THE PRESENT SITUATION OF FORESTRY 735 



ing opposition. Those who are aiming and other improvements needed for fire 

 to destroy the National Forest system protection be extended much more rap- 

 are not the settlers and others who use idly than at present, 

 the Forest, but rather men who seek for 



their own advantage special privileges PROGRESS IN STATE FORESTRY 

 to which they are not entitled, and who 



wish to acquire, for little or nothing, A very great obligation rests upon the 



valuable resources for speculation and State governments in working out the 



personal gain. problem of forestry. Organized fire 



During the past year the Weeks Law, protection under State direction, the es- 



authorizing the purchase of lands on tablishment of a reasonable system of 



navigable streams, has been put into ef- taxation of growing timber, honest and 



feet, and the Government has already conservative management of State for- 



entered into contracts for the purchase est laws, education of woodland own- 



of 230,000 acres in the Southern Ap- ers to better methods of forestry, and 



palachian Mountains, and about 72,000 such practical regulation of handling 



acres in the White Mountains. These private forests as may be required for 



lands are being secured on the most de- the protection of the public, are prob- 



sirable areas, and it has been possible to lems which require the immediate 



obtain them for reasonable prices. A action of all States, 



special feature of the Weeks Law is the While no State is as yet accomplish- 



co-operation between the Government ing all that it should, a number of them 



and the States in fire protection on wa- are making very rapid progress, and 



tersheds of navigable streams. The law are giving as liberal money support as 



provides $200,000, until expended, for perhaps could be expected under the 



such co-operation ; but this money can present conditions. The feature of 



be used only in States which have al- State forestry which stands out most 



ready inaugurated a system of fire pro- strongly is that a number of States have 



tection under public direction. During gone beyond merely passing forest laws, 



the year ending 1911 there were 11 and have begun to provide the funds 



States which qualified under this law, necessary to achieve practical results, 



receiving in the aggregate about $40,- At last it is beginning to be recognized 



000. During the current year sums that the prevention of fire is the funda- 



varying from $1,500 to $10,000 have mental necessity, and that this can be 



been allotted to the States of Maine, accomplished only through an organized 



New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecti- public service. In order to make laws 



cut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, effective, there must be adequate ma- 



W T isconsin, Minnesota, Oregon, and chinery to carry them out. The funda- 



Washington. There is still sufficient mental principle of fire protection is 



money left from the original appropria- preparation. A forest region must be 



tion for substantial co-operation during watched for fires, both to prevent their 



another year. It has been the aim of being started and to reach quickly and 



the Forest Service to spread the money put out such as from one cause or an- 



over three years in order that there may other may get under way. The nc\v 



be a full demonstration of what can be State legislation recognizes this need, 



accomplished and at what cost. It will and already there has been inaugurated 



then be possible to present to Congress a measure of watchfulness in the season 



a satisfactory basis upon which to con- of greatest danger, through patrol or 



sider whether Federal aid to the States lookouts under State diu -IM-I. Dur- 



should be continued. ing 1911, which was a banner year in 



The most urgent need of the National the enactment of State legislation, laws 



Forest work is more ample provision of related chiefly to fire protection were 



the funds necessary for adequate pro- passed by Connecticut, Massachusetts, 



tection of the Forests against fire. It is Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jer- 



especially urgent that the work of con- sey, Oregon, Washington, and Wiscon- 



structing roads, trails, telephone lines, sin ; while Colorado created the office of 



