200 J(K'RN.\L OF FORI^STKY 



dying. As one of the speakers stated : "This situation is due directly 

 to the failure of the association to take a definite stand on the issue of 

 how best to use the State forests." 



To one not familiar with the situation in New York State, it seems 

 well-nigh incredible that the State should maintain two institutions 

 wherein forestry is taught and foresters are trained and yet on its own 

 land fail to practice what it preaches. 



The challenge to the forestry profession is a direct one, since it is the 

 avowed policy of the aesthetic interests to prevent any cutting in the 

 Adirondacks and to keep them permanently as a pleasure park only. 

 Foresters throughout the country are concerned in this issue, which 

 assails the correctness of their tenet, that the forest can be made to 

 produce useful material and still be just as attractive to campers, 

 hunters, and health-seekers. 



The resolution provides for the appointment of a committee to for- 

 mulate a constructive policy. This committee will comprise representa- 

 tives from the Conservation Commission, the New York State College 

 of Forestry, Cornell University, the New York State Forestry Asso- 

 ciation, the Association for the Protection of the Adirondacks, and the 

 Empire State Forest Products Association. These representatives may 

 be expected to line up somewhat as follows : 



The Conservation Commission, in its recently issued report for 1918, 

 thus declares its attitude : 



"The commission, in the performance of its duty to enforce the provisions of 

 the Constitution respecting the Forest Preserve and acting under the advice of 

 the Attorney General, has taken the position that no one shall have the exclusive 

 use of any portion of the preserve; that no one shall be allowed to claim any 

 particular camp site from year to year; that the forest lands and waters shall be 

 enjoyed by all the people as far as is possible and compatible with the public 

 policy expressed in the Constitution." 



In former reports the commission was not so neutral in its attitude. 

 Thus in its fourth annual report, speaking of the State forest preserve, 

 the following declaration occurred : 



"The proper use of this great area is a matter of vital importance. The con- 

 stitutional inhibition practically prevents any direct use, except for camping, hunt- 

 ing and fishing. The entire wood^ production on the mature areas is at present 

 a total loss, because there is no utilization of the larger trees. If we assume that 

 the average annual growth should be 200 feet per acre per annum, then the annual 

 growth on the merchantable forest areas alone would approximate 240,000,000 

 feet, board measure. Once the land is placed under systematic forest manage- 

 ment, this amount could be secured annually without reducing the forest itself. 

 It means taking the interests on the wood principal. The quantity would be 



