24 FOEEST PRESERVATION AXD NATIONAL PROSPERITY. 



crowded ranges remained thin in flesh, the result being that the stock 

 pastured on the forest reserves were in better demand and sold for 

 more money than those from the outside ranges. 



INTEREST OF THE FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S CLUBS. 



Mrs. LYDIA PHILLIPS WILLIAMS, 



Federation of Women's Clnbs. 



I want to extend to you the fraternal greetings of the Federation of 

 Women's Clubs, 800.000 strong, a reserve force which to-day is in- 

 creasing, and whose interest in forestry is perhaps as great as that in 

 any department of its work. The department of forestry in the fed- 

 eration was created only two years ago, yet at the biennial meeting 

 at St. Louis in May only two departments could show as great an 

 increase in interest. In the two years and a few months since that 

 time 38 federations have formed forestry committees, which are en- 

 thusiastically spreading the propaganda for forest reserves and the 

 necessity of irrigation. 



LUMBERMEN TURNING TO FORESTRY. 



F. E. WEYERHATJESER, 

 Weyerhaueser Lumber Company. 



Forest growth varies greatly in different climates and different vari- 

 eties of trees in the same climate. Before he can consider forestry 

 the lumberman must know the rate of annual growth and the cost of 

 protecting the forest. This information the forester is able to give 

 him. In other words, the forester tells him how long it will take to 

 produce a merchantable tree and the average product per acre. 

 Knowing these facts, it is comparatively a simple matter to determine 

 whether a given forest can be maintained and yet made to yield satis- 

 factory returns to the owner. 



The next obstacle, more important because harder to overcome, is 

 fire. I am frank enough to say that in this matter lumbermen them- 

 selves are largely responsible, sometimes even to the extent of fighting 

 reform. But the lumberman is not only culprit but sufferer also, and 

 he must be protected in this loss from fire by the rigid enforcement of 

 proper laws. With a sufficient patrol during dry seasons and reason- 

 able care on the part of those who start fires, this source of awful 

 destruction can certainly be checked, though it can never be entirely 

 eliminated. 



The final obstacle is taxes. If anywhere, it is here that lumbermen 

 practicing forestry under present conditions will be checked, for the 

 lumberman more than any other manufacturer is the subject of heavy 

 taxation. This policy of drastic taxation results inevitably in the 

 slashing of the timber and the complete destruction of the forest. 



