The San Francisco call., 1909-09-05
FOREST ASSISTANTS
BEGIN new WORK
Seven Recent Appointees Will
Commence Their Service
in This District
Special Course Now Given in
Colleges to Fit Men for Gov
ernment Forestry Labors

OF the AZ graduates of nine America n
forest schools. who have recently re-
ceiyed appointments as forest assist
ants in the administrative districts OF
the forest service, seven have been as
signed TO positions in this district. The
names Of these new appointees and the
schools from which they are graduated
in forestry are as follows: r S. Mad
dox, Beiknap Goldsmith, j. D. Ceffman
and A. H. Hodgson of Yale; E. V. Jotter
and ]. A. Mitchell of Michigan, and s.
W Allen of Iowa state college. These
men have secured their appointments
as a result of passing the regular civil
service examination, which is the only
avenue of employment as forester un-
der the government.
Forest assistants are men who have
completed their preliminary training
for the profession of forestry. as the
graduates of law or medicine haye
completed theirs. and are ready to en-
ter upon practical work. Until they
have gained experience. however, their
positions are necessarily subordinate.
They are at the foot of the ladder and
must prove their fitness TO mount high
er. The government pays them 81, 900 a
year at the start
r On the national forests the forest as
sistant often acts as technical adviser
to the supervisors In charge. who are
western men experienced in all prac-
ticai matters, but usually without
school training in the science of for
estry. Or they may be assigned to
the study of some particular problem
which needs TO be Investigated in the
interest of good forest management.
As forestry means knowing how 10 get
the most out of any given piece Of
forest land, it calls for studies and ex-
periments, both scientific and practical
much like those which have to be made
in the interests of good farm manage
ment. and the forest assistant is pre-
pared TO do valuable work along this
line.
There is a growing interest in the
profession of forestry now, and many
young men are asking how to get into
it, and what 1T promises Clifford Pin
chot, United States forester, in an ad-
dress to the graduating class in for
estry at Harvard university this year,
said:
.sThe government and the country
need more men trained in the knowl-
edge of forestry, and ii offers oppor-
tunity to make mans life loom large
and to-count for much among the many
phases of human endeavor. To be
good forester a man should combine
som ething of the naturalist with
good deal of the businessman. To
know how to use the forest he must be
able to study 1t. He must have, there
fore, the power of observation, fond
ness for nature. and the ability to pene-
trate her secrets. He must be resource
full. able to stand by himself, willing TO
undergo the privations of rough life,
and capable OF comm anding the respect
of rough men, who quickly recognize
AriIity and genuineness OF character,
but win not tolerate pretense or the
assumption of superiority. A forester
should be sound In mind and body, and
should make the fullest college prep
aration for the service. This service
means free. vigorous Nfe in the open
air. and clear. straight, fine, whole
some manly condition OF life"