LECTURE X. 



THE FORESTER, AN ENGINEER. 



The object of this lecture is to show the variety of directions in which 

 the forest engineer must expend his energies. The harvesting and market- 

 ing of the wood crop requires the services of men with engineering educa- 

 tion and ability, and they are best educated where practical sciences and en- 

 gineering are taught. 



There is hardly any business concerned in the manufacture or produc- 

 tion of materials which does not require some knowledge on the part of the 

 producer as to how to adapt means to ends, how to use mechanical and 

 physical properties of matter in construction and locomotion ; and in apply- 

 ing this he fulfills the definition of an engineer. The forester's business is 

 one in which the need of engineering gumption and knowledge appears in 

 various directions so prominently that he can without impropriety be called 

 a specialized engineer, and in fact the title of "Forest Engineer" is given to 

 the graduates of forestry schools in several countries. 



The one thing in which the forestry business differs from all other 

 business is the long-time element, for it takes a hundred years and more to 

 grow trees fit for the use of the engineer, the builder and the architect ; 

 hence the dollar spent now in its first start must come back with compound 

 interest a hundred years hence. This long-time element entails careful 

 planning, entails economy and prevision. Hence, all the forester does 

 must be done with permanency in view. And here again the lumberman 

 and forester differ in objects, and therefore in methods; the one treats his 

 property as a speculation, a temporary occupancy ; the other treats it as an 

 investment ; permanent management, continuity of occupancy, is the basis 

 of his actions. 



The first step in taking hold of a forest property is, therefore, a survey 

 of the same, not only of its boundaries, but of its topography and character, 

 as well as of its contents. Surveying, both line and topographical survey- 

 ing, are requisites of a competent forester. While such a first survey 

 might be made by regular surveyors, as the work of the forest manager 

 progresses and needs recording on the maps, it will be found useful if he 

 can do his own surveying, and thereby become competent also to interpret 

 readily topographic maps. Such surveys, being not for general map pur- 

 poses but with engineering work in view, must be made with more care 

 and on a larger scale than is usual wth such field maps as, for instance, 

 those of a Geological Survey. 



