THE PRESENT SITUATION IN FORESTRY 101 



practical regulation of handling forests as may be required for the ])rotection 

 of the public, — these are problems requiring immediate action in all States. 



During the past year there has been more real progress in State forestry 

 than in any previous year. The feature which stands out most strongly is 

 that a number of States have gone beyond merely passing forest laws, but have 

 begun to provide the money necessary to achieve practical results. 



The principal work in the different States has been directed toward fire 

 protection. At length it is realizezd that the prevention of fires is the funda- 

 mental necessity, and that this can only be accomplished by having a 

 thoroughly organized State Forest Service. Excellent laws are being passed 

 in various States looking to the removal of the causes of fires, as restrictions 

 placed u})on railroads to prevent fires from locomotive sparks, regulations 

 regarding the burning of brush, carelessness of campers, etc. But these laws 

 are ineffective unless there is adequate machinery to carry them out. A 

 fundamental principle of fire protection is preparation. A forest region must 

 be watched for fires, both to prevent fires from being started and to reach 

 quickly and put out such fires as may start. 



The new State legislation recognized these principles and already fully 

 twelve different States have inaugurated a measure of fire patrol or watching 

 under State direction. 



Still another element has been introduced into State forestry — namely, 

 restrictions upon lumbermen to make a proper disposition of their slashings, 

 in order that the lumbering may not be a menace to the surrounding forests. 



The scope of this paper does not permit of an analysis of the various 

 laws recently passed in different States. Special attention may be directed 

 to the new forest laws of Minnesota and Oregon, and to the organizations 

 which are being developed. Important new laws or amendments to old laws 

 have been passed also in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New 

 York, Maryland, Michigan, Wisconsin, Montana, Washington, and Louisiana. 

 The new Conservation Commission established in California promises to lead 

 to important results in forestry and other branches of conservation. Illinois 

 has made a beginning, making an appropriation to study the conditions of 

 the State looking toward the development of a system of State forestry. 

 Several States have made a beginning in forestry through their State institu- 

 tions, as in Colorado and Missouri. Idaho and South Dakota have entered 

 upon a policy of exchange of lands with the Federal Government, which will 

 lead to the consolidation of the State forest lands and the establishment of 

 a State forest, a move which I hope will be followed by other States having 

 similar holdings. 



While the record is good in some States, there are still many which are 

 doing nothing whatever in forestry. Under the provisions of the Weeks Law 

 the Federal Government may assist a given State in the protection of forests 

 lying at the source of navigable streams, provided that State has established 

 and is supporting a system of fire protection. Such assistance has been given 

 during the past season to Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, 

 Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland, New York, Wisconsin, Minnesota and 



