New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-15
THE FORESTRY EXPERIMENT BILL.

The forestry bill which Senator Stuart of
Ithaca. introduced early in February was gen
orally well received when It's purpose was first
made known, but little has been heard about
1t since then. We hope that this does not mean
that the conditions are considered unfavorabe
for its advancement, and that It Is consequently
likely to be dropped 1t Is well known that the
measure was proposed at the instance of Gov
ernor Black, who has always taken keen, In
telllgent and highly creditabe interest in the
forests, and on this account It was naturally
expected to illustrate the practical value of his
earnest support. There Is no reason 10 suppose
that he has grown cool, but apparently he has
not succeeded in infusng the Legislature with
much ardor for his plan.
1t will be remembered that the bill provides
that the State shall purchase $4,000 acres Of
forest land in the Adirondack region and give
1t in trust for twenty-five years 10 Cornell Uni
versity, to be cultivated scientifically as a
means Of training young men in the principles
Of forestry and. incidentally, Of demonstrating
that wise management would make the forest
domain Of the State n source OF profit and at
the same time retain all It's natural uses II Is
hoped that the demonstration would be so con-
elusive to warrant a revision Of the Constl-
tuition and the applica ton of a scientific system
Of protection and maintenance to the forest pre-
serve. The creation Of this trust, which it IL
understood Cornell Is willing to accept, would
enable the University to establish a much-need
cd school Of forestry under propitlous cond-
tons and the whole experiment could scarcely
fail 10 be interesting and valuable 1t Is agree
able to find Mr. Clifford Pinchot, one Of the few
Americans who have made a thorough study
OF this branch OF knowledge. coming to the
support Of Governor Blacks proposition with
forcible lessons from the experience Of France
and Germany. where his own training was OBJ
talned. and from Englands successful opera
tons in India. Mr.. Pinchot says that the Eng
lish Forest Department in India. with cond-
tons still more difficult than confront In
this country, has produced, after about thirty
years of systematic effort, net annual reve-
nue. Of 1900 600 and he has no doubt that
within equal period similar or better results
could be obtained in the United States. The
details OF Old World forest management are
not In his opinion, Immediately applicable here
owing to the wide difference in economic con-
dltions. and when forestry comes to be intro
''duced in this country on n large scale, it must
"be essentially along American lines, without
too close pursuit Of precedents created TO meet
'the conditions Of other countries"
1t Is especially gratifying to observe that
man whose testimony Is so valuable discerns
substantial growth Of interest In this important
subject. 1T seems clear" he says, that the
prospects OF better times for the forests Of the
United States are brighter than they ever have
been before" But It IS only fair to add that
this judgment is based in part upon the sup
position that the Legislature OF New-York will
approve Governor Blacks proposal and give
to Cornell University the opportunity Of cult
waiting a long-negected branch of science 4
failure to authorize experiment which has
so much to commend IT, and which would prob
ably before It's completion return its cost to the
State treasury would he disappointment and
mi