A Decexxial Record 113 



The future of these varied and tremendous industries is depend- 

 ent upon a supply of raw material — their ultimate and greatest suc- 

 cess dependent upon the wise selection and most efficient handling of 

 this raw material. This means that authentic knowledge of the prop- 

 erties of the material and how to most efficiently utilize them is, in the 

 long run, essential to their continuation on a sound economic basis. 



These considerations inevitably lead us to the forests, and here 

 again we are confronted with a demand and necessity for knowledge 

 of the properties and possible uses and utilization of the many avail- 

 able species. Without it, it is impossible to know which trees to cut 

 or which to grow, what is their value, how best to utilize them, or what 

 to do with the enormous quantity of waste material. 



It was such broad conceptions as these that led to the development 

 of the Forest Products Laboratorv which was established in 1910 by 

 the Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture, in 

 cooperation with the Universit}- of Wisconsin. Federal appropria- 

 tions maintain the organization and provide necessary supplies and 

 equipment. The University provides the buildings and light, heat 

 and power, at least within certain limitations. It is a pleasure to be 

 able here to express to the President, Board of Regents and members 

 of the University Faculty my appreciation of the whole-hearted and 

 effective cooperation which has been so generouslv extended to the 

 laboratory througliout its existence. This was of particualar value 

 and importance during the war emergency period, when the expan- 

 sions in our organization made it necessary to utilize in part or in whole 

 some eight additional University buildings. I wish to make particular 

 acknowledgment to the College of Agrieidture, whose buildings were 

 not only largely used by our organization during tlie war but several 

 of which are still in use for this purpose. 



The Forest Products Laboratory is called an institution of indus- 

 trial research. Its object is to acquire, disseminate and apply useful 

 knowledge of tlie properties, uses, and methods of utilization of all 

 forest products. This is a broad field of almost unlimited scope — the 

 surface lias, as yet, been but partially scratched. 



It has been said that research is primarily a matter of men "who 

 work upon the frontiers of knowledge, conquering new domains". Re- 

 search may be done — as a matter of fact is done — individually, sepa- 

 rately, disconnectedly, and progress of some sort will, undoubtedly, 



