14 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



In closing I wish to present a subject which has lately come into great 

 prominence in the affairs of the land, namely, the necessity for the preserva- 

 tion of the forests for the future benefit of the nation. Destructive lumbering 

 and wasteful use have wrought havoc with the forests. Forest fires have 

 swept over thousands of acres of timberland, destroying not only the trees 

 but even eating out the rich soil, the accumulation of ages. There follows the 

 washing away of unprotected soil on deforested slopes and destructive freshets 

 which cover the lowlands with deposits of sand and mud. To prevent this 

 waste of the wealth of the nation. Congress has established the National 

 Forests. The spirit which controls the administration of the National Forests 

 is set forth in these words — Careful use. The rangers who patrol the forests 

 are there to protect them from misuse and destruction. Thousands of head 

 of live stock are grazed on these forests every year, but the number j^er acre 

 is carefully limited so as to protect the range from permanent injury. Legiti- 

 mate mining is encouraged, but miners are forbidden to take up mining claims 

 solely to secure the timber which may be found on it. Water power is not cut 

 off from use, as is often stated, and lumbering is carried on, but under the 

 supervision of trained foresters who see that all trees cut are closely utilized, 

 provision made for leaving seed trees to insure reproduction, and the brush 

 properly burned so as to minimize the danger from fires. All these features 

 should be known to the student of geography, for in them lies the real reason 

 why geography is worthy of a place in the public school curriculum; it is the 

 studv of man in his relations to his environment. 



