THE PROPOSITION STATED. 



The present day appreciation of the recreational 

 value of forests. ~" ' ~~~" ~ ~ "~" 



.Although the people of the United States as 

 a nation, are by choice and by necessity seekers of 

 the almighty dollar, we are at the same time 

 peculiarly idealistic and readily moved by senti- 

 ment. Moreover, we are prominently prone to make 

 mistakes and to be overwhelmingly sorry for them 

 afterwards. Thus, in the field of forestry, as 

 in the development of most of our natural re- 

 sources, the United States passed through a long 

 period of increasingly exhausting exploitation un- 

 til we ware brought to face the problem of a 

 rapidly diminishing resource. 



Above the clamor of the saw mill was heard 

 the voice of protest which led to the calling of 

 the first conference of governors in Washington 

 by President Roosevelt in 1908. The mistakes 

 having been made, it was time to seek a remedy 

 for the situation brought about by our lack of 

 foresight. It was clearly recognized that 

 Conservation touches the life of the people 



upon practically every side, but action in the 

 field of forestry was about the first legislative 



