EDITORIAL 



BUSINESS MEN MAY SOLVE FORESTRY PROBLEM 



TTAVING heard evidence regarding the condition of 

 - the forests, the need for measures to perpetuate what 

 forest land is left, and for funds for proper protection 

 from fires, the National Forest Policy Committee of the 

 Chamber of Commerce of the United States is now pre- 

 paring its conclusions. What this committee recommends 

 will have tremendous weight in determining just what 

 legislation is needed to assure the United States a forest 

 supply for its future needs. Its recommendations will be 

 placed before Chambers of Commerce throughout the 

 country in the form of a referendum, the result of which 

 will be given due consideration by Congress. 



The Chamber of Commerce of the United States has 

 done few things of more lasting importance than the in- 

 vestigation of the forestry situation. The outcome will 

 have an effect from which future generations will profit 

 much more than the present, but the citizens of today will 

 have the satisfaction of knowing that they have done for 

 posterity what their forbears by reason of abundant re- 

 sources and low values could not afford to do for them. 



It is safe to say this because there is no doubt now 

 about Congress providing initial forestry legislation 

 which will go far toward meeting forestry needs. The 

 entire country is now aroused to a point where it is de- 

 manding reforestation of cutover lands, better protection 

 from forest fires, provisions for growing new forests, 

 and for long time or perpetual production from our 

 existing forests, but it has not found a way to pay for 

 it. Forest products are still a long way from selling at 

 cost of production of new forests. 



The Chamber of Commerce Committee has heard the 

 evidence of foresters, timberland owners, lumbermen, 



shippers, tax experts and lawyers on every phase of for- 

 est growth, protection, taxation, cutting and marketing, 

 and from the mass of information should, and undoubt- 

 edly will, be able to be of tremendous' service to Con- 

 gress in indicating the kind of legislation which will 

 best meet all the requirements of the situation. 



Citizens have occasion to congratulate themselves be- 

 cause the clear-sighted business men on the committee 

 having heard all sides of the problem will now be in a 

 position to suggest a solution. 



There are now two forestry bills before Congress, the 

 Snell-McCormick bill advocated by the United States 

 Forest service, the American Forestry Association, the 

 National Forestry Program Committee, many state fores- 

 ters, and others, and the Capper bill, backed by former 

 United States Forester Giflford Pinchot and a number of 

 his followers. Each bill will undoubtedly meet with op- 

 position when it is argued before Congressional commit- 

 tees. Each bill will certainly be declared by some to be in- 

 complete, and they will have amendments to suggest ; and 

 quite as certainly no one is likely to propose a bill on which 

 all foresters and others best informed on the subject will 

 agree. Thus opportunity for constructive legislation may 

 be lost by lack of harmony in thought and principle. 



In this situation then the Chamber of Commerce Com- 

 mittee, having the advice and opinion of the most en- 

 lightened minds, has the opportunity to do for the peo- 

 ple of the United States a service from which genera- 

 ions will profit it has the opportunity of pointing out 

 to Congress the legislation required to protect our re- 

 maining forests, to create new forests and solve the 

 whole vitally important forest problem. 



INTELLIGENT MANAGEMENT OF CITY PARKS 



TJTITH the return this summer of the open season in 

 " our city parks came a marked renewal of pub- 

 lic interest in these invaluable recreation centers. And the 

 outstanding result of this renewed interest it seems is 

 the fact that the public is now awakening to the pres- 

 ent unsightly and vmkept condition of the parks. 



While there are no doubt competent and sincere offi- 

 cials in charge of our parks, it is also true that the 

 greater number are selected for political reasons only, 

 without a thought as to their competency or knowledge 

 of the work they are expected to properly direct or to do. 

 And as a sequence, the already large appropriations are 

 squandered with very little that is concrete to show for 

 the year's work and expenditure. 



The fact that there are fine specimen trees and shrubs 

 in our parks, many of which have required many years 

 to develop, does not indicate that such trees need no 

 further attention. On the contrary, a tree which has 

 taken years to develop may be by neglect wholly lost 



or seriously injured in a single season for want of proper 

 attention, in not removing the dead wood, or from in- 

 sect pests, lack of good soil and other causes. Unfilled 

 cavities and dead wood not only aid in the destruction 

 of trees and shrubs, but surely mar the beauty and des- 

 troy the landscape effect, as do also dead trees and 

 shrubs not removed. 



In a word then, cannot this awakening interest and 

 efforts of the public spirited be made to bring about a 

 new order which will put competency and knowledge 

 before party favor and political motives in the selection 

 of park officials and thus assure the people and the tax- 

 payers of conscientious and efficient management of the 

 parks, thus paving the way for better things to follow. 



In a recent address Hon. E. T. Meredith, former Sec- 

 retary of Agriculture, remarked "that politics has no 

 place in matters of this kind," which sentiment rings true 

 as especialy applied to the care and management of our 

 city parks. 



