New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-15
TWENTIETH CENTURY Wo0DSMEN.

Notwithstanding the tremendous growth of
the fashion Of country living, it still remains the
fact that for the young man of education who
is about to choose his career in life there is little
opportunity to shape it so that at least While
he is engaged in a gainful occupation. he may
be any other than a dweller in towns. There is.
TO be sure recognition of the advantage which
a certain degree of technical training gives to
the young man who intends to be farmer. but
naturally the proportion of those who, having
elected the independent life of the husbandman,
feel that they can afford the time for the full
collegiate course is small. The decline OF cattle
ranchfng on a moderate scale has deprived the
college graduate with a passion for the out of
doors of a congenial occupation which formerly
might, and often did, become a permanent voca-
ton. The profession of the civil mining en-
gineer offers open air work to the beginner, but
with success comes condemnation to an office;
and so on with many other admirable calngs.
For a vast number of ambitious Americans the
country life is only to be enjoyed in holiday and
vacation time. The yoke Of city life is still
heavy upon the man who is inclined to feel, with
Stevenson that he would rather be bargee
than occupy any position under heaven that
required attendance at office"
One field of activity, however, is open to such
a man, and is widening yearly. The manage
ment of the national forest reserves requires
the services of many trained men, and the For
estry Service will call for an increasing number
of well prepared fOreSters to supply its needs.
Already private forest owners are realizing that
conservative numbering pays better than the old
wastefuI methods, and are seeking for trained
men to look after their timber. Opportunities
for entering the government service are afforded
to applicants above the age of twenty, college
graduates having the preference, and under
graduates taking precedence over men OF
smaller educational preparation. Once accepted
as q forest student. man must be ready to
combine severe mental work with vigorous
manual labor for a small salary and under
strict supervision. That the ideals of the ser
vice are high may be seen from the Chief For
esters suggestion that the student who in his
college course can include physics, meteorology
and political economy, in addition to geology.
physical geography, mineralogy, chemistry, bot
any and pure and applied mathematics will be
the better equipped to take up his technical for
est studies, and his added recommendation that
the forest student supplement his systematic
studies in this country by six months to year
spent in investigating the forestry methods Of
European states.
Something of the devotion of the scholar, as
well as the love of the wild must go to the
making of the successful forester. Like the col
Iege professor. he must renounce the hope of
riches, for his compensation. if we are TO judge
by present standards will not exceed $500
year. But, given the proper qualifications, we
NAV conceive United States forester as hap
pier man than many far more largely remu-
nerated citizen.