FUTURE OF FORESTRY 173 



Future Possibilities. This is the situation as it stands- 

 today. What does the future hold forth? As far 

 as the Federal Government is concerned it is doubt- 

 ful if there will be any large increase in the area of 

 the National Forests in the Western States. In fact 

 there is more likely to be a reduction, as future classi- 

 fication may show the land to be suited to agriculture 

 or special uses. In the East, however, the Forest 

 Service may acquire considerable areas of land. In 

 1910 Congress passed the Weeks Act which appro- 

 priated $10,000,000 for the purchase during the suc- 

 ceeding five years of lands upon the headwaters of 

 navigable streams in the Eastern States and already 

 over a million acres have been acquired under the 

 terms of this law. It was felt that the matter of stream 

 protection and the control of run-off could be managed 

 better by the Federal Government than by the States, 

 as a stream subject to flood and low-water stages may 

 rise in one State and inflict its damage in another. 

 According to the Weeks Act the Government will ac- 

 quire land on important watersheds of the navigable 

 streams with the idea of keeping the mountain slopes 

 forever under forest cover and thus diminish flood 

 damage and increase the value of the inland water- 

 ways to the States and nation. 



The function of the various State forestry depart- 

 ments in the past has been largely educational for in 

 most cases the State forests serve as experimental forests 

 rather than forests operated for profit. The forester 

 in charge has endeavored through lectures, bulletins 

 and demonstrations to educate private owners and the 

 general public concerning the need and possibilities of 

 forestry. Plans for the management of woodlots are 

 generally made free of charge and methods of cutting 



