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Show A Generation Of Twig Pickers II) S. Holm In om of the countries of Hurope conservation (wise use ol natural resource wan so generally Ignored for so many cen turies that present fenerations must suffer greatly for want of adequate resources that could nnl should have been theirs. To even assure existence, under a slipping economy, this genera-t lot) Is compelled to utilize fully the most Infinitesimal part of any and nit resources. This condition lias been caused by many previous generations caring only for their own contemporary welfare, and their Inability or refusal to nssume responsibility for the welfare of their progeny. For example the people In the cities and villages surrounding the forest areas must and d i Utilize the tree where it Is cut down even to gathering t It smallest twigs for conversion to charcoal and the ultimate pie-paratlon of food and heat In their homes. Maybe this ran be excused In countries where the people have always been subjects of a controlled state. In America, under n democratic form of govern-ment, evolution to such condition would be nil utter disgrace, and evidence of Hie failure to provide a Rood functional program of education for the people. Surely Informed people In n democratic state could not ami would not permit such .1 condition to develop. And, yet. danger signals are up We must fee them. Just recently It was my prl-vltage to visit ami Inspect r. par' of the rcsecdlng project that Is being carried out In this aren under direction of the IT.S, Forest Services, My eyes were opened such as they hare never been opened before to the vital Importance of taking steps to correct some abuses of our resources, and encourage wise use of all resources. While It was plainly Illustrated that wise ii'iident ile Is better than non-' rn (hoarding). It was alsover.r flenr that over-use, bordering I'bnse, enn and most certain- '$ tv vlll lead to disaster. If per- .' ti Itted to go unabated. It will Inevitably lay the ground work lor the development of a gen-eratlon of "twig pickers' ! America!, This matter shapes up as an nil-Important problem that must become the concern of our peo-ple everywhere. Our attention must be directed to nil unwise life of our natural resources rot Just the ranges or forests, end correction of these wrong doings. There are at least two things we can all do Immediately. First. we can be extra careful In our use of fire, cigarettes, etc. to see that they never become a MHirce of great loss and dlsrup- t tion of our timber, range, and watersheds. Secondly, we can .' become Informed about the sit- iatlon that exists. Education I the only answer to this problem In a freo society; When tho pen- pie become really aware of what Is happening, they will not permit abuses to continue. If we To not become awake to tlilt ' 'r problem soon. It will be too late. We will most certainly pave the way for n generation of "Twig Pickers'' In America not many J. generations In the future. ' My congratulations to the Forest Service for the work they doing. Every citizen ought 11.10 to have opportunity to see what was so obvious as we travelled ever a small part of our forest area. |