1905 FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION 25 



suit, so that with diminishing supplies Association by its efforts in no small 

 the importance of an economical use part brought forestry before the pub- 

 of the forest is now widely recognized, lie and its practice into existence here, 

 and we may reasonably claim that pub- and so grew itself with the growing 

 lie sentiment now so strongly sustains interest in the subject, 

 all sound movements for forest preser- The enthusiasts of the '8o's number- 

 vation that we need fear no abandon- ed only between two and three hun- 

 ment or diminution of the forest policy dred, and their propaganda seemed al- 

 inaugurated by the United States and most hopeless. But the work did tell 

 the various states. When the first in time, and the Association steadily 

 great federal forest reservations were grew, until we now number ten times 

 proclaimed in the far West, the oppo- what we did fifteen years ago. 

 sition to them by the people in the A year ago our annual membership 

 various localities where they were ere- amounted to 1,970. Through deaths, 

 ated was well-nigh unanimous. To- resignations, and those dropped for 

 day we can point to an almost com- non-payment of dues or otherwise, we 

 plete reversal of this sentiment. In lost during the past year 173, and we 

 no small part is this due to the appre- gained 262 new members, making the 

 ciation that water conditions can best net gain in annual membership for the 

 be maintained by preservation of the year 89 members, so that our annual 

 forests, and with the growing impor- membership on December I, 1904, was 

 tance of irrigation the strength of the 2,059. Adding to these : Sustaining 

 support of the forest reservation pol- members, 17; Life members, 121; 

 icy will also grow. Patrons, 2, we had at that date 2,199 

 The most important facts in connec- members. This membership is scat- 

 tion with the development of forestry tered throughout the country, every 

 in the United States during the last state and territory except one being 

 year are: First, the steady and rapid represented. A gratifying feature of 

 progress which commercial forestry is the past year has been the consider- 

 making in consequence of the growing able number of Forest officers who 

 recognition by lumbermen that con- have joined the Association. As we 

 servative lumbering offers definite have often stated before, we ought to 

 business advantages, to which, as busi- have 10,000 members, and the only 

 ness men, they must give careful con- way we can obtain such membership is 

 sideration, and that the day is rapidly through the active co-operation of all 

 approaching when the failure to prac- of our members. We have made ar- 

 tice forestry will mean for many of rangements for a campaign during the 

 them the extinction of their business ; coming year, by which it is hoped we 

 second, the substantial advance which may add several thousand to our mem- 

 has been made toward securing for- bership. The influence of such a body 

 ever for the people those portions of of public-spirited citizens actively ex- 

 the public lands which will make their ercised in behalf of forestry cannot be 

 largest contribution to the public wel- overestimated, and we should make 

 fare as permanent forests; third, the every effort to largely increase our 

 recognition by many of the states, who membership ; for, steady as has been 

 have not been interested heretofore, of the growth of the Association, it still 

 their duties and opportunities in re- falls far short of a membership com- 

 spect to the maintenance or extension ' mensurate with the national impor- 

 of their forests, resulting in definite tance of the forest movement which it 

 and comprehensive state forest poli- advocates. 



pi pc 



WORK OF THE; BUREAU OP FORESTRY. 



MEMBERSHIP OF THE ASSOCIATION. The activities of the Bureau of For- 

 With the growth of forestry in this estry are so numerous, varied and far- 

 country, this Association also must reaching that it is impossible in a re- 

 grow; or, to state it in what was cer- port of this character to more than 

 tainly the true terms until 1896, this touch upon a few of its most important 



