100 AMERICAN FORESTRY 



both woods and waters are in their industrial aspects closely related not only to mineral 

 production and the reclamation of arid lands but to all agriculture and to transpor- 



Therefore we conceive the field of our association to be vital and lasting and so 

 broad, many-sided and far-reaching as to amply justify the existence of an association 

 dedicated to the advancement of scientific forestry for the best utilization of our forest 



lands for all time. ^ . 



Our work is independent of that of the government but conducted in close touch 

 with it. As an independent body of citizens we can do and say what government officials 

 cannot do and say. Our program embodies: 



(1) An equitable system of taxation which shall not unduly burden the growing 



crop; 



(2) Adequate protection against fire which will reduce this greatest of forest 



perils to a minimum; 



(3) The practice of scientific management upon all existing forests; 



(4) The planting of all unoccupied lands which can be utilized more profitably 

 for forestry than for any other purpose; 



(5) The whole to be brought about through harmonious adjustment of functions 

 between the three classes of owners national, state and private. We do not believe 

 that either one of these agencies is to be relied upon alone. Each has its place. 



Our efforts during the year have been largely directed to placing the association 

 squarely upon this platform, and to seeking the best means of accomplishing results 

 along these lines. We believe that a considerable measure of success has been accom- 

 plished in this direction and that the significance and function of the association is 

 better understood today than it was a year ago. To the general movement for the con- 

 servation of all the natural resources of the country we give our hearty support, but 

 we believe that we do the largest and most effective service by sticking closely to our 

 text so far as our own work and efforts are concerned. Nor do we hold ourselves bound 

 or committed in any way by the acts of other organizations, however friendly our rela- 

 tions with them may be. In other words, our policy must be our own, not someone 

 else's, and we must not allow the forest interests of the country to be prejudiced or 

 submerged by any other influences or interests. 



FINANCIAL CONDITION 



The year has not been satisfactory from a financial standpoint notwithstanding 

 the generous assistance rendered by many of our members in the way of voluntary 

 contributions. The increased cost of living has been felt in the steady increase in the 

 cost of maintaining the simplest working organization. Notwithstanding the closest 

 economy the year ends with a heavy deficit, and still we were obliged to curtail our 

 activities in several directions. The closest economy has been applied to the production 

 of the magazine, with the result that a reduction has been made in its cost while its 

 quality, we believe, has been improved; but we have about reached the limit of economy 

 in this direction. Any further reduction must lower the standard of the magazine and 

 we are probably all agreed that this is our most effective instrument and that its quality 

 should be constantly improved. Several projects carefully planned by the board last 

 winter had to be held in abeyance or inadequately carried out on account of lack of funds. 

 Constant development is essential to the virility of an association like ours, and the 

 spirit of today is one of steady and rapid progress of the interests that we represent. 

 If we do not accomplish enough, or move with sufficient rapidity, it must be remembered 

 that it is not for lack of ideas or opportunity, but for lack of means. More members and 

 more money are needed, and we believe that the public interest is sufficiently great to 

 meet this need if it is fully understood so that we can go on and accomplish the great 

 work that still lies before us. 



In some ways the year has had peculiar difficulties. Among these may be men- 

 tioned that uncertainty in regard to conditions and purposes which has pervaded much 

 of the work of development in the country and which we have endeavored to meet by 

 making clear our program and purposes. 



In seeking for members and support it has been inevitable that the organization of 

 the National Conservation Association, appealing to most of those who are especially 

 interested in our work should introduce a certain element of competition which we are 

 obliged to meet. In these days of numerous organizations many people feel that they 

 must make a choice, that they cannot connect themselves with all. We regret this, but 

 it is unavoidable. The publication of a magazine by the National Conservation Asso- 

 ciation will introduce a further element of competition with our own magazine. To meet 

 this we can only continue our efforts to produce a magazine, interesting, instructive, 

 authoritative and one that will fully occupy its field that of American forestry. 



