THE PRESENT SITUATION IN FORESTRY* 



BY HENRY S. GRAVES 



CHIEF OF THE FOREST SERVICE 



AM reminded today of the luncheon given by the American Forestry 

 Association just eleven years ago which I attended and at which I 

 believe I discussed the problem of state forestry with special reference 

 to New England. If I recollect correctly the subject of the need of federal 

 forests in the eastern mountains was also discussed at that luncheon. During 

 this period of eleven years the forestry movement has advanced far beyond 

 the expectations of any of the men engaged in the work at that time. Today 

 we find that there is an exceedingly favorable public support of the principles 

 of forestry throughout the country; a policy of national forestry has been 

 definitely established; many states have initiated a vigorous policy of public 

 forestry; and we have already several hundred trained foresters in the country 

 as a nucleus of a profession to carry on the work. It is certain that we may 

 be gratified with what has been done, and to this association is due appreciative 

 congratulations for the part it has taken in all this development. 



So much has been done in a short time that is has appeared to some 

 that the principal task has already been accomplished. This is very far from 

 being the case. Only the first steps have been taken and the chief work of 

 getting forestry into actual practice still lies before us. This is true of 

 the work of the practicing foresters; it is equally true of the work of this 

 association. The association has served most usefully for a period of thirty 

 years ; its greatest usefulness is in the work it may do now and in the future. 

 The situation has changed only in this respect that with the foundations of a 

 favorable public sentiment already laid, the association can now do far more 

 effective work than it ever could do in the past, in the promotion of the 

 practice of forestry throughout the United States. 



THE WEEKS LAW 



The most conspicuous incident in national forestry during the past year 

 has been the passage of the so-called Weeks Law, authorizing the purchase of 

 forest lands which lie upon the watersheds of navigable streams. Heretofore 

 the problem of the National Forests has concerned the administration of 

 property already owned by the Government. The Weeks Law is of great 

 importance, not only because of the direct results which will be obtained 

 through the establishment of National Forests in the East, bur also because 

 it still further strengthens the whole policy of national forestry. It is a 

 direct recognition of the interest of the public in the proper handling of 

 forest lands situated in mountain regions, and a recognition also that the 



*Address by Henry S. Graves, at the Annual Meeting of the American Forestry 

 Association, Washington, D. C., January 9, 1912. 



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