Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-31
AMERICAN FORESTRY
ANNUAL MEETING OF ASS0CIA-
TON IN THIS CITY.
Address by Secretary Wilson Of Do
partment Of Agriculture-Re-
ception Of Reports.

ception Of Reports.
The members Of the American Forestry
Association, who assembled for their twen-
ty-first annual meeting this morning In the
Atlantic building on F street. were well
coined to the city in an address by Secre-
tary James Wilson Of the Agricultural De-
partment. who presided over the sessions
of the day. The meeting was called to or
der at 1890 o'clock and the morning ses-
sion was devoted to the reading Of reports
Of the board Of directors and treasurer. A
recess was taken shortly before noon, and
at 12:45 o'clock the members Of the associa-
ton were entertained at luncheon at
Freunds by the members of the local
branch.
The session this afternoon began at 2:3O
o'clock, when a number of speeches on sub
jects relating to forestry were made by
who spoke were Geo. B. Sudworth and VIM.
L. Hall Of the bureau Of forestry: DR.. b.
E. Fernow. director of the New York
State College of Forestry; Prof. Henry
Schools. and DR.. c. A. Schenck. director
Of the Biltmore Forest School The meet
ing will adjourn late this afternoon.
Secretary Wilson made favorable mention
the United States, and said they were aid
ing materially in advancing the interests OF
tree planting. In closing his remarks Mr.
Wilson spoke in congratulatory terms of the
association. and stated that it was obtain
ing results for its efforts along useful lines.
The report of the treasurer, Otto ]. J.
Luebkert, showed that the association Is
in a prosperous condition financially, and
that large number of new members have
been added to its rolls.
Board of Directors in Session. =
One Of the most Interesting features of
the morning session was the report Of the
board of directors on the results Of the past
year. The report was comprehensive, coy-
ering nearly all the subjects in which the
association is interested. The report, in
substance, was to the effect that there Is
noticed greater interest and unusual ac-
tivity In forestry in a national state and
Information concerning forests and their
treatment have been greatly on the in
crease and tree planting for economic pur-
poses has made great strides. The passage
of the national irrigation act and the In
terest of President Roosevelt have given
added Importance to the subject Of forestry,
especially in the west. The forest reserves
in the United States in 1902, including the
additions OF the past year, amounted to
Ii. 164, 156 acres.
Advance IN Forestry.
Secretary Wilson, in his address Of well
come, called attention to the progress made
in forestry during the past year. Congress
Is becoming more and more favorable to
the problem of forest reserves, he said, and
the President Is in full accord with such
work He mentioned the efforts being made
by the Department OF Agriculture to assis,
the public at large In lines Of forestry, ana
y%f 1orl,y IL x~1@
stated that in his opinion the present fuel
troubles will emphasize the work of the de-
partment in the work Of tree planting The
department has been attempting to find out
localities and is making experiments with
that purpose in view. The past year over
$4,000 plants have been sent out by the
Agricultural Department for purposes OF
experimentation. and it Is proposed to send
out over 100000 plants during the coming
year. He spoke of the improved facilities
for timber and fuel and said that interest
in forestry is steadily growing throughout
the country.
According to the report the bureau OF
forestry has notably increased its knowl-
edge on matters of forestry and has made
large gains in introducing practical man.
agement Of forests, Of both public and and
private ownership. During the past year
there have been 1852 persons at work In t he
interests of the bureau in forty-two states
| and territories. The total area now under
the management of the bureau is 372, 46
acres.
Two new divisions have been organized In
the interests Of tree-raising this year. those
of forest extension and of forest products.
The progress in forest extension has been
very favorable, especially as relating 10
private lands. The board Of directors also
commended the woman's clubs in several
sections of the country for their efforts In
behalf of the forest extension movement
Appalachian Reserve.
In regard to the Appalachian forest re-
serve. the directors reported that progress
has been made for the establishment of a
national reserve in the southern Appa.
lachian mountains. The bill which was
before Congress last June, providing for
the purchase Of 100000 acres Of land at a
cost of not more than $4,000, OOO was men,
| toned in the report, and it was stated that
the measure will be taken up again during
the present session Of Congress
A subject which has commanded consid-
cradle attention among the horticulturists
Is that Of the forest fires. During the past
year it was stated the damage from forest
fires has been greater than for number
OF years before. In Oregon and Washing
ton during one week in last September fires
destroyed fully $12OOOOOO worth of farm
property and standing timber, besides a
number OF persons lost their lives in the
big conf1agration. The most destructive
fires 1t was said. were due to carelessness
on the part Of the people in the regions
where they occurred.
The interest in forestry in the Hawaiian
and Philippine Islands was stated to be
greatly on the increase.
During the past year 3S3 new members
have Joined the association, making the
total membership at present 2136.
Before the adjournment this morning the
following committees were appointed:
Resolutions-Prof. E. E. Fernow, E. A,
Bowers, Prof. c. A. Schenk.
Nominations-Col. William F. Fox, Dr.
H s. Graves Otto J. J. Luebkert