FOREST PRESERVATION AND NATIONAL PROSPERITY. 11 



opment of the West. The West must have water, and that in a sure 

 and permanent supply. Unless we practice forestry in the mountain 

 forests of the West, the expenditure under the national irrigation law 

 will be fruitless, and the wise policy of the Government in the agri- 

 cultural development of the arid regions will utterly fail. Without 

 forestry, national irrigation will be merely a national mistake. The 

 relation in the arid regions between the area under forest and the 

 area in farms will always be constant. We can maintain the pres- 

 ent water supply of the West by the protection of existing forests. 

 In exactly the same way we can increase this supply by the foresting 

 of denuded watersheds. The full development of the irrigation 

 policy requires more than the protection of existing forests — it 

 demands their extension also. 



The relation of railroads to the forest is no less vital than that of 

 the lumberman. The development of systems of transportation upon 

 a secure basis depends directly upon the preservation and wise use 

 of the forest. Without a permanent supply of wood and water the 

 business of the railroads will decline, because those industries upon 

 whose production that business mainly depends can not prosper. 

 But the railroads are interested in a still more vital way. As great 

 and increasing consumers of wood for ties, construction timbers, 

 poles, and cars, they are in direct and urgent need of permanent 

 sources of these supplies. The problem directly before the railroads 

 is, therefore, the forest problem in all its parts. Much may be done 

 by the preservative treatment of ties and railroad timbers, which 

 not only prolongs their life, but also leads to the profitable use of 

 wood of inferior kinds and a corresponding decrease in the drain 

 upon the forest and the cost of its product, But, important as this 

 is, it merely mitigates the danger instead of removing it. For their 

 own protection the railroads must see to it that the supply of ties 

 and timbers in the forest itself is renewed and not destroyed. 



I am particularly glad that this congress will include a full dis- 

 cussion of National and State forest policy. The forest movement in 

 several States has already resulted in the adoption of definite State 

 forest policies. In many others the time is ripe for useful work be- 

 cause of the existence of a strong sentiment for the best use of the 

 forest. The forest problems in different States can not all be solved 

 in exactly the same way. The methods will in each case have to 

 be worked out on the ground where they will be used. But we have 

 before us here the same opportunity in State forest matters as in 

 other phases of the forest problem, for full discussion of methods and 

 results. Above ail we must find the most effective means of working 

 together toward the same great ends. 



The vast area of the timberlands of the United States is mainly in 

 your hands. You have it in your power, by putting forestry into 



