REMARKS ON STATK FOREST TOLICV 169 



ester, or other recognized spokesman, should explain in more or less 

 detail what it is he proposes or wishes to do. But in few States can 

 one find easily and in one place a statement of all the important things 

 in forestry for which that State stands. If one is reasonably familiar 

 with the situation, it is not perhaps very difificult to get this information 

 together. But in many States it has to be compiled from a speech here, 

 an interview there, or indirectly from references in an annual report 

 to past or current work. 



]\Iy contention is that it would be to the distinct advantage of any 

 State to issue in liberal number and to distribute freely a brief sum- 

 mary of the points in its forest policy which the State officials regard 

 as significant, perhaps backed up in a few words by the reasons why. 

 Such a statement would go a long way to clarify what now is often an 

 obscure situation. The general public, and even the man who has some 

 interest in forestry, has little time and less inclination to search for this 

 information. But if in 12 to 16 pages he can find, quickly and accu- 

 rately, what he wants to know, his interest tends to increase and often 

 his active support is secured. 



State forest policies are naturally subject to revision with change of 

 time. New happenings bring in new issues and require readjustments. 

 It is not to be expected or desired that the policy of any State will be 

 fixed on all points once and for all. Like a good working plan, a State's 

 forest policy should be subject to periodic revision. But if at any given 

 time one wishes to know easily and quickly just where the State For- 

 estry Department stands, it seems to me that he should be able to get 

 that information without recourse to correspondence. 



The definite enunciation of a policy has certain concrete advantages. 

 First, it clarifies the minds of the men who draw it up and centers their 

 attention on the points of most importance. It stands thereafter until 

 revised as a guide to themselves, and especially to their subordinates. 

 It strengthens the esprit dc corps of any organization if every member 

 feels that he is one of a team working toward perfectly known and 

 well-understood ideals. 



Second, a statement of policy tends toward continuity of effort in a 

 given direction and strengthens the hands of those whose duty it is to 

 carry out programs extending over many years. Forestry projects are 

 necessarily often of long duration. It is desirable, when after careful 

 study such projects have been adopted and put into efl:'ect, that they be 

 not interfered with or disturbed. One of the strong features about a 

 continuing board of control is that the slowly changing personnel tends 

 to prevent sudden departure from established usage. Further, and 



