THE PEOGRESS OF FORESTRY 77 



towns, again under the direction of the State Forester. The New Hampshire 

 Timber! and Owners' Association employed patrolmen for territory not covered 

 by the Federal men. It built lookout stations where the State was unable to 

 do so, and distributed fire fighting tools where needed. This united action 

 resulted in confining fires in the White Mountain region during our most 

 serious droughts of recent years to about .G of % of the wooded area. 



Realizing the great possibilities of such co-operation, it is the earnest 

 desire of all friends of forestry that this appropriation under the Weeks Act 

 be continued. 



I have emphasized the im])ortance of co-operative fire protection, but 

 recognize that it is not the main feature and purpose of the Weeks Act, which 

 was intended primarily to acquire nati(mal forests in the East. While the 

 co-operative work now being developed will bring all the forestry forces closer 

 together and ultimately accomplish fire protection, the actual purchase and 

 management of forests by the government will be the only way in which many 

 of the forests on the higher slopes of our eastern mountains can be managed 

 properly, and the quickest way to demonstrate to private owners the practica- 

 bility of forestry on their own holdings. 



We rejoice, in fact, that the Geological Survey has approved over one 

 million acres on the navigable streams in the South and that the first pur- 

 chase of over 18,000 acres has already been made in that region. We regret, 

 however, that delays have lost |3,000,000 of amount originally appropriated 

 and would urge upon Congress the reapproj)riation of this fund so it will not 

 be lost to the purpose for which it was originally intended. 



There is a strong feeling throughout New England for the early purchase 

 of lands in the White Mountains. The Forest Service, pending the report of 

 the Geological Survey, has examined considerable land and is ready to nego- 

 tiate with the owners for its purchase as soon as a favorable report is ob- 

 tained. It is my understanding that the Geological Survey is making a cai-eful 

 study of small drainage basins selected for the diff'erent extent to wh:<,'h the 

 forests in them have been cut, that on these areas they are making a study of 

 the relation of the precipitation to the run off in order to determine the effect 

 of the cuttings. I am sure you will all be glad to know that the Dire(itor hopes 

 to make a favorable report on this region this coming spring. 



THE ASSOCIATION'S PROGRESS 



It would seem entirely fitting at this time to recall some of the mile-stones 

 in the history of our organization. The American Forestry Association was 

 founded in Cincinnati in 1882. During the earlier period of its activities such 

 men as Dr. B. E. Fernow and Mr. F. H. Newell of the Reclamation Service, were 

 influential in shaping its policies in the support of the cause of national for- 

 estry. It advocated the passage of the forest reserve laws and was directly re- 

 sponsible for the initial legislation passed in 1891, giving the President power 

 to withdraw lands from the public domain for forest reservations. It secured 

 the appointment of a committee of the National Academy of Science, of which 

 Mr. Pinchot, Dr. Brewer of Yale, and three others, were members. They were 



