GIFFORD PINCHOT 

 President National Conservaiion Association (see page 113) 



vate forestry work. It is the desire of the 

 present board, through the assistance of its 

 members, to become associated more closely 

 with the various commonwealths and with 

 the people who are working for the advance- 

 ment of forestry in them. Notwithstanding 

 the enormous National Forest domain and 

 the work that the Nation has to do, the real 

 future of forestry in the United States lies 

 in large part with the states and their indi- 

 vidual citizens, and, in accordance with the 

 spirit of our American institutions, this will 

 continue to be so, notwithstanding the in- 

 evitable extension of National acitivies. 



The measure of National legislation for 

 which there seems to be most imperative 

 need at this time is that for which the Asso- 

 ciation has consistently labored since 1905, 

 a law providing for the establishment of 

 National Forests on the great Appalachian 

 watersheds of the East. We do not need 

 to enlarge upon the subject in this report. 

 It has been for a long time before the As- 

 sociation, has been discussed in all its phases, 

 and will continue to be until something is 

 done. There seems to be no change in the 

 reluctance of Congress to act in this matter, 

 but the passage of a bill through the House 

 during the last session and the fact that only 



the lack of time prevented its passing through 

 the Senate, and the approval given by the 

 President in his recent conservation message, 

 seem to offer a fair prospect that something 

 may be accomplished during the present ses- 

 sion. To that end the Association will lend 

 its energies. The individual states cannot 

 afford to meet the cost of these forests out 

 of their treasuries. We, therefore, urge 

 members of this Association all over the 

 country to write to their Senators and Rep- 

 resentatives in Congress the urgent need of 

 this National legislation. 



There are several plans of work at present 

 under consideration, but they are not suffi- 

 ciently developed for discussion at this time. 

 As they are worked out they will be brought 

 to the attention of the members during the 

 year. 



In closing this report, we wish to urge 

 that the cordial and active support of the 

 members of the Association is worth a great 

 deal in furthering its work. To reach the 

 different parts of the country, we must hear 

 from the members who live in them, and 

 this we are always glad to do. We ask for 

 your suggestion and your counsel, and the 

 machinery of the Association is always at tlu 1 



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