The Delta independent., 1925-04-17
AMERICAN FOREST WEEK
IS NATIONAL RECOMMEND

April % to May 3. are the dates
during which American Forest Week
will be observed, if the wishes of
/ President Coolidge are fulfilled.
Forest Protection Week has been
observed for several years, but it is
the general belief that the move
should be larger in scope, and to this
end American Forest Week has been
/ inaugurated.
President Coolidge, on February 81,
1925. issued the first formal procla.
nation regarding this move, which
| follows:
In proclaiming American Forest
! Week, | desire to bring to the atten-
tion of all our people the danger
/ that comes from the neglect of our
| forests.
For several years the Nation has
observed Forest Protection Week. 1t
is fitting that this observance be en-
/ larged. We have too freely spent the
rich and magnificent gift that nature
bestowed on us. In our eagerness to
use that gift we have stripped our
forests; We have permitted fires to
/ lay waste and deyour them: we
have all too often destroyed the
young growth and the seed from
which new forests might spring. And
/ though we already feel the first
grip of timber shortage. we have
I barely begun to save and restore
/ We have passed the pioneer stage
and are no longer eXcusable for con.
/ tinuing the unwise dissipation of a
great resource To the Nation it
means the lack of an elemental ne
cessity and the waste of keeping idle
or only partly productive nearly one
fourth of our soil. To our forest-us-
/ ing Industries it means the lack OF an
/ elemental necessity and the waste Of
keeping idle or only partly productive
nearly one-fourth OF our soil To our
fOrest-using industries 1t means un-
stable investments. the depletion OF
forest capital, the disbanding of es-
tablished enterprises. and the decline
Of one of our most important indus
/ trial groups
/ Our forests ought to be put to work
I anu htpl at "blh no not lAlnllIllke
the obstacles that have to be met. nor
the difficulty Of changing old ideas
and practices. We must all put our
/ hands to this common task It is not
enough that the Federal. State, and
/ local governments take the lead.
There must be a change in our ma
tional attitude. Our industries. our
. 70
zens must learn to treat our forests
as crops to be used but also TO be re-
newed. We must learn to tend our
woodlands as carefully as we tend
our farms
/ Let us apply to this creative task
/ the boundless energy and skill we
have so long spent in harvesting the
free gifts of nature The forests Of
the future must be started today Our
/ children are dependent upon our
course. We are bound by solemn
obligation from which no evasion and
no subtertuge will relieve us Unless
We fulfill our sacred responsibility to
unborn generations, unless we use
with gratitude and with restraint the
generous and kindly gifts OF Divine
i Providence, we shall prove ourselves
unworthy guardians Of heritage we
hold in trust
NOW. THEREFORE,. Calvin Cool.
idge. President Of the United States.
do recommend to the governors OF
the various states to designate and
set apart the week Of April 27-May g..
inclusive. 1925, as American Forest
Week, and, wherever practicable and
not in conflict with state law. or ac.
cepted customs, to celebrate Arbor
Day within that week. And I urge
public officials, public and business
associations, industrial leaders. for.
est owners. editors. educators. and all
patriotic citizens to unite i'm the com
mon task of forest conversation and
renewal.
! IN WITNESS WHEREOF. I have
hereunto set my hand and caused the
seal of the United States to be af
fixed.
Done at the City Of Washington this
twenty-first day Of February in the
years of our Lord one thousand nine
hundred and twenty-five. and Of the
Independence of the United States Of
America the one hundred and forty
nine.
CALVIN COOLIDGE.
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