Report of the Standing Gomynittee on Forest?"!/. 179 



In due time, the coaunittee, through its chairman. Mr. Kinney, 

 of California, submitted the following 



REPORT OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON FORESTRY : 



Your committee has carefully considered the resolutions of Mr. Bradbury 

 referred to it. These resolutions contemplate a wide extension of the theory of 

 eminent domain hitherto accepted in this country. While we are indisposed to so 

 suddenly indorse a radical departure of this kind, we are, nevertheless, in this case 

 constrained to recommend the adoption of these resolutions. We do this upon the 

 ground that the present private holdings of vast areas of our forests situated upon 

 water-sheds, whose integrity is of vital importance to communities near them, both 

 to secure a supply of permanent springs and streams, and the prevention of the 

 origin of destructive floods and torrents, to say nothing of a continued future sup- 

 ply of lumber and the general preservation of the equability of the climate, places, 

 these communities at the mercy, as to their very existence, of private persons. We 

 further recognize that the remaining government lands in timber are being so 

 rapidly taken up and purchased that we must anticipate that, before a bill can be 

 passed by congress to withdraw these remaining lands from sale, a great part of 

 them will have passed into private hands. Consequently, without some supervision 

 over such of this private property as is necessary to be maintained in forest for the 

 welfare of the community, the existence of considerable population and great 

 interests will be endangered for paltry benefits, or placed at the risk of ignorant 

 or careless management of such forest domain. 



We are encouraged to think this conclusion to recommend the passage of 

 these resolutions is correct, from the fact that already every important continental 

 nation has found such control absolutely necessary for the welfare of the whole 

 people. We believe, further, that an intelligent control of all forests would add 

 to the profits of private holdings of such property. The agricultural decay, and 

 consequent decrease in population, of nations that have not cared for their forests 

 is before us, and we are convinced that the extension of government control over 

 private forests is essential to the welfare of the people. 



Abbott Kinney, Chairman. 



The report of the committee, after careful consideration, was 

 adopted. 



Major Lauck, of the Southern Pacific Railway, in behalf of the 

 Atchison, I'opeka & Santa Fe Railway and citizens of San Diego, 

 extended an invitation to the Society to visit that city at the con- 

 clusion of its sessions here, which invitation was accepted.* Major 

 Lauck further stated, on taking leave of the Society, that he had 

 had the pleasure of being the guide of the Society during nearly 

 their entire trip in California, and he highly appreciated the ac- 



*See Dr. Ridpath's report of excursion to San Diego. 



