berry has been well nigh exterminated by this barbarous practice. This was a sin against nature.