\.\.\r \r, REPORT 01- DIRECTi IRS 





call of a conference to consider thi- 

 question; the greatest issue, in hi> 

 judgment, before' the American peo 

 pie. 



The year has witncs-ed stremnni- 

 attacks upon the National Forest pol- 

 icy, notably at the close of the la-t ses- 

 sion of Cong-ress by Senator- from 

 certain \\'estern mountain States, and 

 by the convention held in Denver. Col 

 orado, June 18 to 20, to di-cn-- the 

 National Forest policy and related 

 questions. Vigorous expression -, 

 however, from individuals, associa- 

 tions, and newspapers in the same 

 States make clear that the critics of the 

 forestry principle and of its adminis- 

 tration by the National Government 

 represent neither the people of the 

 whole I'nited States, whose property 

 the National Forests are, nor even the 

 communities in which they reside. Ex- 

 traordinary publicity to the fore-try 

 question has been given by these dis- 

 cussions, the net result being decidedly 

 advantageous to the forestry move- 

 ment. Legislation, it is true, forbid- 

 ding the extension by presidential 

 proclamation of the National Forest 

 area in the States of Washington, 

 Oregon, Idaho, Montana, \Vvoming, 

 and Colorado, was passed. Practical- 

 ly all the land, however, materially 

 necessary for National Forests in the 

 States named was set aside for that 

 purpose before the enactment of this 

 legislation. Furthermore, National 

 Forests have since been established, by 

 proclamation, in other States, as Cali- 

 fornia and Arkansas. The National 

 Forest area has grown from 127,154,- 

 371 acres on December 31, 1906, to 

 1(12.023,190 acres on January i, 1908; 

 an addition of 34,868,819 acres. The 

 conspicuous success accompanying the 

 administration of this imperial domain 

 i- well set forth in the reports of the 

 Secretary of Agriculture and of the 

 !'( irester. 



A bird'--i-\-e view of the forest situ- 

 ation ami of forestry work in the 

 State-, a-ide from the work of aSSO- 

 ciatioiis and schools, follow-: 



.Maine is still cutting timber, the 



cut ol ki-t winter bein- e-tiinaled at 

 8OO,OOO,0 ' feet of gpru, 



000,000 of pine. Diligent efforts 

 made to prevent fires, and the St.v 

 record as regard- lire prevent 

 better than for main year-. A joint 

 State and Federal inve-ti^atidi ha- 

 been securing data on the lakes and 

 rivers with a view to conserving wa 

 terpowers. An act has been pas 

 permitting local officers to take, by 

 eminent domain, five-rod .-trip- al'in- 

 public ways for park purpo.-< 



New Hampshire has reorganized 

 her fore-try commission, and is con- 

 templating a law for establishing a 

 forest oihce. 



Vermont ha- established in the Ag- 

 ricultural Experiment Station, at I'.ur- 

 lington, a State nursery for growing 

 forest tree seedlings, to be furnished 

 for planting in the State at cost. 



Massachusetts SCCKS to assist land 

 owners to convert practically idle land 

 areas into profitable woodlots. The 

 State Forester distributes literature 

 regarding white pine seed and also a 

 limited number of white pine and white 

 ash trees for planting. The State re- 

 quires spark arrestors on locomotive-, 

 the keeping of railroad rights-of-way 

 clear of dead leaves and brush, and 

 authorizes railroads to clear adjacent. 

 unoccupied land. Railroad employ 

 are also required to fight fires. Newly 

 established town officials are held re- 

 sponsible for fighting all tire- -tarted 

 by railways, hunter-, or carele-- or 

 malicious person-. 



Connecticut's new fire warden ser- 

 vice is proving effective. Tin- fact is 

 encouraging planting, ^n.ooo -eed- 

 Iini4- having been planted la-t -pring. 

 The State \gricultural Experiment 

 Station, through its Forester, offer- 

 advice and aid to owners of w lktn< 



New York State Owns [,347,280 

 acres OUl of 3.^13.5(14 acre- of the 

 Adirondack reserve; and <ij. / -o'-; jn 

 the Cat -kill reserve, as again-t (.83, 



4 I 2 acres privalelv owned. The 

 called Men-It re- >luti>n. lookj- 

 a con-titutioiial amendment to p 

 mit private owner- to niter the 

 and construct dam- for 



