216 PUBLIC PARKS OF IOWA 



in the department. This will be to the interests of the reserves and the 

 (people who use them. We heartily commend the action of Secretary 

 Hitchcock in creating the Division of Forestry of the Interior Department 

 and appointing men who are specially fitted to look after the management 

 of the reserves, until such time as the forestry work of the government 

 shall be under one management, the United States Department of Agri- 

 culture. 



In regard to the grazing of sheep in our reserves we are glad to note 

 that a more enlightened policy shall prevail. We commend specially the 

 statement of Mr. Gifford Pinchot, that "wise adjustment of the grazing 

 question must be a compromise founded on a just consideration of all vari- 

 ous interests concerned." The resources of the forests should be wisely 

 used and all matters pertaining to the forest and tributary country should 

 be considered on its merits. We approve most heartily, also, the recom- 

 mendation of Secretary of Agriculture Wilson in regard to the proposed 

 Appalachian reserve which is urged in order to protect the headwaters 

 of important streams, to maintain an already greatly impaired supply of 

 timber, and to promote a national recreation ground which, with the 

 single exception of the Adirondacks, will be readily accessible to a larger 

 number of people than any other forest region in the United States. 



Resolved, That the Academy of Sciences hereby petitions congress to 

 take favorable action on the following recommendations: 



"1. To set aside for park and forestry purposes the timber tracts of 

 the Leach Lake Indian Reservation and other lands at the headwaters of 

 the Mississippi to protect the waters of this great stream which have 

 greatly diminished during the summer months. Also to conserve the im- 

 mature white pine and other timbers so useful in the arts and industries. 

 The cutting of mature white pine should be permitted under restrictions 

 laid down by the interior department. We favor also the setting apart 

 for similar purposes such other lands as congress may control in the 

 states of Wisconsin, Minnesota and other states, to the end that the timber 

 supply of said states may be at least partially saved or restored, and that 

 the forests on such tracts may serve to conserve the moisture and to pro- 

 tect and preserve wild game in said regions. That congress take favor- 

 able action on the recommendations of Secretary Hitchcock with refer- 

 ence to the transfer of forestry work; since the concentration of forestry 

 work is highly desirable to give stability and permanence to the manage- 

 ment of the forest reserves. 



"2. The purchase of land by the government for a southern Appala- 

 chian park in the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada regions. We favor 

 therefore, the passage of House Bill No. 3128 introduced by H. Brownlow. 



"3. The withholding from the market by the government of public 

 lands covered with timber and making provisions for the sale of the ma- 

 ture timber thereon under the supervision of a technically trained forester. 



"4. The enactment of a law embodying the recommendation of Hon. 

 Binger Herman, commissioner of the general land office, in his last an- 

 nual report 'that all public lands which are more valuable for forest uses 

 than for other purposes shall be withdrawn from settlement, entry, sale or 

 other disposition and be held for the protection and utilization of the 



