Evening star., 1909-02-21
Pinchot Discusses Qualifications.

Clifford Pinchot. the government for
ester, who was the first native born
American to take up that profession, and
who has developed the present forest pol
icy of the United States. says:
ITO be a good forester a man should
combine something of the naturalist with
good deal of the business man. To
know how to use the forest he must be
able to study it. He must have. there
fore, the power of observation. a fondness
for nature and the ability TO penetrate
her secrets.
But if he is to succeed he must also
have good practical judgment and the
ability to meet and handle men. He
must be resourceful, able to stand by
himself. willing to undergo the privations
of rough life and capable OF commanding
the respect of rough men. who quickly
recognize virility and genuineness of
character, but will not tolerate pretense
or the assumption of superiority.
"A forester needs vigorous mind in
vigorous body. He must be of the kind
that likes to get things done and does
not give up when things are not going
and work out problems far from outside
help, relying solely upon himself. He
ought to be hard TO whip
1.-The professional forester cannot hope
for big fees and certain pleasant sur
roundings of life which crown distin-
guished success in some other professions.
The first prizes which are bestowed upon
the great lawyer the eminent physician.
are not yet open to him. He must be
content without much luxury: he will
have to spend a good deal of time out of
reach of the ordinary comforts. He must
be able and willing to rough it without
complaint-to sleep on hard beds. eat
homely fare. endure prolonged eNertion
and get along with plain people.
"On the other hand, II he is at all fitted
for his profession-and few weeks of
actual forest work Or good summer school
work will tell him whether he is or not
there is open to him very rich reward
life in the open, in the midst of beautiful,
healthful and congenial surroundings,
creative work of unmatched usefulness in
any material field. place of large re-
sponsibility and dignity, and with it a.
fair living.
IF the foresters temperament is sci
entlfic he will have the joy of discoveries
and organizer of knowledge in a rich and
almost virgin field, while If ii be practical
he will have the chance of sharing in a
national work of prime Importance to our
people both now and hereafter"
Other Service Open.
There is great demand for foresters
outside the government service, which is
the greatest training school for that pro-
fession. There are forest schools at Yale.
Harvard. the universities of Michigan,
Maine, Minnesota, Nebraska. Washington,
Georgia. at Iowa State College, Purdue
University. in the Michigan State Agri-
cultural College. the Pennsylvania State
College, Biitmore. n. c.: Colorado
Springs. at Mont Alto Forest Academy,
Pennsylvania and several other institu.
tions have lecturers on forestry. But
they are unable to turn out foresterS fast
enough to meet the demands Of the new
profession, and the best men in the gov
ernment service are being continually
| coaxed away by private employers
! Since the national government adopted
| its present policy ten years ago. twenty
seven states have appointed foresters
| and are now preserving and cultivating
| the natural timber. Railway companies,