300 Forestry Quarterly 



background, and the "park" idea has become prominent; even the water- 

 shed protection has become only of secondary importance. The State 

 of New York is rich and can afford a playground of some million acres 

 for its well-to-do population of ten million, or of as many as can afford 

 to use it. 



In another generation it may be realized that, as in France and Germany, 

 a real forest management, keeping in mind all the forest benefits, is 

 possible, but meanwhile probably only a mere park management will be 

 permitted. 



One of the "overtures" before the Convention calls for permission "to 

 cut, remove and sell timber (and "trees" should be added) which are 

 dead, fallen or mature, or which are detrimental to forest growth." This 

 permission is necessary even for a conservative park management, and a 

 clause permitting forest planting should also be added to legalize what 

 the Commission has already done in spite of the Constitution. 



There remains always the problem of how the administration of the 

 Forest Preserve is to be organized. The legislature has tinkered and 

 experimented more than enough with this problem. The machinery 

 experienced the following reconstructions: at first a Forest Commission 

 of three, then, in 1892, changed to one of five members, then, in, 1895, 

 it was amalgamated into the Fisheries, Game and Forest Commission of 

 five members, then, changing its title in 1901 to the Forest, Fish and 

 Game Commission, of three members, and in 1904 to a single paid Com- 

 missioner. In 1911, a Conservation Commission of three members, with a 

 Division of Lands and Forests, in charge of the Superintendent of Forests, 

 as under all former commissions, was inaugurated. The one plan which 

 has worked elsewhere satisfactorily has not yet been tried, namely, a 

 non-partisan Board with a State Forester. 



Two of the overtures before the Convention do away with all com- 

 missions, have a State Forester appointed by the Governor, but removable 

 only for cause publicly stated and after public hearing, or else for a 

 tenure of ten years. A third overture makes the University of the State, 

 the so-called Regents, an advisory committee to recommend regulations 

 under which cutting may be done — a most incompetent arrangement. 



A hearing before the Committee on Conservation to discuss the various 

 propositions is announced as we are going to press. 



What we must realize from the contemplation of this review of con- 

 ditions is that not only eternal vigilance but most active, continued popular 

 education is necessary to keep what we have and to progress on rational 

 lines in establishing sane State forest policies. 



