United States National Forests 79 



stand, forever safe from the settler's axe, just why 

 the forest should cover that particular place, and 

 just how it will prove a blessing to the surround- 

 ing country and to the nation in the coming years. 



Like the Federal Government individual States 

 have realized the necessity of saving their woods. 

 There are, therefore, a number of State Reserves, 

 set aside by state legislatures, and provided with 

 trails, telephone lliles, and fire protection out of 

 the state taxes. 



As one might expect, most of these are In New 

 England, New York, and Pennsylvania, where 

 the forest primeval vanished long ago, and where 

 people have been carrying on industries, and 

 needing wood, for several generations. In these 

 states, too, are the forest nurseries of important 

 rivers which carry many tons of shipping to the 

 sea. 



Many of the western states are now following 

 the example of their eastern sisters, and even bet- 

 tering it. Wisconsin Issues a fire circular addressed 

 to school children, which has been copied and 

 adopted by several older states. 



Indeed, the great majority of the forty-eight 

 states are now taking practical action In forestry 

 — setting aside reserves, protecting them, patrol- 

 ling them, guarding them from fire, and fighting 

 the Insect pests which destroy our precious trees. 



With the exception of a great forest reserve in 

 Florida all the national forests hitherto set aside 



