i899- 



AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 



229 



ago some public-spirited citizens of 

 Pennsylvania induced the Legislature to 

 authorize the appointment of a Forestry 

 Commission, and Governor Pattison, 

 himself a Democrat, selected as its head 

 Dr. Joseph T. Rothrock, a Republican, 

 who was universally admitted to be the 

 best man for the place. Two years later, 

 when a single Commissioner of Forestry 

 was given charge of the matter, Gov- 

 ernor Hastings appointed Dr. Rothrock, 

 with the approval of all good citizens. 

 Under his leadership, acts have been 

 passed by the Legislature for the crea- 

 tion of forest reservations at the head- 

 waters of the State's chief rivers, and 

 for the purchase by the State of unset- 

 tled lands sold for taxes, with a view to 

 creating forest reservations out of them, 

 while a body of fire wardens has been 

 established to protect the forests from 

 burning. 



On every public ground, Dr. Rothrock 

 deserved reappointment when his term 

 expired. But. although a Republican in 

 his opinions, he is no politician, and hun- 

 gry office-seekers clamored for his place 

 as a reward for their services to the party 

 or the machine. There was fear that 

 the Quay Governor would yield to these 

 demands, but he has happily disap- 

 pointed the public by commissioning Dr. 

 Rothrock for another four years. The 

 advocates of forest reform throughout 

 the country will be encouraged by this 

 evidence that the movement has already 

 grown strong enough to command the 

 respect of the politicians. Evening 

 Post, IV. Y. City. 



While there are many things in the 

 administration of the affairs of the State 

 to criticize, there are also some to com- 

 mend. One of these is the reappoint- 

 ment this week of Prof. J. T. Roth- 

 rock to be Commissioner of Forestry. 

 It was reported a few months ago that 

 Professor Rothrock would be retired at 

 the expiration of his present term, but 

 Governor Stone has shown that he is not 

 utterly devoid of sense in retaining in the 



service of the State this most capable 

 and popular servant. 



As Commissioner of Forestry, Pro- 

 fessor Rothrock has given the Common- 

 wealth the benefit of his large experience 

 and the enthusiasm which he brings to 

 the consideration of the subject. He 

 believes that there is no one thing more 

 deserving the attention of the people 

 than the restoration of the forests and 

 those still left in the mountain region of 

 Pennsylvania. He has been at the head 

 of all these movements to promote tree 

 culture, and through his efforts much 

 good has resulted. The laws relating to 

 forest protection and growth have been 

 largely enacted through his personal ef- 

 forts, and it would have been a lasting 

 shame to remove him from a position of 

 such great usefulness. 



With the assurance of a certain ten- 

 ure, Professor Rothrock can go ahead 

 with those plans which have been under 

 consideration in his department, and the 

 whole State will applaud the Governor 

 for once setting aside merely political 

 considerations in making an appoint- 

 ment. City and State, Philadelphia. 



In the reappointment of Professor 

 Rothrock as State Commissioner of For- 

 estry Governor Stone certainly consulted 

 the best interests of the Commonwealth, 

 wisely casting political considerations to 

 the winds. 



In technical and practical knowledge 

 of the subject of forestry Professor 

 Rothrock is easily in the front ranks of 

 his profession. During his eight years 

 of service in his present position he has 

 become thoroughly familiar with the 

 needs of Pennsylvania in the matter of 

 reforesting its denuded and barren acres, 

 and is better qualified than any other 

 man to make practical suggestions as to 

 the best means of protecting the existing 

 forest area of the State. 



Professor Rothrock's reappointment is 

 to be commended without qualification, 

 and the State is to be congratulated upon 

 the prospect of securing his efficient serv- 

 ices for another term. Phila. Times. 



