Comment 299- 



The latest entrance into the forestry movement is reported from Texas, 

 where legislation has been passed this winter providing for the appoint- 

 ment of a State Board of Forestry of seven members, the Governor, 

 Commissioner of General Land Ofifice, Commissioner of Agriculture, 

 president of the University of Texas, president of the Agricultural and 

 Mechanical College, and two citizens at large interested in forestry prob- 

 lems. A further outside influence is brought to bear by having the Board 

 of Directors of the Agricultural and Mechanical College appoint the State 

 Forester at a salary of $3,000. There is almost too much of "interest" 

 in this many-headed organization and multiplication of councilors; only 

 as a rule this works at an advantage in leaving the State Forester usually 

 a freer hand- The possibility of State forests to be acquired by gift 

 is also foreseen. A newly formed State Forestry Association did the 

 educational work needed to secure this legislation; an appropriation of 

 only $10,000 starts the organization. 



Lastly, we may refer to the turning point which has arrived in New 

 York, when the blunder that was made twenty years ago may be cor- 

 rected, and the Constitutional Convention has an opportunity to amend 

 the clause preventing the State from practising any kind of forestry on 

 its own lands. 



Looking back these thirty years to the time when the writer was called 

 upon to formulate for Senator Lowe the legislation which led to the 

 establishment of the New York State Forest Commission and Forest 

 Preserve, one finds that conditions have greatly changed, and the attitude 

 towards the problem of administering the Preserve may also be changed 

 accordingly. 



When the first Forest Commission was organized, a technical forest 

 management with the economic and watershed protecting aspect in the 

 foreground was in contemplation. The non-existence of any technically 

 educated personnel at the time prevented this, and eight years later, in 

 1893, when the Constitutional Convention formulated its forest policy 

 of inaction, this condition had not changed. For this reason, it was 

 perhaps wise that the Commission was prevented from inaugurating any 

 utilization schemes. 



Meanwhile, a crop of foresters has grown up, and it would be possible 

 to organize an efficient service of technically educated men, but mean- 

 while also there has taken place an unusual development in tourist travel, 

 summer guests and private camp building, which has changed the entire 

 aspect of the Adirondack and Catskill region and their problem. The 

 industrial and manufacturing interests which were, still, in 1896, advanced 

 as reasons for the State's purchase of timberlands, have fallen into the 



