1905 FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION 519 



to part with it for such purposes. Sec- oak barrens, and employed experts to 

 ond, all the lands in the state to which investigate and report on the condi- 

 no parties had a valid claim became the tions of the forests of the state. The 

 property of the descendants of the urgent need of forest protection on the 

 Lords Proprietors, a relic of the days wartersheds, especially in regions suit- 

 when New Jersey was a British prov- able for water supply to cities, was 

 ince. There were, in other words, no vigorously championed by Professor 

 state or federal lands to reserve and Smock at the meetings of the board of 

 care for. Then again, legislation fol- the Geological Survey. This board 

 lows rather than precedes public opin- consisted of a set of broad-minded, 

 ion. It usually lags far behind, and eminent men. It was untrammeled by 

 often comes too late to do much good, political bias and it was no doubt while 

 But all the efforts of the past were he was a member of this board that 

 taking root to finally spring forth into Governor Stokes developed such a 

 something worthy of note. The recent keen interest in the subject. It is, 

 revival of interest in the subject has therefore, highly fitting that the Gov- 

 its root in the election of Governor ernor, Professor Smock, and Mr. 

 Stokes, a man from the pines, who has Kiimmel, the present State Geologist, 

 been interested in the subject of for- should be members of this commission, 

 estry for some time. At Qne time in New Jersey there ex _ 



An elaborate bill was passed, money isted a State Forestry Association. In 



was appropriated, not much, but the early days, Dr. Joseph Rothrock 



enough to start with, an able commis- wou ld come over from Pennsylvania, 



sion appointed, and the purchase of Dr. Fernow would come up from 



land begun. Washington, and Colonel Fox would 



It the purpose of this article to re- come down from Albany, and these, 



cord some of the efforts which have together with a few officials at the 



led up to this recent revival of interest, State House, a few foresters, a few 



to decribe what the commission has ac- enthusiasts, and a few nondescripts 



complished in the short period of its would constitute a meeting. Almost 



existence, and to indicate as far as everybody present was already con- 



the writer knows, its policy for the verted, but the discussions did some 



future. good and the newspapers always re- 



Among the various factors which ported a full and highly successful 



have been potent in moulding public meeting. This started in the southern 



opinion on the subject, the publica- part of the state, under the name of 



tions of the New Jersey Geological the South Jersey Woodmen's Associa- 



Snrvey are foremost. In fact, this in- tion. It had at one time a large mem- 



stitution has fathered the subject from bership and although extinct, it played 



the start. From the year 1856, almost its part. It helped to arouse interest 



every report contains an important in the subject by the distribution of lit- 



contribution on this subject. Much erature and by lectures here and there, 



credit is due Professor Cook, of the Through its invitation the American 



Geological Survey, who worked hard Forestry Association held a peripatetic 



for the preservation of the forests at meeting in New Jersey. A full itiner- 



a time when there were few sufficiently ary was arranged, but the secretary of 



interested or concerned to uphold and the American Forestry Association, or 



help him. somebody, neglected to send out the 



For many years following Professor announcements in time, so that when 



J. C. Smock, who succeeded Professor the American Forestry Association ar- 



Cook as State Geologist, had the sub- rived in New Jersey, it consisted of 



ject constantly in mind, and at heart, three officers of the Association and 



He deprecated the fact that fires were their wives. Nevertheless active nu-ct- 



converting pine timberlands into scrub- ings were held and the press notices 



