536 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



killing 50 per cent of the young growth, 

 but destroying practically none of the 

 commercial timber. Another one, which 

 burned over 4,000 acres within the 

 Crook National Forest, was similar in 

 character and effect. It, too, was caused 

 by lightning, as the great majority of 

 the fires in District 3 have been this sea- 

 son. Abundant, frequent showers set 

 in about the middle of July, as is usual 

 in that region. The total damage from 

 these fires has been small, since many 

 of the most extensive ones were grass 

 fires. 



In southern Idaho, Utah, and Nevada, 

 in District 4, late snows, a backward 

 spring, and frequent showers have been 



unfavorable to fires. Only 11 fires have 

 been reported, and the total damage was 

 practically nothing. 



Although there is yet plenty of time 

 for disastrous fires, the situation so far 

 is very gratifying to the officers of the 

 Forest Service. While frequent rain 

 has held down the fire loss so far, it 

 has also, in connection with a long 

 growing season during spring and sum- 

 mer, caused an unusually rank growth 

 of grass and weeds within the open 

 stands of timber. When this vegetation 

 becomes dried out during possible later 

 summer droughts, the fire menace will 

 be increased. 



RESOLUTION TO THE SENATORS 



Each member of the United States 

 Senate has been sent a copy of the fol- 

 lowing resolution which was adopted at 

 the meeting of the Board of Directors 

 of the American Forestry Association 

 at Bretton Woods, N. H., on July 18, 

 and asked to give his careful considera- 

 tion of it. 



Whereas, amendment 85 to Agricul- 

 tural Appropriation Act (H. R, 18960, 

 62nd Congress, 2nd Session), page 50, 

 provides that the Secretary of Agricul- 

 ture is hereby directed and required to 

 select, classify and segregate as soon as 

 practicable, all lands within the bound- 

 aries of national forests that are suit- 

 able and fit for agricultural purposes, 

 and as soon as such lands have been 

 thus selected, classified, and segregated, 

 the same shall be open to settlement and 

 entry under the homestead law, be it 



Resolved, That the American For- 

 estry Association, a national organiza- 

 tion, with a membership in every State 

 in the Union, and with which numerous 



State forestry organizations are affiliat- 

 ed, declares that the passage of this 

 amendment would result in abuses such 

 as took place before the National For- 

 ests were created, that many areas cov- 

 ered with enormous stands of valuable 

 timber would pass to private ownership 

 without settlement actually taking place ; 

 that it would prevent the Secretary of 

 Agriculture withholding from entry 

 lands which are of great value as water- 

 power sites, for the developments of ir- 

 rigation works and other purposes, as 

 well as lands needed for public pur- 

 poses, and be it 



Resolved, That the American For- 

 estry Association, declaring that the 

 public interests would be seriously 

 jeopardized by the passage of the 

 amendment in its original form, and 

 that it would be against public policy, 

 solicits the careful consideration, by 

 each member of the United States Sen- 

 ate, of the request that the amendment 

 shall not be passed in its original form. 



