HOW LUMBERMEN HAVE SERVED THE PUBLIC 285 



fundamental elements. Considerations of timeliness and cost enter, 

 however; then a people intellectually free like ours values empirical 

 observation as well as research and will be likely to appreciate particu- 

 larly reliable work under any name directed toward practical ends and 

 reaching results that can be immediately utilized. Fortunately, I can 

 illustrate what I mean by the study of yield in second growth pine 

 prosecuted two years ago by Mr. Carter. 



Cooperation is a big present field of activity, that thoroughly fits 

 the training and ideas of our people, and I will only contribute the 

 idea that it must be badly hampered by failure to get to the point of 

 view that represents the real interest of the citizen. Not, however, 

 that I mean financial interest altogether. I can, in fact, see how on a 

 variety of grounds other than financial the interests of forestry are 

 coming ahead in this country. Sentiment, family pride, and the general 

 trend of public opinion are all operative in this connection, especially 

 promoting the work of planting. Their aggregate effect will be con- 

 siderable. 



The term "regulation" has a different sound in the ears of an 

 American. I think our people will go slow on this line, as slow as 

 the necessities of the case permit, being especially suspicious of any 

 who may manifest an evident desire to do the regulating. Let me, 

 however, point to one or two things that show a progressive temper 

 on the part of our people. In Oregon, the law since 1913 has required 

 the private owner of timber to maintain a fire patrol deemed sufficient 

 by the State authorities; in New England public supervision is being 

 gained over belts of land along railroads and highways which, if 

 uncared for, would constitute a fire menace. These provisions bear 

 equally ; they are broad, going to the source and establishing conditions 

 essential to forest welfare; I think the temper of our people 

 will support their extension. On the other side, a significant thing 

 occurred in connection with the much advertised decision of the Maine 

 Supreme Court, now some years old, when one of the judges, and an 

 able one, too, refused to share in the decision rendered on the ground 

 that the occasion was not of the momentous character specified in the 

 State constitution. 



The ownership of timber reserves and of land to produce a large 

 share of the timber, we have believed a public function, and in this 

 connection it is noteworthy that the present offers marked opportuni- 

 ties. That is for the reason that the interests of the lumber industrv 



