The Glenwood post., 1913-11-22
eNe'nneat atsaplates NJ
Changes Of caaseqrenee
--0y 6evelepnent
FOR FEDERAL ceNTnDl

Wa hington, Nov. l9.-Henry 8.
Graves, U. s. forester, spoke before the
National Conservation congress in sss-
sion today, dwelling particularly on the
present polieie Of the government in
respect to the activities of the forest
service. Referring to the attitude Of
the present administration, ~ to the
so-cal.ed states rights policy, which
has advOcat d state instead of federal
control of forests, Mr.. Graves say,
there is no thought of any change in
the established system of federal own
ership and control.
Mr.. Graves spoke in part as fol-
lows:
1.-The nation has an important stake
in forestry. Here As in. all other
countries, the real development Of for
estry began when the government took
up its practice. Even today some per-
sons would leave the forests entirely
to private owners, others insist that
the public phases Of forestry are aits-
gether q state function and federal -.
tiviiies in this field uncalIed for.
Those who hold this view are us.asiiy
either lukewarm concerning ths ~
for forest conservation or opposed to
restricting private sstivities. Yet ~.
restricted private sxPsoita4io. Of fse.
ssts = inpssiAss II ~ ~ = esats.ss
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"National responsibility in foesstsy
il perfectly clearcnt There ,ssl b
no confusion with an equally eIeareat
responsibility Of the states. And ~ to
private forestry little oc value ha. 20
far been done that has .ot been q.
outcome Of public action through state
or federal agencies, or both. The na-
tional work will always be the back.
bone Of American forestry, not trench.
ing or interfering with state work or
individual efforts, but serving a. !.
guarantee that national needs which
individual states can not meet will be
provided for on national scale.
'underlying the forestry problem
are two fundamental considerations
which should be emphasized and reit.
Grated until thoroughly driven home.
One is the public character of for
estry Both in the matter of a con-
tlnual supply of forest products and
in that of the conservation of water
resources the public welfare is at
stake. Secondly, stability of policy
and permanence Of ownership are Is.
sential to any successful attack on this
great conservation problem.
81 am frequently asked as travel
about the country whether 1 am going
TO make important changes in forestry
policy. 1 was asked that very often
in 1910, when 1 first took Office. I
am asked it often this year. Ny an
swer is that what we are seeking is
not changes, but the development of
q permanent public enterprise with
consistent and stable policies. The
national forests were set aside in the
recognition that the bulk Of thes,
lands should be handled permanently
under public protection and control,
"The aim Of the present adninis.
tfation Is not to overture, but to take
every possible step to increase eGi
cheney Of the orsani.atio., to adjus:
difficulties, and to advance as fast As
possible the purpose for which the
national forests were established, Sec.
retary Houston recently said to me:
Establish permanent boundaries.
Classify your lands; aggregate the az
ricultural land and fix right limit.
for what is needed as protective and
productive forests. Develop perma.
nent policies based ON full recognition
Of lasting public interests, and settled
forestry practice fitted to the indi-
vidual needs Of each forest and l.,
eslity. Study efficiency; make any
changes necessary for this purpoee,
but mako no changes that arc not
clearly called for in the puhsie inter.
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