F()i{i:sTin AM) Tin: Mr si am 43 



rt'i^anlinj,' tlio many ways the lorcst alVi'cts our present jji-ospcrilN and liow 

 \\Xi\\ its conservation is to the future life of the nation. 



The usefuhiess of a Museum depends upon how fully it ser\'es the 

 public as an educational institution, whether the instruction concerns the 

 preservation of forests, of the country's niainnials and hirds, ((uestions 

 aloni: lines of jjuhlic healtli and pulilic education or yet other directions 

 of work. To a \ cry lar^-e d(>^n-ee its i)ower to instruct is measured hy its 

 etfecti\eness in conHnandiiif,' attention re«>;ar(lin<i; the thinj^s worth while 

 in everyday life. l''or this reason at one ])eriod of its history a nuiseum may 

 have to direct ])ul)lic attention to e\ents and thin<,^s (piite different from at 

 other times, dependinii- upon the j)articular needs of the period. The old 

 idea of a nuiseum as a storehouse for miscellaneous objects from all corners 

 of the earth is of the jjast. A new idea prevails, that a museum is to a large 

 de^M-ee a place in which objects are exhil)ited in such a manner as to convey 

 to the pul)lic the <i;n'atest amount of useful information of present interest. 



The Forestry Hall of the American Musevun at present and in its future 

 development along lines following out Mr. Jesup's original interests and 

 pioneer work in forest jireservation ' has a great work to do in education. 

 The prcst'iit interest in forest con.servation and the need for public educa- 

 tion regarding the life of the forest and the imjjortant uses that the forest 

 serves in our national economy, clearly i)oint out the direction that the 

 future dcNelopment of the American Museum nuist take in reference to 

 this important subject. 



1 On December 6. 1883, Mr. .lesup presented in tlie Chamber of Commerce the following: 



"To THE Honorable the Legisl.\ture of the Stati; oi Xkw VdUK, ix Senate and As- 

 sembly Convened: 

 May it please your Honorable Body: 



The Chamber of Commerce of the .State of New York is alarmed at the dangers which 

 tlireateii the wat<T supply of the rivers in the northern part of tlie State tlirough tlie destnxc- 

 tion of tile forests wliicli protect tlieir s(nirces. 



The Cliamlier lielieves tliat tlie iireservation of these forests is necessary to maintain 

 an abundant and constant flow of water in the Hudson, tiie Moliawk and otiier important 

 streams; and tliat tlieir destruction will seriously injure the interna! commerce of th<' .State. 

 As lonR as this forest region remains in tlie po.ssession of private individuals, its protection 

 from fire and lumbering operations will be impossible. Helieving, then, that this matter is 

 one of \er\- fjreat importance, and that the necessity exists for immediate {("iislative action, 

 we liumblj pray your Honorable Body to adopt such measures as will enable the State to 

 acfjuire the whole territory poptilarly known as the Adinmdack Wilderness, and hold it 

 forever as a forest preserve." 



[That the projjosed legislation was eventually secured and tiiat New York has its state 

 forests to-flay was largely due to the imceasing efforts of Mr. .Iesiip.| Here, as so often, his 

 work was that of a i)ioneer. To-day forest preservation has become an accepted national 

 policy: but twenty-five years ago this was not the case, and the action taken liy the Chamber 

 of Commerce on Mr. .lesup's initiative was an important factor in educating the sentiment 

 which has made the wider movement possible. 



From Morris Kilrhinn Jtsiij). Charles Scribiier's .Sons, 1010. 



