33 



PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 



Mason B. Thomas. 



Forestry in Indiana. 



It seems strange that while European countries, with their vast tracts 

 of forests, were spending money, energy and time in an effort to secure 

 a conservative and economical management of their timber lands and, in 

 most cases, luid l)rought tlie whole question to a very practical and wise 

 solution resulting in the maintenance of the steady value of the forest 

 crop and securing by careful and well managed cutting the largest possi- 

 ble yearly production and revenue, the United States did practically noth- 

 ing to arouse her citizens to some such rational forestry management. It 

 was not until 1873 that the American Association for the Advancement of 

 Science, at its Portland meeting, appointed a committee to urge Congress 

 to some action in connection with om* forestry interests. The recommen- 

 dations of this committee were favoral)ly received, but not luitil 1870 was 

 tile Commissioner of Agriculture recpiired to appoint a man to stuily oiu- 

 forestry resources, the consum])tion and exportation of our timljer, the ex- 

 tent of our supply, the effects of forests on our climate and tlie best 

 methods to employ in conserving tlieni. Since tliat time the worlc of the 

 Department at Washington has grown under the care of Messrs. F. B. 

 Hough, X. II. Eggleston, B. E. Fernow, and the present Forester. Mr. G. 

 Pinchot. wlio in tlie order named have l>een in charge of it. They have, 

 with very meager appropriations— to 181)9 but .$247.lilt>.S.")— collected and 

 pulilished a large amount of valuable information relating to our forests, 

 their use, care and abuse, and liavi; secured the coilperatioii of many pub- 

 lic-spirited men and not a few scientists, who have started, in many 

 States, active campaigns educating the public in forestry matters and se- 

 curing iiroper forestry legislation. Our federal government can not obtain 

 the desired results without the active co<>peration of the States and the 

 sujiport of its private citizens. Our own fair Indiana has been very remiss 

 in the discharge of her duties in this matter, and the neglect has resulted 

 in a great loss to our timber interests and the consequent injury to its 

 numerous dependencies. 



The State of Indiana is a part of the North Central Division of our 

 country and includes oO.SoO stiuare miles, with an acreage of 23.2()4.0(M». 



3— Academy of Science. 



