The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1913-11-20

Henry S. Graves, u. S. Forester,
spoke before the National Conserva-
tion congress Wednesday dwelling par
ticuarly on the present policies of the
government in respect to the activities
of the forest service. Referring to the
attitude of the present administration,
as to the so-called states rights
policy, which has advocated state in
stead of Federal control of forests,
Mr.. Graves says there is no thought of
any change in the established system
of Federal ownership and control.
The Forester spoke in part as follows:
"The nation has an important
stake in forestry. Here as in all
other countries, the real development
of forestry began when the govern
ment took up its practice. Even to-
day some persons would leave the for
ests entirely to private owners, 9TH
ers insist that the public phases of
forestry are altogether state func-
tion and Federal activities in this
field uncalled for. Those who hold
this view are usually either lukewarm
concerning the need for forest conser-
walton or opposed to restricting pri-
cate activities. Yet unrestrained
private exploitation of forests is i'm
possible if we are to continue to have
forests that the nation needs.
National responsibility in forestry
is perpectly clean-cut There need be
no confusion with an equally clean-cut
responsibility of the states And as
to private forestry little of value has
so far been done that has not been an
outcome of public action through
state of Federal agencies, or both.
The national work will always be the
backbone of American forestry, not
trenehing on or interfering with state
work or individual efforts but serv-
ing as guarantee that national needs
which individual states can not meet
will be provided for on a 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 forest
ry. Both in the matter of a continued
supply of forest products and in that
of the conservation of water resources
the public welfare is at stake. Second
ly, stability of policy and permanence
of ownership are essential to any sue
cessful attack on this great conserva-
tion problem.
81 am frequently asked as travel
about the country whether l am going
to make important changes in forestry
policy. | was asked that very often
in 1910, when / first took office. I am
asked it often this year. My answer
is that what we are seeking is not
changes but the development of a per
manent public enterprise with con-
sistent and stable policies. The ma
tional forests were set aside in the
recognition that the bulk of these
lands should be handled permanent
ly under public protection and control.
"The aim of the present admins
tration is not to overturn, but to take
every possible step to increase eff
cheney of the organization, to adjust
difficulties, and to advance as fast as
possible the purposes for which the
national forests were established
Secretary Houston recently said to
me:
| Establish permanent boundaries
Classify your lands; segregate the ag
ricultural land and fix right limits for
what is needed as protective and pro-
ductive forests. Develop permanent
policies based on full recognition OF
lasting public intrests, and settled