33 



Other measures of co-operation and aid would include research in 

 forestry and forest products, land classification, obtaining and diffusing 

 information regarding our forest resources and industrial conditions. Of 

 special importance is a comprehensive survey of the forest resources of 

 the country, to determine the quantities of existing timber suited to differ- 

 ent industrial uses, the current and future requirements of different regions, 

 the possible production of our forests by growth, and other matters that 

 would aid in developing a national policy of forestry. 



Function of the Federal Government. The Federal Government has a 

 function not only in owning and administering the National Forests ; it 

 should take the leadership in formulating a national policy that includes 

 the right handling of private forests. The Federal Government alone can 

 act effectively to bring about concurrent action as between the states. 

 Its research and educational work may be directed to the problems of 

 the nation and of regions that comprise more than one state. It can 

 stimulate and guide local action where the states acting individually would 

 fail. The Government is in a position to organize all agencies affected by 

 the forest problem in a united effort to carry out a program of forestry. 



The legislation directly affecting the private owner in the protection and 

 renewal of forests may best be by the states if they will only take the 

 action. The Government should aid the states in formulating plans and 

 developing methods and should give direct financial assistance in carrying 

 them out. 



The Federal Government has not given adequate assistance to the 

 states. It has helped to some extent in fire protection and research. One 

 hundred thousand dollars a year is now distributed to states qualifying 

 under the law to receive it, for organized protective work. This principle 

 of assistance should be greatly extended both in amount for protective 

 work and in scope to include other lines of forest activities. 



The direct aid of the states by the government, made contingent on 

 adoption by the former of acceptable programs of forest legislation and 

 administration, would help to secure concurrent action in different states 

 and would make possible the standardization of methods, and the achieve- 

 ment of results impossible without such aid. 



The first step in inaugurating a national policy of forestry is a federal 

 law providing the authority to co-operate with the states in formulating 

 and carrying out a program of forestry along the lines indicated in this 

 statement; and carrying an appropriation that can be used to assist such 

 states as inaugurate and put into effect a program determined to be ade- 

 quate by the Secretary of Agriculture. 



A great deal can be accomplished pending such substantial co-operation, 

 but with the aid that the nation might offer, results could be accomplished 

 that otherwise would be impossible. 



I may say that there are some people who do not agree that the program 

 of forestry should be carried out through the states. I have, however, 

 undertaken and proposed a program of very greatly increased activities 

 by the states, backed up both in the matter of assistance in carrying it out, 

 and by a large appropriation, without which the states themselves can not 

 possibly get the work under way. (Applause) 



