The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1928-03-09
PRESIDENT COOLIDGE PRO-
CLAIMS AMERICAN
FOREST WEEK
APRIL 22-2S

APRIL 22-2S
President Coolidge has officially
designated the week of April 22-2S
for nationwide observance OF the
annual American Forest Week." in
proclamation announced by the
United States Department of Agri-
culture.
The President set apart the Week,
he said, .'for public discussion Of our
forests and OF what must be done to
safeguard and restore them" He
emphasized particularly the need for
SURPRISING the forest fire evil, and
pointed out the benefits to agricul-
ture, industry, commerce, and ma
tional life that will result from max,
ing the forest lands OF the United
States fully productive OF continuous
timber crops.
"The rehabilitation of our forests
demands first of all that the forest
fire. evil be suppressed" the Presl-
dent declared. Many OF the forest
ed States, with the cooperation OF
timber owners, have undertaken or
ganized protection against forest
fires; and in recent years, under the
Clarke McNary law, the Federal
Government has given its support to
the movement. This great coopera-
tive enterprise must be extended and
strengthened until every forested
county in the United States is safe
guarded against forest fires.
but we are still tar from the
goal of complete protection. Every
year., on the average, $4,000 fires
scourage our woodlands, steadily
undermining their vitality. For
this bad situation, the blame falls
equally on us ALL Public agencies
rarely provide adequate protection
against fire, the timberland owner
is too often Indifferent to his proper
ty, the forest worker is too often
neglectful of the future forest, the
average citizen is too often careless
with fire in the woods. We must
all gain such respect for the forest
that it's destruction through indiffer-
ence or carelessness shall be un-
Ithinkable.
1--WE can not permanently abuse
our forests with impunity. The soil
is the ultimate source OF all our
wealth and of life itself. One-four-
til of our American soil is best suited
for forests. Much Of this land is al
ready idle More of it is being
made idle by destructive logging and
fire. Yet we can not safely permit
our forest land to lie fallew and use
less any more than we can permit
our farms and factories to lie idle.
'.To make our vast empire OF for
est land fully productive Of continu-
GUS crops of timber will have mo-
mentous consequences in our nation
al life. II will give agriculture the
advantage of a new and valuable
crop. It will afford permanent en-
ployment to millions OF men in the
forest industries. 1t will provide
raw materials for many industries.
1t will furnish trafiic for our rail-
roads. 1t will maintain foreign and
domestic commerce. 1t will restore
our forests as conservers Of soil and
water, and as giver of health and
leasure to our people.
1--WE already have made begin
ming in forest renewal but the task
is stupendous, and we should permit
no satisfaction over what has been
done to blind us to the magnitude OF
what remains to be DONE"
This year will mark the eighth an
lnual observance of American Forest
Week, President Harding in 1921
having issued the first proclamation
which brought the Federal Govern
ment behind the movement. The
week this year, as it has for the past
;wo years, will assume an interna-
tional scope through the fact that
Canada will observe its Save the
Forests Week at the same time.
The week in the United States will
be directed by an American Forest
week Committee, of which Theodore
Roosevelt of New York is chairman.
A large number of organizations.
representing q wide variety OF inter
ests, are cooperating, among them
associations representing outdoor,
wild life, and recreational interests,
foresters and forestry associations.
the lumber industry, consumers 81
forests products, labor, scientific,
civic. agricultural, press, church and
women's organizations, as well as
the State and Federal Governments.
Local Forest Week Committees are
being organized in every Sta.e.
In his proclamation, President Co
olidge urges that during the Week,
"all citizens and appropriate organi-
zations--incIuding unblic officials,
Legislators, business organizations,
educators, editors. clsrgymen. land