ON FORESTRY x 



For the last fourteen years I have been a member of a 

 little forest congress, originally composed of fifteen mem- 

 bers and increased lately to seventeen, namely the com- 

 mittee on public lands. The questions that you are dis- 

 cussing and will discuss during this conference here we 

 have been struggling with during all this time. The 

 problem of growing trees must of necessity be solved, not 

 only by the private owner, but also by the state and na- 

 tion. Congress has recognized the necessity of setting 

 apart large areas of forest for the purpose of preserving 

 streams for irrigation and for the benefit, I think, as well, 

 of the public health ; because the forest is a source of pub- 

 lic health. The fact has been recognized that the govern- 

 ment must take some steps and take these steps in time. 

 The movement has been late, but it is not too late. This 

 vast area of the public domain (larger than Iowa and 

 Ohio combined) that has thus been set apart, and I be- 

 lieve, set apart for the American people and their chil- 

 dren and their children's children forever, need no longer 

 remain in the custody of that great department whose 

 main business it is to dispose of the public land, to trans- 

 fer it to the private individual for his home ; and, there- 

 fore, for several years I personally have championed a 

 measure which would remove from this great committee 

 one of its most pleasing duties, but yet would transfer it 

 to a department better fitted — admirably fitted for the 

 future care and preservation of this great domain. And 



i Impromptu address by Hon. John Lacey, member of Congress from 

 Iowa, at the American Forest Congress (p. 403-409), Washington, D. C, 

 January 2-6, 1905. 



