SOME FORCEFUL RESOLUTIONS 49 



for the application of the Weeks law, the purpose of which is the protection 

 and control of the watersheds of navigable streams. 



All of the tracts are contiguous, or nearly so, and will form an area large 

 enough for administration purposes and for the demonstration purpose of 

 practical forestry in this portion of the Southern Appalachians. The forest 

 survey had made a careful examination and had reported on the character 

 and value of the land and timber. The geological survey's report said that 

 federal control of the lands will prevent excessive soil wastage and erosion 

 which is likely to ensue if such control is not established. The prevention of 

 excessive erosion, it added, will tend to promote and preserve the navigability 

 of the Catawba River within the watershed of which the district lies. 



The commission reaffirmed the announcement made early in the summer 

 that it will not pay any speculative prices for land and will not purchase any 

 land which will not conduce directly to the purposes of the act. 



The commission consists of the Secretary of War, the Secretary of the 

 Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, Senators Gallinger, of New Hampshire, 

 Smith, of Maryland, and Representatives Lee, of Geoi-gia, and Hawley, of 

 Oregon. 



SOME FORCEFUL RESOLUTIONS 



At the annual meeting of the Empire State Forest Products Association 

 in November, a number of forceful resolutions were passed pledging the 

 influence and support of the Association in various phases of forestry con- 

 servation now under way in New York State. 



Among them are the following: 



Resolved^ That we approve the bill known as the Jones bill, which was 

 passed by the Senate and Assembly at the last session of the Legislature, and 

 which provides for the exemption from taxation of lands dedicated to re- 

 forestation purposes, as we believe that such a law will encourage the use of 

 much otherwise waste land, for the propagation of forest trees, and the in- 

 crease of forest area of the State, and this Association further respectfully 

 requests the Governor and Legislature next assembling to adopt some such 

 provision. 



Resolved_, That we endorse the public spirited, unselfish efforts of the 

 Camp Fire Association to investigate, and, under the able and intelligent 

 direction of the Hon. Gifford Pinchot and Hon. Overton W. Price, suggest 

 improvements in the methods employed in lumbering the Adirondack forests ; 

 and we pledge our co-operation in support of any reasonable reforms, and in 

 establishing rational scientific forest management, with due consideration to 

 our business and commercial interests. 



Resolved. That we express to the Association for the Protection of the 

 Adirondacks our honest desire to confer and co-operate with them for the 

 purpose of harmonizing the several interests in the Adirondacks, to the end 

 that this vast estate of the people may be operated and maintained for the 

 greatest good of the greatest number. 



