912 JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



The economic forces which are now at work make the success of our joint 

 purpose imperative. This fact several of the more far-seeing organizations of 

 lumbermen, such as the American Paper and Pulp Association, the Western 

 Forestry and Conservation Association, and others, have begun to realize. 

 Already they have committed themselves to policies in handling private timber- 

 lands which a few years ago would have been looked upon as extremely ad- 

 vanced. With these progressive policies, in so far as they recognize the need of 

 preventing further devastation of our timberlands, the committee is of course in 

 general sympathy. 



Your committee has felt constrained, instead ef endorsing remedies already 

 proposed, to suggest a plan of its own, because of its deep conviction that the 

 forest problem in this country cannot be solved merely by an effort to keep the 

 land growing trees, but must rest also upon changes in the economic conditions 

 of the lumber industry itself. Economic conditions in the industry cannot but 

 have their reflex upon the practice of forestry in the woods. Accordingly the 

 committee has attempted to outline a national forest program which would 

 take into account both the silvicviltural and the economic aspects of a problem 

 whose vital importance to the Nation it would not be easy to overstate. 



In submitting a plan of suggested legislation the committee has merely 

 indicated the general outline which, in its judgment, such legislation should 

 follow. It realizes fully that beneficial changes in detail should be and 

 undoubtedly will be developed as the discussion proceeds. 



In presenting its views your committee was not prompted by any ill-feeling 

 toward the great industry in the perpetuation of which the Society of American 

 Foresters is most concerned. Some members of the committee have, indeed, 

 given years of their professional life to the. study of lumber industry problems 

 and the sympathetic understanding of the difficulties under which the lumber- 

 men have been working. We have no personal material interests to defend. 

 Our sole purpose has been to get to the root of the problem, to see the situation 

 as it is, and to suggest remedial measures which would protect the interests and 

 meet the needs of the Nation as a whole. 



The results of its work the committee now submits for consideration and 

 action. It suggests that this report be published in the Journal of Forestry, 

 and that you take steps to give it such other publicity as its importance may 

 deserve. 



Sincerely yours, 



GiFFORD PiNCHOT, 



Chairman. 



