670 



CONSERVATION 



But we cannot long depend upon im- 

 porting lumber of any grade ; for with 

 the general awakening of the nations, 

 the world over, they are likely soon to 

 want what they have for themselves. 



In any case., it is useless to talk of 

 importing our forest supplies. We 

 must provide for them at home or 

 practically do without, whatever the 

 consequence. 



We are told by some of our high and 

 wise counselors that the United States, 

 the only authority that can furnish ef- 

 ficient protection to our forests and 

 streams, can adopt no general plan of 

 control because it would be unconsti- 

 tutional. 



The country has never made a real 

 advance movement without meeting 

 this same objection, and, if such coun- 

 sel had been heeded, the United States 

 would have gone to pieces long ago ; but 

 fortunately, when unforeseen dangers 

 threatened and new conditions required 

 adjustment to meet new wants, we have 

 had men directing the affairs of state 

 wise and strong enough to use such 

 available means as became necessary to 

 safeguard the welfare of the Nation. 



The people have sustained such ac- 

 tion, and the "broken Constitution" has 

 been, in some way, adjusted to the new 

 situation ; and when the people demand 

 national supervision for our forests and 

 streams, they can certainly find a way 

 to make it constitutional. 



The real dangers are from apathy 

 and indifference of the people regard- 

 ing the urgency of the case, and the 

 greed of private interests that would 

 deceive the country as to actual condi- 

 tions, seek control of remaining re- 

 sources, and continue the work of de- 

 struction. 



Our Forest Service, with its thor- 

 oughly competent chief, able assistants, 

 and intelligent foresters and rangers, is 

 working out our various forest prob- 

 lems and demonstrating the best means 

 for meeting present and future wants, 

 as fast as the laws and means provided 

 will permit, and can be depended upon 

 for wise direction of whatever larger 

 operations the country may undertake. 



We have, then, the nucleus already 

 established, and should be able to evolve 

 some system of national control, tinder 

 guidance and supervision of the Forest 

 Service, that shall insure such protec- 

 tion, development, and perpetuation of 

 our forest resources as may be neces- 

 sary to safeguard the paramount and 

 permanent interests of the whole coun- 

 try. Not necessarily Government own- 

 ership, but some system of cooperation 

 by which, in consideration of aid and 

 protection to state, local, or individual 

 owners, the Government should receive 

 a reasonable per cent on sales of the 

 forest products. 



If well managed, we believe there is 

 land enough in the United States worth 

 more for forest than for other purposes, 

 much of it an idle waste, and, under 

 present conditions, rapidly deteriorat- 

 ing, to provide for probable future ne- 

 cessities of the people. 



A steady demand for forest mate- 

 rial is quite certain to make the pro- 

 duction profitable for the timber alone ; 

 while, as a regulator of the water-flow 

 and protector of the lands, the forests 

 are, by far, the most valuable asset of 

 our destructible resources, and their 

 proper care and preservation of vital 

 importance. 



