206 PROCEEDINGS of THE 



had cut out the largest and best of their oak, elm, and 

 basswood, but rather than seek a new location they 

 concluded that perhaps they could use trees less than 

 two and three feet in diameter, and so they stayed to 

 cut them. After these were gone, they noticed that 

 there were some mighty fine maple and beech trees 

 left. Well, they cut the largest and best of these, and 

 now they are at work on the other ones not so large. 

 Necessity has compelled us to see that beech, maple, 

 and birch will take the place of elm and basswood for 

 slack-cooperage work, and we are also learning that 

 gum will make the best of barrels, when handled 

 properly, and I presume that there are other timbers 

 growing in our forests that only need intelligent hand- 

 ling to become equally as available. Whatsoever the 

 American Forestry Association or the Bureau of For- 

 e=try can do to demonstrate this, to prevent waste and 

 destruction by fire and parasites, and to renew supplies, 

 will be work well done, and which will go far to justify 

 the establishing and support of such a department of 

 our Government. If I have furnished anything of 

 suggestion that will aid in that work it will be a source 

 of gratification, not only at the present, but in the 

 future, when the beneficent work of the Bureau has 

 had time to make itself apparent. Indeed, much has 

 already been accomplished, and while Mr. Defebaugh 

 has paid a just and proper tribute to the worth and 

 work of Secretary Wilson and Chief Pinchot, I cannot 

 allow this opportunity to pass without saying a word 

 for missionaries like Dr. Hermann Von Schrenk and 

 others who have carried the war "into Africa," and 

 gone out to preach the gospel of forest preservation 

 and restoration among the heathen. Their work has 

 been good and effective work, as the success of this 

 Congress fully attests. 



