INDIAN TIMBKRLANDS ^31 



wise for the Society to take affirmative action toward assisting the 

 Indian Service in preventing the segregation of ownership in such 

 manner as to render fire protection improbable? The Indian Service 

 is today confronted with specific problems of this character. l)nt the 

 Society vouchsafes neither assistance nor sympathy. Quite to the 

 contrary, in a recent canvass of its whole membership for an unqualified 

 vote of preference between the Capper Bill and the Snell Bill, the 

 Society officially represented that the latter bill is essentially directed 

 to a policy of restricted Federal control of forest resources ; while as 

 a matter of fact the Snell Bill, in providing for a most comprehensive 

 extension of Federal administration in general, contemplates the trans- 

 fer of nearly all Indian timber holdings to the status of National 

 Forests. The unfortunate and misleading presentation in this circular 

 letter and questionnaire probably did not bring any different result than 

 would have been obtained if it had been made clear that the Snell Bill 

 contemplated the addition of many millions of acres of Indian forest 

 lands to the National Forests. The point to which I wish to direct 

 attention is that the Society apparently fails to recognize that these 

 Indian lands are already being administered in accordance with the 

 principles of scientific forestry. 



While the immediate inclusion of certain Indian timberlands within 

 National Forests may be advisable and the ultimate inclusion of other 

 areas may be practicable, irreparable damage may be done before these 

 lands can be given that status. I believe that few, if any, members 

 of the Society would knowingly deprive the Indian of that which is 

 rightfully his. I believe that the ideal of all members is the advance- 

 ment of the cause of forestry in America. I am confident that with 

 a full understanding of the facts all would exhibit an interest in the 

 success of forest administration on Indian lands in any practicable 

 manner. Surely the inclusion of Indian timberlands within National 

 Forests cannot be the sine qua non of professional interest ! 



