I4<5 



RECREATION. 



duced, and that no danger to the water- 

 shed need be feared where this is done 

 properly and persistently, would smile at 

 the folly exhibited by a people reputed to 

 be of a practical turn of mind, in pre- 

 venting such rational forestry practice. 



Any rational, thinking man, not a sports- 

 man or pleasure seeker, visiting this region 

 and studying its conditions, will not hesi- 

 tate long in deciding on the proper 

 economics in the management of this 

 property. 



Theoretically, at least, he will have to 

 admit that more enjoyment for a larger 

 number, more benefit to the community, 

 present and future, can be derived from it 

 by using it as European forest prop- 

 erties are being used, than by the let-alone 

 policy. Practically, however, he may admit 

 that the methods of utilization now pro- 

 posed by the Legislature and the manner 

 of administration to be practiced do not 

 lead in that direction. 



Leaving out of consideration the ques- 

 tion of leasing camp sites, which, under 

 certain conditions, might be done with ad- 

 vantage and without detriment, let us see 

 what the removal of the spruce to 10-inch 

 diameter means. It means making an inroad 

 on the valuable assets stored in this 

 State property. It is a financial policy, 

 only; not a policy to preserve or 

 improve or reproduce the forest prop- 

 erty ; not a comprehensive forest policy. 

 It says : Let us take out what we can profit- 

 ably sell, using the funds for any other 

 desirable or undesirable purpose, leaving 

 the property by so much poorer, by so 

 much more difficult for the future forestry 

 management to restore to desirable condi- 

 tion. 



For a private owner, who is mainly con- 

 cerned in his present financial condition; 

 for a State which is in financial distress 

 and in need of funds immediately available, 

 such a policy may be quite rational. 

 For a great State, rich in resources and 

 strong financially, it is not commendable. 



The State of New York can afford to be- 

 gin a forest management on a broader 

 basis, which looks at the interest of the 

 future even more than of the present. For- 

 est management, carried on for continuity, 

 always involves foregoing present advant- 

 ages or incurring present expenditures, 

 making present investments for the sake 

 of future advantages, future incomes, fu- 

 ture returns of investments; in other 

 words, it must make sacrifices for the 

 present, more or less, to be made good in a 

 distant future. That is the reason why the 

 State is to engage in such management; it 

 has the obligation to provide for the future 

 as well as the present ; it is long-lived 

 enough to secure the benefits resulting from 



abstemiousness and economy, or from pres* 

 ent investments. 



The proper policy for a virgin forest, to 

 be managed for future benefits, is to re- 

 move it more or less rapidly and replace it 

 by some better crop, which will protect the 

 soil better and furnish a superior amount 

 of useful wood material. The rapidity 

 with which this change from the ragged 

 and unprofitable forest of nature to the 

 economic forest of man is to be made and 

 the methods to be employed depend on 

 financial, economic and natural conditions. 

 In any case, it is a process of slow and 

 gradual evolution, during which the inter- 

 ests of the present must also be taken into 

 account. 



Such a management requires a careful, 

 far sighted plan before it is put into execu- 

 tion, and a fit and well organized adminis- 

 tration. 



We must agree with the first argument 

 of the Board of Trade, supported by a 

 statement of experiences, which expresses 

 at length doubt of the ability of a com- 

 mission of political appointees without 

 technical training to supervise efficiently a 

 technical management which contemplates 

 continuity of plan and performance. As re- 

 gards the doubtful expedient of hampering 

 the administrative body by legislative con- 

 trol in such management, the memorial 

 wisely says : 



"No man, by his election as a member 

 of the Legislature, is thereby endowed with 

 any greater wisdom than he possessed as 

 private citizen. The question arises, there- 

 fore, is it safe, in the present condi- 

 tion of knowledge on the forest question, 

 to confide the care of the forests to the 

 Legislature, as is to be done under the 

 pending amendments?" 



A change of method in administration, 

 then, would seem to be required before a 

 change in the use of the Forest Preserve 

 can appear desirable. 



The State can wait for enlightenment, 

 and the time, no doubt, will arrive when a 

 technical forest management such as we are 

 acquainted with in all European countries, 

 Japan and India may be organized. 



Regarding the arguments which refer to 

 the influence of forest cover on soil and 

 water conditions, and the supposition that 

 the removal of the spruce would be a dam- 

 age from that point of view, we can not 

 agree that in most cases such culling 

 would be detrimental directly. There is 

 altogether too much loose talk and gen- 

 eralization on this subject of forest in- 

 fluences. 



If the lumberman really denuded the 

 steep mountain slopes, and if the soil on 

 such slopes were really exposed to sun, 

 wind and rain for some time without re- 



