Vol. 20, No. 2
A Research Program
FEBRUARY 1, 19128
science of tree-growing and protection, waste reduction in the manufacture and utilization of wood, development of HE Division of Cellulose Chemistry, as reported in the economic information concerning the growing, manufacture, Y e w Edition of November 20, has endorsed the and distribution of wood, and the general problem of full McSweeney-Mch’ary Bill, which is in effect an effort to use of the forests. Ours is the most complex temperate authorize a ten-year program in forest research for the De- zone forest in the world, extending throughout our country partment of Agriculture. The proposed legislation is thor- and found on lands from sea level to 12,500 feet altitude. In oughly constructive and, althdugh authorizing appropriations our climate, which ranges from subtropical to subarctic, with for various phases of forest research vork, does not itself precipitation varying from 20 t o 140 inches a year, and with an unknown number of carry these appropriations. soil types, we find about In view of t h e p r e s e n t eight hundred and fifty value of cellulose as a raw A Word from Our President widely d i f f e r e n t tree material for the chemical species, of which a t least industry and the prospects AY I make use of the columns of INDUSTRIAL AND sixty-five are of first comof enhanced value in the EXGINEERING CHEXISTRYto express to the members mercial importance. With near future, the program of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY my very sincere appreso large a number of vario u t l i n e d i n t h i s bill is ciation of the honor accorded me in being elected President ables the work to be done worthy of our careful study of the SOCIETY for the current year? before we really know what and support. I n addition Thanks t o the efficiency of its past presidents and execut o prescribe in a given to our Division of Cellutive officers. the present status of the SOCIETYis most exsituation is great almost to lose Chemistry, a number cellent-a circumstance which adds greatly to the pleasure d i s c o u r a g e m e n t . Even of scientific and commerof being chosen as its President. However, is this feature the growing of timber in cial organizations have apto be interpreted as a call to complacency, or is it a challenge? p r o v e d t h e b i l l . The the United States is in its The chemists of America in the last twenty years have been Chamber of Commerce of infancy a n d E u r o p e a n very busy and have contributed materially to science, to the t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s has methods apply but roughly industries, and to the general welfare; and withal, the Soissued a booklet summarizto our different species and CIETY has been well out in front of the procession functioning ing the significant points conditions. Obviously, a as helper and sponsor for every wise undertaking. It is to be covered. f a r s i g h t e d p r o g r a m is inconceivable that the chemists of this country will now, or Khile a great deal has needed and the American ever, sit down and take life easy. The present happy status, been said and written conf o r e s t e r s have gone to therefore, must be interpreted as a challenge. What shall it cerning forestry. most of great pains to prepare one. be? The year is before us. us do not yet appreciate The program provides S. IT. PARR the true situation. Our for close cooperation with natural forest lands are of forest pathologists, forest great extent, totaling more entomologists, forest than 500 million acres, of which some 220 million acres are biologists, and meteorologists in the various bureaus of the in commercial holdings; one-fifth are under federal owner- federalservice. There is increased work for the Forest Prodship or control, chiefly in national forests; one-third in ucts Laboratory on wood utilization, and a group of probwoodlots owned by farmers; and 10.5 million acres con- lems involving the forest as a range where stock is to be trolled by the states. As compared with research conducted pastured and game encouraged concurrently with forest dein other fields, the amount expended upon forest research velopment. Data on forest economics are badly needed to is small. The Society of American Foresters estimates that furnish a sound basis for the legislative and business policies the current annual expenditures for forest research by all of federal and state governments in encouraging forest inagencies probably do not exceed $2,600,000. dustries, a t the same time protecting the public interest. This is not the place to dwell upon the necessity of proThose who have carefully investigated the subject feel ducing forest crops to meet our total requirements-that that within a decade the large program outlined will justify is a truth accepted by all scientists. Our forests offer as an annual expenditure of approximately twelve millions for great an opportunity for construeti\-e research as did our research. This amount is not unreasonable for work on agricultural lands when, forty years ago, the first really problems involving one-fourth of our total land area and serious steps in agricultural research were taken. .4 closely looking to the permanence of some of our largest indusprinted book of some two hundred pages has been prepared, tries. giving in detail a national program of forest research. It The program appeals to us as one which we can support, merits careful consideration, and it is upon this ten-year pro- not only as chemists interested in the products of the forest. gram that the bill in question is founded. The essentials but as informed citizens who recognize without argument fall under such main divisions as a complete and practical its importance.
