6 REPORT OF THE FOREST COMMISSION. 



State forestry, the difficulty is to get the forests. Therefore, since the 

 State owns but a small portion of the woodland within its borders, 

 private owners, not the State, must do most of the forestry. The 

 third line of effort is to make the State forest reserves as valuable, 

 in themselves and as demonstrations, as is possible; and the fourth 

 to get more and better shade trees. 



PUBLIC APPROVAL. 



The Commission feels justified in calling attention to the gen- 

 erous measure of approval thai is accorded its efforts, by those who 

 watch from a distance as well as by those who are immediately 

 concerned. 



At home the last remnant of opposition to the Commission's 

 policy with respect to forest firesi has given place to constant de- 

 mands for a strict enforcement of the laws. The effort to interest 

 forest owners in the practice of forestry by giving security and 

 value to their properties is steadily gaining support. The work 

 that is done for shade trees satisfies a large number of urban citi- 

 zens and makes the Commission and its activities widely known. 

 In other States, New Jersey's laws and policy are frequently en- 

 dorsed by imitation. 



But in many ways the Commission's work is little more than 

 begun. The fire habit is checked^ not broken. Now comes the 

 task of enriching the State by establishing good forests where 

 poor forests, or none, have been, and providing for their highest 

 utilization. The effort is educational and will proceed slowly, for 

 in this direction the Commission can compel no one. 



TRAFFIC IN WILD LAND. 



A subject that has engaged the Commission's attention, though 

 not strictly within its province, is the exploitation of land in for- 

 ested sections by unscrupulous promoters. On account of its prox- 

 imity to New York and Philadelphia, New Jersey has always been 

 a fertile field for this sort of thing. The worst offenders are those 

 who seek to sell building lots in "towns" whose existence is evi- 

 denced solely by a plot map and by "streets" cut through the brush. 

 The statement that the "streets are opened" seems to satisfy those 

 who think to inquire about improvements, and a railroad within 



