FORESTRY OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 29 
Association of Minnesota, have done much, and meetings like those of 
the American Forestry Congress at Cincinnati and Montreal have ex- 
cited general interest. It is certain that never before in the history of 
this country has forestry been so generally a subject of interest among 
all classes of people. 
THE FUTURE OUTLOOK. 
It is but nine years since the timber-culture act, the first law of Con- 
eress designed to encourage tree growing, was passed. It is only four 
years since the law was so amended as to encourage action under it. 
The first timber claims are now being proved up, and the advantages 
and demerits of the law are now fully known. The subject has already 
been discussed in these pages. There can be no doubt that Congress 
will take action and so amend the law as to prevent fraud, and embody 
in the law the condition, ‘once a timber claim, always a timber claim,” 
and so give an immense impetus to tree-growing on the prairies. Thus, 
with increased and increasing knowledge; with enlightened self-interest, 
and the government of the nation pledged to the protection of the for- 
est lands, still the common property of the people, from spoliation, the 
encourager of the honest settler under the timber-culture act, and in 
time, the active promoter of schools of forestry, we have much to hope 
for. 
WHAT SHOULD BE DONE. 
Ina country like this, where the power of the general government 
is scarcely known or felt, reliance must be placed upon the voluntary 
action of the individual. In European countries, where the government 
regulates everything, even to the amusements of the people, a system 
of forest laws can be adopted making the planting and preservation of 
forests obligatory, but such a system cannot be inaugurated here. The 
government cannot here compel all men to set out trees or care for them; 
and it is questionable if it can give much successful encouragement in 
the way of bounties. On the other hand, the Government of the United 
States has a right to take care of its own. A quarter-section of land in 
the prairie or on the mountain side is, until it is conveyed by the gov- 
ernment to a corporation or individual, as much the property of the 
United States as is the Capitol at Washington, or a fort or vessel flying 
-the flag of the United States. Itis as much the duty of the general 
government to protect that quarter-section from invasion or spoliation 
as it is its duty to save the Patent Office or Treasury buildings at 
Washington from robbers or incendiaries. ‘Of course, the letter of the 
law recognizes this principle, but no laws have been more systematically 
violated than those designed for the protection of government lands. 
The theory has obtained that these lands belong to the first settlers, 
and that their product is to be used by them for their own individual 
benefit, under the plea of ‘Developing the resources of the country.” 
Eyery man who has cut cord-wood on the government land and sold it 
and put the money in his pocket has justified his course by saying that 
