278 Bird -Lore 



in advance, and the future success of the work of this Association can be guar- 

 anteed only by a strict and rigid compliance with such a rule. To that end, 

 I submit to the members of the National and State Audubon Societies an outline 

 for future work, and some suggestions of how it may be carried on to the best 

 advantage. Properly, the work may be divided into four heads, as follows: 

 Finances, Education, Legislation, Reservations and Wardens. 



FINANCES 



The financial proposition is treated of first because without funds the entire 

 work falls to the ground, and this the public must understand. This organi- 

 zation is doing a voluntary work of inestimable value to the country at large, 

 and the citizens must support it. The foundation of all the wealth of the country 

 is based on its agricultural and forestry products, and without birds such prod- 

 ucts would be impossible. The annual loss from insect and rodent pests at 

 the present time is estimated to be $800,000,000. When the public begins to 

 think about these figures and realizes that this annual loss may be reduced 

 by such work as ours, I feel sure that an adequate support will be forthcoming. 

 If it is not, this generation is simply robbing children yet unborn. This is a terrible 

 charge, but it is a true one. If we permit the heritage of wild birds that still 

 exist to be wasted and destroyed, we are robbing our children. We are simply 

 trustees, and should seek to enlarge the estate in our care rather than squander 

 it. The public, as trustees, are in honor bound to preserve the wild birds for 

 those that follow us. We do not wish our children to feel about us as we do about 

 our fathers, who permitted the wanton and useless extinction of the Bison and 

 the Wild Pigeon. The income of the Association during the past year, as reported 

 by the Treasurer, was $24,000. When it is apportioned among the several bran- 

 ches of our work and is divided among the forty-eight states and territories, 

 each section gets but a very small sum. This sum should be multiplied many 

 times. We need an endowment of several millions of dollars in order to expand 

 our legitimate work. Is there any more worthy or meritorious work than ours? 

 If you wish to endow and further education, give to the National Association 

 a substantial fund to be devoted to educating the public of the country to the 

 value of birds and their intimate relation to agriculture and forestry. This 

 subject is of as great importance as sanitation, medicine, pure science or civics, 

 to which millions of dollars are given each year. It is a serious question whether 

 the preservation of birds is not of greater importance than either of the above 

 subjects; for, without birds, it is a probable fact that the world would be unin- 

 habitable. If you cannot endow, either during your lifetime or as a devisor, 

 you can at least show your sympathy and give your support by becoming a life 

 member or an annual sustaining member. 



I realize that there are but few people who are qualified by wealth or spirit 

 to create great endowment funds for special purposes, but there are some, and 



