CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 

 AND THE STATES i 



By J. G. Peters 



Chief of State Co-operation, U. S. Forest Service 



The progress of any forestry program will depend, in general, upon 

 the degree of co-operation achieved on the part of the private owner, the 

 State, and the Federal Government. Each has an obligation, and each 

 must recognize this obligation in a practical way before a beginning 

 can be made in the solution of the timber-supply problem. Clearly, the 

 success of the undertaking will be dependent upon the amount of money 

 available. If we are obliged to continue with the customary meagre 

 supply of funds, there will be a relatively small accomplishment; if 

 we take hold in "man-fashion" financially, we shall doubtless have 

 something really worth while to show to the next generation for our 

 efforts. To gain success, adequate appropriations by the Federal Gov- 

 ernment and by the States and adequate participation on the part of 

 private forest owners is required. 



By reason of its centralized authority and its ability to raise funds, 

 the Federal Government is the natural leader in such a movement, and 

 should, of course, give liberal financial assistance. It has already 

 started certain enterprises. In response to the larger public demand 

 that is bound to be made, Congress will be obliged to take adequate 

 action. Furthermore, the interests of the Federal Government are 

 very great. Not only must it protect and manage its own forest lands, 

 the National Forests, but by reason of the general character of the 

 problems of timber supply and water conservation, which affect the 

 entire nation, it should also assist in protecting and encouraging timber 

 production on other than public lands. 



Consider this, also, with reference to Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, and 

 the other States of the Middle West. None of these States has a 

 timber supply adequate to meet its own timber needs. It is a matter of 

 concern to each of them how these needs are going to be supplied ; as a 



' (Address before Tri-State Forestry Conference. Indianapolis, Ind., October 

 22, 1919.) 



477 



