This is the machinery now in existence and rapidly enlarg- 

 ing, for the study and care of our forest interests. Now, what 

 in fact, do those interests comprise, succinctly stated. 



The forests of the United States at this date, 1914, cover 

 850,000,000 acres, National, State and private, divided as fol- 

 lows: 



295,000,000 acres corporations and individuals. 

 140,000,000 acres National forests. 

 100,000,000 acres farm wood lots. 

 10,000,00 acres Indian Reservations. 



3,246,000 acres State forests. 



2,000,000 acres National parks. 



The lumber industry ranks first in number of wage-earners 

 and third in value of products in our country. According to 

 the census of 1909, the latest actual figures available, the 

 number of wage-earners is 734,989. The value of forest prod- 



ts in that year is given as $1,156,129,000. The forest service 

 imates the present value as approximating $1,250,000,000. 

 he money paid out for salaries and wages was in 1909, 



66,167,000, of which $47,428,000 was for salaries and $318,- 

 39,000 for wages. 



Surely, interests so large are worth caring for. What are 



e doing to preserve and foster them? 



It was first said by, I think, Gifford Pinchot, that the two 

 at enemies of forestry, of our woodland growth, are forest 

 fires and unwise taxation. The country has measurably been 

 awakened to the fire danger; the United States Forest serv- 

 ice notably has done and is doing immensely good and val- 

 uable work in this direction and not less than twenty-nine 

 States make annual appropriations for forestry (including 

 fire protection) ranging in some few states from small 

 amounts, up to $164,500 in New York last year, and $328,000 

 in Pennsylvania, the total amount in all states so appropriat- 

 ing being $1,340,000. 



The various Forestry and Fire Protective Associations are 

 unceasingly active in fire protection work, led by the exam- 

 ticn, which embraces the States of Washington, Idaho, Mont- 

 ana, California and Oregon. This association set the example 

 of printing and distributing among the school children of 



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