American Forest Congress 443 



in this country, which had been in operation for some 

 Httle time. He replied that he thought the best time 

 would be when the meeting of the American Forestry 

 Association was being held. So I came over — I think 

 it was five years ago — and on my return — I think 

 somewhere between here and Baltimore — I was alone 

 on the train. I went into the smoker, and I think there 

 must have been inspiration there — it isn't often I have 

 inspirations, and don't believe I ever had one before 

 that resulted in anything, but this one did — for it 

 occurred to me, why could not we have a Canadian 

 Forestry Association ? Once the thought flashed across 

 my mind I knew that we could ; and I want to say that 

 as a legitimate offspring of that inspiration and his 

 association in the United States, we have a most suc- 

 cessful one in Canada. Not so much on account of 

 the numbers — we have only about six hundred mem- 

 bers as yet — ^but it is the personnel. We found that 

 the best people in the country were just waiting for 

 an opportunity to express their views collectively and 

 at once. We got together a committee formed gover- 

 nors, ex-governors, senators, and influential men in 

 every part of the Dominion, commencing in Prince Ed- 

 ward Island, where we have one of the most active men, 

 through Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and every dis- 

 trict in the great Northwest — even the Yukon. Every 

 district is represented. And without taking up your 

 time — as I know I must not do so — I wish to say that 

 we are having a meeting in the old city of Quebec 

 on the nth of March — a meeting of that association, 

 and I want to invite every one who can come from 

 this side of the line to come over at that time and make 

 us a visit. 



One thought more occurs to me. We have a fire 

 ranging system in the West similar to yours in the 

 reserves. I was away out in Alberta, near the Priest 



