The forester. 



Vol. V. 



FEBRUARY, 1899 



No. 2. 



Why Persons Interested 

 Members of the America 



It is generally believed throughout the 

 West that the destruction of the forests 

 and smaller growth upon the mountain 

 sides has an influence upon the quantity 

 of water available for irrigation. From 

 every section of the arid West statements 

 are received showing the disastrous con- 

 sequences of burning forest cover. In- 

 dividuals and communities appeal for 

 something to be done. It is hopeless to 

 expectthat anything will be accomplished 

 without united action and sustained 

 effort possible only through a strong 

 association. 



It may be said that the protection of 

 the forests is a matter for the General 

 Government, but it must be borne in 

 mind that this is a Government by the 

 people and that no action by the Govern- 

 ment can or will be taken unless urged 

 by a large body of citizens. The coun- 

 try is so vast that the wishes of a few 

 citizens cannot prevail in the general 

 struggle unless large numbers join hands 

 in a common cause. A sparsely settled 

 country as that of the West must call to 

 its aid the citizens of the more populous 

 States of the East. The six million of 

 people within the arid region can suc- 

 ceed when their interests are identical 

 with those of the sixty million living out- 

 side. 



In the matter of forest preservation 

 the interests of East and West are iden- 

 tical, and in his attempt to retain the 

 wooded growth around the headwaters 

 of the streams the irrigator receives the 

 full sympathy of foresters throughout the 

 country. To make this sympathy effective 



in Irrigation should be 

 n Forestry Association* 



through the enactment and enforcement 

 of proper laws each irrigator should join 

 the Forestry Association, and thus add his 

 name and contribution toward pushing 

 forward the desired objects. By .so doing 

 his efforts otherwise unavailable be- 

 come effective and the work of -the asso- 

 ciation more practical. 



The benefits of a strong national or- 

 ganization have already been shown in 

 the legislation obtained after sixteen 

 years of unremitting effort. The dis- 

 appointments and failure year after year' 

 have not discouraged the members and 

 they now have reason to rejoice at what 

 has been done, although this falls faf 

 short of their anticipations. The laws 

 passed by Congress for the protection 

 of the forests are not those originally 

 proposed and are recognized as imper- 

 fect ; they should be modified from time 

 to time as experience demonstrates the 

 necessity and feasibility of so doing. 

 Above all their enforcement must be a 

 matter of keen solicitude. Public senti- 

 ment must stand behind the officers 

 charged with the execution of the laws 

 sustaining them in their duties and con- 

 stantly demanding competence and 

 fidelity. To do this it is necessary to 

 have a strong organization one which 

 will not be dominated by factions or 

 personal aims, but which with a widely 

 diffused membership shall reflect the 

 larger public wishes. 



In the East, where the development 

 of population and industries has shown 

 the need of protecting the forests, the 

 membership of the American Forestry 



