FORESTRY SECTION

FORESTRY SECTION.

Delegates specially interested in Forestry held section meetings in the Turkish Room of the Claypool Hotel throughout the sessions of the Fourth National Conservation Congress. The Standing Committee on Forestry consisted of Prof. Henry S. Graves, Chairman; J. B. White, Major E. G. Griggs, George K. Smith, William Irvine and E. T. Allen. Chairman Graves, being unavoidably absent, delegated Mr. Allen to arrange meeting facilities and represent him in an effort to further the progress of forestry at the Congress.

The first session of the Forestry Section was held on the evening of October 1, with about twenty-five foresters and lumbermen present. (At later sessions the attendance increased to forty.)

Mr. Allen, acting as Chairman, announced that Professor Graves had suggested that such preliminary meeting be called to determine, first, if a section meeting on Forestry should be conducted, and if so, the lines it should follow. Mr. Allen suggested the probable advantage of formulating plans for more systematic forestry work at future Congresses, and of utilizing the opportunity thus afforded to exchange experiences and ideas on legislation, forest protection and educational work. The meeting concurred in this suggestion and determined to hold a series of meetings on Forestry at this Congress.

Second Session—10 a. m., October 2.

Remarks, Mr. D. Page Simons

Mr. E. T. Allen called the meeting to order, and Mr. D. Page Simons, of California, was chosen secretary. The chair then presented a tentative program for ensuing sessions covering publicity work, co-operation in forest protection, needed forest legislation, and organization for future Congresses. He described the educational work conducted by the Western Forestry and Conservation Association, and read a communication from Professor Graves, United States Forester, emphasizing the need of a propaganda for more adequate and uniform State forest legislation.

Mr. T. B. Wyman

Mr. T. B. Wyman, of Michigan, representing the Northern Forest Protective Association, then described the co-operative effort by Michigan lumbermen covering a territory of seven and one-half million acres. He told how they had been enabled to maintain a patrol service and that their association had made a careful study of fire causes. In the campaign of public education, he said, they had utilized modern advertising methods.

Remarks, Maj. E. G. Griggs

Major E. G. Griggs, of Washington, President of the National Lumber Manufacturers’ Association, pointed out the necessity of united effort in a campaign of education which would bring about a better understanding, on the part of the public, of all phases of forest industry. He emphasized the need of continuous effort throughout the year, and said that he believed there should be some national frame-work or organization which would unite the foresters and lumbermen for such continuous and concerted action. Major Griggs also praised the work of the United States Forest Service.

Remarks, Mr. Charles Lathrop Pack

Mr. Charles Lathrop Pack, of New Jersey, concurred in Major Griggs’ suggestion and said that he believed the Conservation Congress, meeting annually, illustrated the need of a Committee on Forestry, which would be active throughout the year. He said that he believed that other features of the Congress had been much better advertised and organized and that he hoped that before another year the work of the Forestry Committee, particularly, would be on a systematic basis with the necessary funds to carry forward its work.

Chairman Allen pointed out the need of local publicity as was illustrated by the difficulties experienced in obtaining adequate State legislation.

Remarks, Mr. I. C. Williams

Mr. I. C. Williams, of Pennsylvania, Deputy State Forest Commissioner, said that taxation and not fire protection was the big forestry problem in Pennsylvania. He said that a campaign of publicity for a yield tax measure had been unsuccessful owing to a lack of organization among the friends of the measure to back up the publicity.

Remarks, Dr. Henry S. Drinker

Dr. Henry S. Drinker, of Pennsylvania, President of Lehigh University, reported the distribution of a million circulars on forest protection, modeled on those issued by the Western Forestry and Conservation Association. He also endorsed the yield tax principle.

Remarks, Mr. E. A. Sterling

Mr. E. A. Sterling, of Pennsylvania, emphasized the importance of conducting a systematic campaign of publicity which would bring out definite facts. Competent committees, he said, should be in charge of such work so that the publicity would be in effective form and carry weight.

Remarks, Hon. John M. Woods

Hon. John M. Woods, Mayor of Somerville, Mass., suggested the danger of relying too much on education and not enough on practical politics. In his judgment, forest legislation could best be furthered by interesting the Governor and the Legislature.

Remarks, Mr. Henry E. Hardtner

Mr. Henry E. Hardtner, of Louisiana, told of the forest laws of that State and of his effort to secure reforestation.

Remarks, Prof. F. W. Rane

Prof. F. W. Rane, State Forester of Massachusetts, said that results are a question of enterprising organization and that more system and effective committee work will bring better results.

Remarks, Col. W. R. Brown

Col. W. R. Brown, representing the New Hampshire Forestry Commission, said that he believed the American Forestry Association offered facilities for the work under discussion and that means for utilizing them could be devised.

Remarks, Mr. F. A. Elliott

Mr. F. A. Elliott, State Forester of Oregon, then outlined western problems which he showed were peculiarly difficult because of a lack of forest appreciation in a new country. He testified to the efficiency of advertising propaganda to reduce fire carelessness.

Remarks, Mr. Hugh P. Baker

Mr. Hugh P. Baker, of New York, said that the Empire State went on the principle that people had to be shown and that, therefore, they were making a feature of demonstration forests and of assisting individual owners.

Remarks, Mr. P. S. Ridsdale

Mr. P. S. Ridsdale, of Washington, D. C., Secretary of the American Forestry Association, then told of the educational policy of that organization, and said that its magazine was devoting special attention to all practical matters of interest to lumbermen.

Appointment of Committees on Resolutions

After some further discussion along the line of desirable committee action the Chair was instructed, by motion, duly seconded and carried, to appoint two committees, each of which he should be ex officio chairman, as follows: A committee of five on permanent organization, and one of three to represent the Forestry Section in a conference with the American Forestry Association and the officers of the Fifth National Conservation Congress. It was also agreed to appoint a Committee on Resolutions. These committees were appointed, as follows:

Co-operation with other agencies

Co-operation with Other Agencies—E. T. Allen, chairman; H. S. Graves, and J. B. White.

Permanent Organization—E. T. Allen, Chairman; F. A. Elliott, Don Carlos Ellis, T. B. Wyman, and F. W. Rane.

Resolutions—Dr. Henry S. Drinker, chairman; F. W. Besley, D. P. Simons, P. S. Ridsdale, and H. E. Hardtner.