GGG AMERICAN FORESTRY 



spasmodically and unsystematically at greater cost than would be required 

 to do it intelligently. The writing of laws is often done by one element with 

 an unfamiliarity with others' problems that brings minimum efficiency if not 

 actual coutlict. Particularly is it done without the knowledge of fundamental 

 principles in state forest administration which can be learned only by study 

 of results in other states. Good bills fail of passage, or bad ones pass, be- 

 cause of failure to work together effectively in making and directing public 

 pressure upon legislatures. Underlying these difficulties of detail is the great 

 task upon which complete success in any of them depends establishing in 

 American citizenship a universal and sound grasp of forest economies, includ- 

 ing not only the relation of forest preservation to public welfare, but also 

 those governing conditions of production and market, loss and profit, practi- 

 cability of method, and division of private and public responsibility, igno- 

 rance of which now creates suspicion and prejudice between forest owner and 

 forest user. This task calls for closer and more constant relations between 

 all elements concerned than now generally exist. 



That lack of mutual understanding and its inevitable attendants, divided 

 effort and conflict, are the most powerful deterrents of progress and yet un- 

 necessary has been clearly taught by the experience of the Western Forestry 

 and Conservation Association. This organization, now well known to every- 

 one acquainted with American forestry, was originally formed for the inter- 

 change of ideas and experiences by the several cooperative patrol associations 

 maintained by Idaho and Washington timber owners. Quick realization that 

 quite as important as actual fire fighting is persistent honest education, both 

 without and within the timber industry, led to the employment of a forester 

 .and the joint financing of educational work at once more economical and more 

 consistent than could be carried on independently. 



Immediately, however, the function of the alliance as a clearing house 

 for ideas and experience appealed to all others engaged in forest work, and it 

 was enlarged to admit state and federal forest officials, conservation associa- 

 tions, and new fire organizations of timber owners in adjoining states. This 

 broadening not only placed it securely on a footing of unselfish reliable au- 

 thority recognized by the public and already extremely eff'ective in improving 

 laws and sentiment, but also brought about a marked change in the relation 

 of its constituent elements. The conservation enthusiast, the federal officer, 

 the representative of state administration, the practical lumberman each 

 learned that the others were good citizens and could teach him about as much 

 as he could them. Above all, they learned each others' problems and that 

 none could succeed without respecting all. They began to work together, 

 with results gratifying beyond expectation, and this was accomplished not 

 by changing human nature, but solely by providing a means by which they 

 could get acquainted and work together. 



But the Western Forestry and Conservation Association is an interstate 

 institution extending from Montana to California and, while ready to help 

 locally where wanted, is equally scrupulous not to force interference or con- 

 flict with the individual policy of its constituents in any particular state. 

 This has allowed a clear view of progress by states which teaches an illuminat- 

 ing lesson that progress is in exactly the measure that the states themselves 

 have applied the principle of cooperation locally. Where timber owners have 

 carried cooperative patrol to the fullest degree and abandoned independent 

 duplicating systems, better protection is had for less money, and public and 

 lumberman alike are more careful in the use of fire. Where there are tlie 

 fullest and most constantly employed facilities for actual cooperation in work 

 and finances by private owner, government and state, there is the greatest 



