The Forest Products Laboratory 



to uses for which they are not adapted, while other timhers are 

 neglected for uses for which they are adapted — all these unfortu- 

 nate misapplications are or have been due to lack of knowledge 

 of the technological properties of our timbers. 



"Every day, almost, brings to light a new use for this or that 

 timber, every now and then lumber papers are weighing the serv- 

 iceability of this or that wood. Instead of proceeding on a sure 

 and scientific basis in recommending the application of any wood 

 to a particular use, opinions pro and con are brought to bear, and 

 the proper development of our resources is thereby retarded. 

 Yesterday it was Redwood that needed commendation in the 

 market, today it is Cypress that must be praised in order to re- 

 ceive due appreciation. Our timbers have never been fairly 

 tested, or if they have their qualities are not duly appreciated. 

 Many kinds have their use and value still hardly recognized; 

 woods of exceptional value for manufactin-ing purposes are con- 

 sumed for fuel; valuable and scarce varieties are used for coarse 

 work, while cheaper and more abundant sorts are availa])le. Still 

 less knowledge exists in regard to the conditions of growth which 

 influence the quality of woods. Crude 'experience' has been our 

 guide, and 'crude' has remained our 'knowledge'." 



Fifteen years later, Theodore Roosevelt, then President, broke 

 all presidential precedents by addressing, at a private home in Wash- 

 ington, a meeting of the Society of American Foresters, an organiza- 

 tion which embraced the handful of American foresters of that time. 

 During his talk, he said : 



"And now, first and foremost, you can never afl'ord to forget 

 for one moment what is the object of our forest pohcy. That 

 object is not to preserve the forests because they are beautiful, 

 though that is good in itself, nor because they are refuges for the 

 wild creatures of the wilderness, though that, too, is good in itself; 

 l)ut the primary object of our forest policy, as of the land policy 

 of the United States, is the making of prosperous homes. It is 

 part of the traditional policy of home making of our country. 

 Every other consideration comes as secondary. The whole effort 

 of the Government in dealing with the forests must be directed 

 to this end, keeping in view the fact tliat it is not only necessary 

 to start the homes as prosperous, but to keep them so. That is 



