2 g 4 AMERICAN FORESTRY 



that other interests are involved in some ownership will be needed more the 



regions, preservation of soil, regularity farther these ideal conditions are de- 



of water flow and attractive scenery be- parted from. 



ing- chief among- the number. On this 2. To compel men to hold standing 



subject I desire to say that what we timber while it is subject to such taxa- 



shall need most is clear knowledge of tion as it is exposed to in some of our 



the facts, and then the demarcation of states is an injustice not to be borne, 



such areas under the head of protection The tax law must be revised first, 



of forests or some similar term. Sec- 3. Legal regulation of cutting is a 



ond, third, and fourth head, repetition different matter, so difficult that when 



of the ideas in Marsh's great work, education will accomplish the same end, 



"The Earth as Modified by Human Ac- as it will in many cases, it should be em- 



tion," is not sufficient basis upon which ployed to the full before resorting to 



to base positive legislation strongly the other measure. 



affecting private interests. Accurate, 4. Public ownership of those tracts 

 trustworthy information is a requisite on which the maintenance of forest 

 here, and that we are only just begin- cover is indispensable, is the simplest 

 ning to get, and most satisfactory means of attain- 

 When this information is in hand and nig . tnat ent ]. I n some types of forest 

 areas of protective forest are pro- regulation to secure its protective 

 claimed, the question will arise if win really amount to confisca . 

 public ownership is not altogether the tion of itg m yalue 

 best solution of the problem, rather than Hard &nd f ^ di& _ 

 the regulation of the private holder. It ^ 

 certainly is simplest and surest, and un- J . 

 less types of forest are such that they regulation, entirely inapplicable to some 

 will produce an income at the same time ^P 65 of forest If complete plans can- 

 that the protective offices of the forest not be made > then some limit should be 

 are maintained, it is the only real solu- defined, like devastation or destruction 

 tion. f the growing power of wood land, 

 I feel that New York state in ac- terms to be interpreted by state officers 

 quiring its forest preserve in the Adi- under supervision of the courts, beyond 

 rondack and Catskill Mountains is pur- which the owner will not be permitted 

 suing the most just and satisfactory to go. 

 course, a course which it will pay all 



our states to follow in the care of truly W? & U? 

 protective forest areas, at whatever cost 



of money and sacrifice. DISCUSSION BY A LAWYER 



In conclusion, some of the salient By ALLEN HOLLIS( of New Hampshire 

 points may be briefly summarized : 



i. Adequate fire protection often se- (""^^E of the memorable dates in our 



cures in reasonably good fashion all the ^-^ history is May 13, 1908. It marks 



objects necessary to secure reproduction no great victory at arms, nor hero's 



and growth of the forest and mainte- birth ; but on that day President Roose- 



nance of its protective office. In my velt gave to the world the doctrine of 



opinion the state of Maine, in which conservation as a living force, since 



this judicial opinion originated, will be grown into the issue of QUr times> 



among the last of the states to act upon TH^ u_ -j ^ jj 



, i ,i r K 1 he President s opening address to 



it, except with the purpose of promoting , ^ . , 



this particular end, because of the the Con g ress of Governors, with char- 

 abundant reproduction and rapid actenstic V1 g r > emphasizes the imme- 

 growth of the region, its freedom from diate danger of exhausting our national 

 Miil erosion and the regular flow of its resources, including our forests. It 

 rivers due to topography and the exis- suggests a remedy state regulation ; 

 ti-nce of lakes. Regulation or state and as authority quotes a recent opinion 



