278 JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



group of men to step into it. With that much behind, I mean to trace 

 relations with some things in which as foresters we are particularly 

 interested. I will indicate in advance so much of personal position as 

 to say that I think this push and energy of our people on the whole 

 has been not only resultful, but pretty wise also. And believing that, 

 one looks for adaptation to new conditions as well, though not neces- 

 sarily with great rapidity. Whatever, for instance, we ourselves have 

 to urge in the way of collective effort or otherwise, will be measured, 

 and ought to be ineasured, by that same wisdom. 



I see no better way to get into my next subject than by starting 

 with topics presented by Mr. Kellogg in the paper you have just 

 .listened to. Two topics stand out in it — lumber grading and better 

 merchandizing of lumber. Mr. Kellogg treated these things from the 

 producer's point of view — he calls it lumbermen helping themselves ; 

 but to me another side is no less evident, that lumbermen in thus help- 

 ing themselves in these matters are also serving the public. What, for 

 instance, does lumber grading mean if not more specialized, eco- 

 nomical, and effective use of lumber? That is to say, as timber becomes 

 less abundant relatively, which had to be anyway, it is classified so as 

 to serve varied purposes more economically. This, as I see it, is true 

 conservation; in fact I do not see anything that touches that matter 

 on a larger scale or more elTectively. And the industry has spon-' 

 taneously and without cost done the public this service, following its 

 own interest under the working of economic forces. 



In connection with the merchandizing pressure that he speaks of I 

 was led to think* of a recent extension in the use of lumber largely 

 promoted by exactly that influence. The silo, as I understand it, is 

 a most valuable aid to agriculture; farmers and their friends have 

 taught its utility and extended its use; but a potent force for that 

 extension of late has been, as I understand it, merchandizing pressure 

 from western producers of lumber, trying fundamentally to get out 

 from under timber investments. That I look on as useful work, and 

 again, the industry furnishes it gratuitously. Further, as Mr. Kellogg 

 indicates, much more of the same kind is coming. It seems clear, in 

 fact, that as a result of the recent depression in lumber and the reaction 

 of lumbermen from it, the people of the United States are going in the 

 next ten years to be served with lumber as they never were before — 

 in more variety, better fitted to use, cheaper relatively to the difficulty 

 of furnishing it. Now if we value service of this sort, as I think we 



