Evening star., 1933-10-23
MAI. STUART DIES
IN 7-FL0OR PLUNGE.
U. S. Forestry Chief Suffered
Nervous Breakdown Sew
eraI Months Ago.
Continued From First Page.)

o'clock, put his hat on . rack in his
ONCE and then went to an adjoining Of
fice and opened the window, from
which he either jumped or fell. The
back windows Of the Office are free Of
encumbrances, while there Is . flre
escape landing just outside the corre-
spending windows In Mai. stuart's
Office.
Acting Coroner A. Magruder Mac
Donald will determine later whether an
inquest Will be held. DR.. Macdonald 5
reports show no one saw Maj. Stuart
leave the window. and there is nothing
in his effects at his Office to determine
whether he jumped or fell. The papers
on his desk were neatly piled, as they
probably had been left Saturday. Lean
ing against his inkwell was life in
Surance prospectus.
Maj. Stuart's associates in the For
estry Service said 1t had appeared for
the past six months that his nerves
were giving way under the strain Of
overwork. He arrived at his office early,
they declared, and often worked until
late at night. Despite protests that he
was impairing his health, he refused to
rest, feeling responsible, it was said, for
that had been added to the usual func-
tions Of the Forestry Service. In ad-
dition, for several weeks, he had been
engaged in preparing for the N. r. A.
lumberman's code hearings.
year and half ago, it was learned,
he had a nervous breakdown. but re-
covered and until about April had ap-
peared in excellent health.
Maj. Stuart had been in forestry work
for many years. He was born in South
Middleton Township, Cumberland Coun-
ty, Pa, on February Is, 1883, and was
educated at Dickinson College and Yale,
entering the Forest Service in 1906, first
as an assistant forester in Montana,
Idaho and Wyoming, and later as chief
Of the division of timber sale and plant
ing in the Missoula, Mont. district be-
tween 1906 and 1912. From 1912 to
1917 he was deputy commissioner OF
forestry OF Pennsylvania and was pro-
NOTED to commissioner when he re-
turned from war service in 1920s In
1922 he was made secretary OF forests
and waters of Pennsylvania, leaving
that post IN 1927 to become chief OF
the public relations section Of the United
States Forest Service. He was named
chief Of the Forest Service in May, 1928.
During the war he served as captain
and major in the Army Forest Engi-
neers, and received citation from Gen.
Pershing for his work with the A. E. F.
He served as a member Of the Til
State Delaware River Treaty Commits
sion from 1923 to 1927. and was chair
man of the Pennsylvania Sesquicen-
tennial Commission in 1925.
He was a member of the National
Capital Park and Planning Commission.
He also was prominent in the affairs OF
the Society Of American ForesterS, a
member of the Phi Delta Theta Frater-
nifty, a Mason and an Episcopalian.
He also was member OF the Cosmos
Club.
Stuart was the first forestry expert to
be called by President Roosevelt to con-
suit on the work which could be done in
the forests by the Civilian Conservation
Corps
Long before the law setting up the
corps was passed, he had mapped out
an extensive program.
Lately, he has been receiving recon-
mendations from State Governors for
new camps, and his decisions on these
recommendations have been followed by
the corps officials almost to the letter.
In addition, he served as the Depart
ment Of Agricultures representative on
the Advisory Committee Of the Con-
servation Corps, and did much of the
work Of selecting supervisory officials
for the program.
c. M. Granger. Stuart's first assistant,
is temporarily acting as chief forester.
Wallace Feels Loss.
Secretary Wallace was In New York
when word Of the tragedy reached him
by telephone. IT am profoundly moved,
Secretary Wallace said. Maj. Stuart
was carrying tremendous responsible
ties in connection with the emergency
programs. His death Is a great loss to
all of us, both personally and officially:
public servant, not only In the national
also in the new and strenuous task OF
guiding the forestry work of the Civilian
Conservation Corps and Of helping with
many phases OF the public works pro-
gram"
Maj. Stuart made lasting and note
worthy contributions to American for
under his direction we have seen the
development Of q cooperative policy in
forestry, . policy which co-ordinates the
activities Of Federal. State and private
interests In timber and water conserva-
ton.
1.-THE Copeland report. for which he
was so largely responsible and which
he placed before Congress during the
last session, Is q monumental piece OF
work For the first time it lays the
foundation for national program Of
forest planning. This broadly con-
ceived plan synthesizes the best and
most forwardlooking ideas In Federal,
State and industria! forestry and, when
finally adopted, will guarantee the per-
manence and wise use Of our forest
resources.
Under Maj. Stuart's leadership we