163 



I would like to say a word further with respect to the cutting- 

 out method. We have heard considerable in this series of meet- 

 ings about the importance of our doing things. Whenever I 

 hear a man talking about "impossibilities/' then something be- 

 gins to boil. I do not believe in "impossibilities" that are simply 

 guessed at. It was no impossibility for the Pennsylvania lumber- 

 men to sweep over this State from the Delaware to Ohio and 

 take down every merchantable tree within the State; and that 

 has been so completely done that Pennsylvania has figuratively 

 been combed of her merchantable forest trees. If it is not im- 

 possible to do a thing when there is a money reward behind it, 

 why is it impossible to do it when there is simply some altruistic 

 thing behind it? This method of dealing in impossibilities is 

 mighty misleading business, and I want you to know that we 

 believe it is so. The cutting-out of this diseased stuff in the 

 forest reserves, then, is going to continue. We propose to find 

 a market for it if we can; but if we cannot, it is going to be 

 destroyed. To that extent the Department will contribute its 

 small share to do what it can, to stop the westward advance of 

 this scourge. 



Let us not talk about impossibilities until we know we are up 

 blank against the stone wall. You have well gathered from the 

 uncertainty which has pervaded these meetings with respect to 

 methods and means, that it ought not to lie in the mouth of any- 

 body to come here and talk about impossibilities, especially with 

 regard to things that are not half way investigated. Let us in- 

 vestigate and work: rot investigate first and work afterwards. 

 Let us get busy all along the line and, when we have utterly tried 

 out every method and are absolutely and abjectly defeated, then 

 it is time to talk about impossibilities. (Applause). 



THE CHAIRMAN : Is there any inquiry? 



PROFESSOR SMITH: 1 should like to repeat the question 

 of Mr. J. W. Fisher, because I believe Mr. Williams is in posi- 

 tion to throw some light on it. We have had a great deal of 

 trouble with fat lands near Philadelphia, on the lands of rich 

 men, where forest fires are unknown. What has been the testi- 

 mony there with regard to this climatic matter? 



