Address by Hon. John Lacey 



Member of Congress from Iowa 



P* OR the last fourteen years I have been a member 

 of a little forest congress, originally composed 

 of fifteen members and increased lately to seventeen, 

 namely the Committee on Public Lands. The ques- 

 tions that you are discussing and will discuss during 

 this conference here we have been struggling with 

 during all this time. The problem of growing trees 

 must of necessity be solved, not only by the private 

 owner, but also by the State and nation. Congress 

 has recognized the necessity of setting apart large 

 areas of forests for the purpose of preserving streams 

 for irrigation and for the benefit, I think, as well, of 

 the public health; because the forest is a source of 

 public health. The fact has been recognized that the 

 Government must take some steps and take these steps 

 in time. The movement has been late, but it is not 

 too late. This vast area of the public domain (larger 

 than Iowa and Ohio combined) that has thus been set 

 apart, and I believe, set apart for the American people 

 and their children and their childrens' children forever, 

 need no longer remain in the custody of that great 

 department whose main business it is to dispose of the 

 public land, to transfer it to the private individual for 

 his home ; and, therefore, for several years I personally 

 have championed a measure which would remove from 

 this great committee one of its most pleasing duties, 

 but yet would transfer it to a department better fitted — 

 admirably fitted for the future care and preservation 

 of this great domain. And it is not news to you, and 



