Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1913-11-21
CONSERVATION
CONGRESS MEETS
Chief Forester Graves Adyo-
Gates Federal Control of
Forest Reserve
TALKS FOR PRESIDENT
Would Establish Permanent
Boundaries and Segregate
Agricultural Land

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19.-Henry
5. Graves, L. S. Forester, spoke be-
fore the National Conservation Con
gress in session today, dwelling par
ticularly on the present policies o.
the government in respect to the ac-
tivities OF the forest service. Refer
ring to the attitude of the present
administration, as to the so-called
states rights policy. which has ad-
vocated state instead OF federal CON
troll of forests, Mr. Graves says there
is no thought of any change in the
established system of federal own
ership and control
The Forester spoke in part as fol
lows
"The nation has an important stake
in forestry. Here as in all other
countries, the real development OF
forestry began when the government
took up it's practice. Even today
some persons would leave the forests
entirely to private owners, others in
sist that the public phases of forestry
are altogether state function and
federal activities in this field uncall-
ed for Those who hold this view are
usually either lukewarm concerning
the need for forest conservation or
opposed to restricting private activi-
ties. Yet unrestricted private exploi-
tation of forests is impossible if we
are to continue to have the forests
that the nation needs.
National responsibility in forestry
is perfectly clear-cut. There need be
no confusion with an equally clear
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 or federal agencies. or
both. The national work will always
be the backbone of American forestry,
not trenching on or interfering with
state work or individual efforts but
serving as guarantee that national
needs which individual states can not
meet will be provided for on ma
tional 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 con-
tinued supply of forest products and
in that of the conservation of water
resources the prh'ic welfn~o is Of
stake. Secondly. stability OF poiicy
and permanence of ownership are es-
sential to any successful attack on
this great conservation problem.
81 am frequently asked as | travel
about the country whether am going
to make important changes in for
estry policy l was asked that very
often in 1910. when first took Office.
I am asked it often this year. NV
answer is that what we are seeking
is not changes but the development
of a permanent public enterprise with
consistent and stable policies. The
national forests were set aside in the
recognition that the bulk of these
lands should be handled permanently
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
agricultural land and fix right limits
for what is needed as protective and
productive forests. Develop perma-
nent policies based on full recogni-
tion of lasting public interests. and
settled forestry practice fitted to the
individual needs of each forest and
locality. Study efficiency; make any
changes necessary for this purpose
but make no changes that are not
clearly called for in the public inter
est. Carry out your plans for the
development and increasing use OF
the forests; but, above all. make each
forest work for community upbuild
ing and local as well as general wei
fare. We must always have in mind
the men and women who are building
up new country and laying the foun
dations for prosperous, thriving com
monwealths We must try to study
their needs and see where and how
the forests can help them. But We
must not cease to guard effectively
against the evils Of private privilege
and monopolistic control Of resources
now the property Of the public"