The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1927-04-27
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9TH, 1927.
q proclamation
By the President of the United States of
America


7 N accordance with the custom establish
ed by my predecessor, l have yearly
proclaimed an American Forest Week.
/ do so again in the belief that no other of
our internal problems is of greater MON.
ent than the rehabilitation of our forests,
now so hopefully begun but needing the
strong support of our collective will and
Canada is observing forest week concur
rently with US.
One-fourth of our soil is better suited
to timber-growing than anything else. I
can not escape the conviction that our in
dustrial stability will be strengthened by
bringing into full productive use this great
empire of land. Although much progress
has been made in public forestry and hope
full beginnings in private forestry, we still
have a vast aggregate of idle or semi-idle
forest land, and another aggregate of poor
farm land that might more profitably grow
timber instead of adding to the problem
of agricultural overproduction.
Consider what blessings the use of this
land for intensive forest culture would bring
to our country. Our migratory forest in
dustries would be stabilized and made per-
manent. Rural industry would be greatly
strengthened and vitalized. Agriculture
would find in silviculture strong ally,
providing markets for farm produce and
for surplus labor. Our farms themselves
contain nearly a third of our woodland-an
enormous potential farm asset if handled
for continuous timber crops. With wide
spread forest culture, new wealth would
spring up for the support of roads, schools.
and local government and the rural regions
would enjoy larger share of the national
prosperity For some of our surplus CAP
ltal now seeking investment abroad, new
outlets would be found in forest produc-
ton. Our people would then have an as
sured supply of timber and would see the
hills and the waste places reclothed with
forests for their pleasure and inspiration.
American Forest Week gives a useful
opportunity for taking counsel on what can
and should be done to bring these neglect
ed and waiting lands into use. 1t also
gives an opportunity for each citizen to
consider his own responsibility in the COM
mon task. 1t is not enough that the Fed
eral and State governments have Joined
hands with the rehabilitation, protect
step toward forest rehabilitation protec.
ton against fire. Every citizen whose
thoughtless act may endanger the woods
has the obligation of respecting the forest
and guarding it from its worst enemy, fire.
Now, Therefore, l, Calvin Coolidge,
President of the United States, do hereby
designate and set aside as American Forest
week the week beginning April "a and end
ing April 30, in this year of 1927; and do
earnestly urge that during that week the
thought of all citizens be directed to the
need of preventing forest fires and to the
measures necessary for the preservation
and wise use of our forests. / recommend
to the Governors of the several states that
they likewise designate this week for spec
lal observance, and that where practicable
and not in conflict with law or custom. Ar
Dor Day be observed on some day of the
same week. / urge that in each State spec-
ial exercises be held in the schools and that
the press and the general public give con-
slderation to the forest needs of their re-
spectlve commonwealth, to the adequacy
OF such legislation as may be on their
statute books, and to the possible need for
further enactments. And urge that all
who own forest lands give consideration Tn
the feasibility of so using them that their
benefits may continue in perpetuity.
In Witness Whereof, l have hereonto
set my hand and caused the seal of the
United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington this
March 5. in the year of our Lord one
thousand nine hundred and twenty-seven.
and of the Independence of the United
States of America the one hundred and
fifty-first
(SeaD CALVIN COOIJDCE