STATE FOREST POLICY IN AMERICA. 47 



prior to acquisition by the nation. At the present time, eight 

 of the north-eastern states have acquired a total of nearly 

 3,000,000 acres of forests. 



At first the public impulse for the acquisition of state tracts 

 was largely sentimental, and from a desire to prevent the lumber- 

 ing of certain areas of particular scenic value. The protection 

 of stream flow for water-power had a strong effect, but during 

 recent years the value of state forests for timber production 

 has been more fully realised. It appears inevitable that a 

 period of land readjustment is setting in, and it is fortunate 

 that state acquisition of forest land meets with public favour 

 in those states where the timber supply is being so rapidly 

 depleted. 



The objects sought by state forests are four. 



First. — The perpetuating of the timber and the use of non- 

 agricultural waste land. A continuation of present conditions 

 is not only rendering unproductive large areas of our non- 

 agricultural soil, but coincidently is rapidly diminishing the 

 raw material for lumber and wood-using industries. The 

 acquisition of tracts of considerable size by the states will 

 insure the planting of waste land and the maintenance of 

 residual timber supplies so that forest industries may be con- 

 tinued. These tracts, by stablising the market for forest 

 products, will in turn stimulate private forestry. 



Second. — Education and aid to woodland owners and forest 

 communities can be promoted in no better way. It is not con- 

 templated to purchase any large proportion of the true forest 

 soils. The general plan is to locate in the uplands tributary to 

 every important timber market, a state forest of sufficient size to 

 be an economical unit of management. Through co-operation 

 in management with private owners in the same locality, these 

 state tracts will have a strong influence -on private forestry. 

 The state tract in each forest community would become the 

 centre for information, and its administrative officer would be 

 able to advise and even make plans of management for a whole 

 collective group of private woodlands, with special reference to 

 the available markets. The present state tracts have interested 

 and encouraged many private owners to begin silvicultural 

 practice, and this interest needs simply to be organised and 

 extended as the policy is carried out. 



Third. — The protection of stream-flow for water-power is one 



