Systematic forest fire protection by the States has been greatly stimulated by the operation of the so-called Weeks law, under which the Federal Government co-operates through the Forest Service with Individual States for protecting the watersheds of navigable streams, the Federal Government bearing in no case more than half the cost nor contributing more than $10,000 to any State in any one year. Under this law more than one hundred million acres of private and Stateowned lands are fairly well protected against forest fires, at an average cost of less than two cents The States which have entered into co-operative agreements under this law are: Maine, per acre, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. Tennessee, Alabama, Colorado, and California have organized fire-warden systems, but do not appropriate State funds for fire protection. Maine supports an efficient forest fire service covering The Forest Service of Minnesota covers 20,000,000 acres the unorganized townships in the northern part of the State: in the remaining townships each bears the cost of an ex-officlo warden system. Idaho has adopted a co-operative system of proby systematic patrol and maintains a permanent field force of rangers and patrolmen, with exofclo town fire-wardens as an auxillary force. tection with private owners, under which the State pays its pro rata share of the cost, on the basis of State-owned area within the area protected by a privately organized system. Throughout the Northwest an important feature in fire protection is the extensive organization of private timberland owners into associations supported by assessments on an acreage basis and maintaining a system of private protection similar to that maintained on the National forests by the Government; the land thus privately protected is now estimated at approximately 25 million acresc In the fifty years preceding 1913, forest fires had caused an average annual loss In the United States of about 70 human lives and at least $25,000,000 worth of timber, besides the loss of live stock, crops, buildings, and various kinds of Improvements worth many millions more. Added to this are the enormous losses from the destruction of young tree growth, soll deterioration, damage to water courses and water supplies, Interruption of business, and depreciation of property. New York has a State-owned "Forest Preserve" of 1,825,882 acres in the Adirondack and Catskill Mountains, under fire protection, but not under forest management, which the State ConThe entire central portion of these two mountain regions, comprising 7,200,000 stitution forbids. acres, is protected from fire by a State ranger system; in the rest of the State, town officers are de pended on to keep fires down. Private owners are furnished tree seedlings at cost from the State FORESTS AND FORESTRY-Continued. Three laws nurseries, which also grow material for reforesting denuded portions of the reserve. Minnesota has Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan have large holdings of State forests. Wisconsin has 400,000 acres reserved, and Michigan approximately 1,000,000 acres of school lands which are to be retained for State school forests, besides 43,000 acres now in State forests. South Dakota has 75,000 acres of State 589,000, of which 312,000 acres are used for exchange to add to the 277,000 acres permanently reserved in several large blocks in different parts of the State. forest in the Black Hills. Massachusetts 15,000 acres, New Jersey 13,720 acres, and New Hampshire, Vermont, California, Connecticut, Indiana, and Maryland from 7,000 to 2,000 acres each. In Connecticut. New York, Pennsylvania, and Michigan the tax on forest land may be levied chiefly on yield or income. CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES. THE National Conservation Association, with headquarters in the Colorado Building, WashIngton, D. C., is now the organiz ed head of the conservation movement in the United States. In a booklet explaining the objects of the association is the following: "The National Conservation Association is fighting for the prompt and orderly development of our natural resources, for the welfare of ourselves and our children, and for the rights of the plain people. The association is bound neither by political considerations nor official connections. It is free to speak the whole truth. "That conservation means the use of our natural resources for the benefit of us all and not merely for the profit of a few is already household knowledge. The task which the National Conservation Association has set itself is to get this principle put into practical effect." The association is maintained by annual dues from membership, ranging from $1.00 to $20.00. Gifford Pinchot, President; Charles W. Ellot, Honorary President; Harry A. Slattery, Secretary The National Conservation Congress is the National clearing-house for the State conservation commissions and conservation committees of National associations and all organizations concerned In the conservation of the country's natural resources. It is the organized head of the conservaIts chief object is "to afford an agency through which the tion movement in the United States, people of the country may frame policles and principles affecting the conservation and utilization of their resources, to be put into effect by their respective representatives in the State and Federal Governments." The Congress holds annual meetings "to provide for discussion of the resources of the United States as the foundation for the prosperity of the people." The Congress also undertakes to furnish definite information concerning the resources and their development, use and preservation." Membership dues range from $1 a year to $100 or more, according to classification. AMERICAN WOOD-PRESERVERS' ASSOCIATION. First Vice-President-Carl G. Crawford, Louisville, President-George E. Rex, Topeka, Kan. Ky. Secretary-Treasurer-F. J. Angler, Baltimore, Md. The objects and purposes of the association shall be to advance the wood-preserving industry In all its branches; to afford its members opportunities for the Interchange of ideas with respect to Improvements in the wood-preserving industry, and for the discussion of all matters bearing upon the industry of wood preserving; to maintain a high business and professional standard in all respects, and to standardize specifications for wood preservatives and their introduction into the materials to be preserved. A The means to be employed for this purpose shall be meetings for the presentation and discussion of appropriate papers, and for social and professional Intercourse; the publication of such papers and discussions as may be deemed expedient; co-operation with other societies, associations and organizations in the work of standardizing specifications affecting the wood-preserving industry, and all other things incidental or conducive to the attainment of the objects of the association or any of them, and as the members may from time to time consider advisable. Next annual convention will be held in Chicago, January 19, 20 and 21, 1915. STATE OR TERRITORY. Alabama... AREA UNAPPROPRIATED AND Total. Acres. Acres. 51,920 Arkansas... 817,979 51,000 868,972 California.... 16,183,344 4,719,408 20,902,752 Colorado... 16,979,843 1,919,598 18,899,441 THE PUBLIC LANDS OF THE UNITED STATES. (Prepared for THE WORLD ALMANAC by the General Land Office.) TABULAR Statement showing area of public lands vacant and subject to entry and settlement in the public land States and Territories, June 30, 1914. Florida.... 176,233 131,691 307,924 Oregon... 13,573,535 2,396,311 15,969,846 Idaho.. 7,648,380 8,694,401 16,342,781 South Dakota,.. 3,519,488 53,7-1 3,57-5,269 Kansas, 102,200 102,200 Utsh 12,411,611 21,344,891 33,756,502 Louisiana. 87,480 35,565 123,045 Washington.. 1,090,748 709,026 1,199,774 Michigan.. 79,316 79,316 Wisconsin..... 8,760 8,760 Minnesota. 1,082,199 1,089,199 Wyoming. 29,449,767 Mississippi.. 46,793 46,793 1,061 1,051) Grand Total.. Missouri... The unreserved lands in Alaska are not included herein. They approximate 367,900,000 acres and are mostly unsurveyed and unappropriated. Cash receipts of the General Land Office during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1914: From sales of public lands, 84,256,102.96; sales of Indian lands, 1,844,802.77; leases of power sites, etc.. 32,681.98; depredation on the public lands, $21,913.85; copies of records and plats, $22,866.77. Total receipts for the year, $6,148,367.63. Area of public and Indian lands originally entered during the fiscal year, 15,925,179.52 acres; area of lands patented, 14,391,071,853 acres. The total number of entries made, acres sold and amount received therefor under the Timber and Stone acts of June 3, 1878, and August 4, 1892, were: From June 3, 1878, to June 30, 1914: Entries, 101,979; acres, 13,224,279.54; amount, $33,410,909.54. UNITED STATES LAND OFFICES AND OFFICERS AS OF JUNE 30, 1914. Receiver. Neb....Alliance...W. W. Wood...Harvey J. Ellis. N. Platte..John E. Evans. Ira L. Bare. La Grande. F. C. Bramwell. Nolan Skiff. Wash... N. Yakima R. Strobach... Wis.... Olympla... F. W. Stocking. R. W. Elwell. Spokane... H. J. Cole. Vancouver. G. N. Ranck.. C. Kalahan. Walla Willa J. H. McDonald J. G. Miller. PASSPORT REGULATIONS. RULES governing the granting and issuing of passports in the United States: 1. BY WHOM ISSUED AND REFUSAL TO ISSUE.-No one but the Secretary of State may grant and issue passports in the United States (Revised Statutes, sections 4075, 4078), and he is empowered to refuse them in his discretion. Passports are not issued by American diplomatic and consular officers abroad, except in cases of emergency; and a citizen who is abroad and desires to procure a passport must apply therefor through the nearest diplomatic or consular officer to the Secretary of State. Applications for passports by persons in Porto Rico or the Philippines should be made to the Chief Executives of those islands. The evidence required of such applicants is the same as that required of applicants in the United States. 2. FER-By act of Congress approved March 23, 1888, a fee of one dollar is required to be collected for every citizen's passport. That amount in currency or postal money order should accompany each application made by a citizen of the United States. Orders should be made payable to the Disbursing Clerk of the Department of State. Drafts or checks will not be accepted. 3.APPLICATIONS-A person who is entitled to receive a passport, if within the United States, must make a written application, In the form of an affidavit, to the Secretary of State. The application must be made by the person to whom the passport is to be issued and signed by him, as it is not competent for one person to apply for another." The affidavit must be attested by an officer authorized to administer oaths, and if he has an official seal it must be affixed. If he has no seal his official character must be authenticated by certificate of the proper legal officer. If the applicant signs by mark, two attesting witnesses to his signature are required. The applicant is required to state the date and place of his birth, his occupation, the place of his permanent residence and within what length of time he will return to the United States with the purpose of residing and performing the duties of citizenship. The applicant must take the oath of allegiance to the Government of the United States. The application must be accompanied by a description of the person applying, and should state the following particulars, viz.: Age, years; stature, feet, inches (English measure); forehead,; eyes, nose,; mouth, The application must be accompanied by a certificate from at least one credible witness that the applicant is the person he represents himself to be, and that the facts stated in the affidavit are true to the best of the witness's knowledge and bellef." 4.NATIVE CITIZENS.-An application containing the information indicated by rule 3 will be sufficient evidence in the case of native citizens; but A person of the Chinese race, alleging birth in the United States, must obtain from the Commissioner of Immigration or Chinese inspector in charge at the port through which he proposes to leave the country a certificate upon his application, under the seal of such officer, showing that there has been granted to him by the latter a return certificate in accordance with rule 16 of the Chinese Regulations of the Department of Labor. For this purpose special blank forms of application for passports are provided. Passports issued by the Department of State or its diplomatic or consular representatives are intended for identification and protection in foreign countries, and not to facilitate entry into the United States, immigration being under the supervision of the Department of Labor. 5. A PERSON BORN ABROAD WHOSE FATHER WAS A NATIVE CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES.-In addition to the statements required by rule 3, his application must show that his father was born in the United States, resided therein, and was a citizen at the time of the applicant's birth. The department may require that this affidavit be supported by that of one other citizen acquainted with the facts. 6. NATURALIZED CITIZENS. In addition to the statements required by rule 3, a naturalized citizen must transmit his certificate of naturalization, or a duly certified copy of the court record thereof, with his application. It will be returned to him after inspection. He must state in his athidavit when and from what port he emigrated to this country, what ship he salled on, where he has lived since his arrival in the United States, when and before what court he was naturalized, and that he is the identical person described in the certificate of naturalization. The signature to the application should conform in orthography to the applicant's name as written in his certificate of naturalization, or an explanation of the difference should be submitted. 7. WOMAN'S APPLICATION.-If she is unmarried, in addition to the statements required by rule 3, she should state that she has never been married. If she is the wife or widow of a native citizen of the United States the fact should be made to appear in her application, which should be made according to the form prescribed for a native citizen whether she was born in this country or abroad. If she is the wife or widow of a naturalized citizen, in addition to the statements required by rule 3, she must transmit for inspection her husband's certificate of naturalization, or a certified copy of the court record thereof, must state that she is the wife (or widow) of the person described therein, and must set forth the facts of his emigration, naturalization, and residence, as required in the rules governing the application of a naturalized citizen. A married woman citizenship follows that of her hus band so far as her international status is concerned. It is essential, therefore, that a woman's marital relations be indicated in her application for a passport, and that in the case of a married woman her husband's citizenship be established. 8. THE CHILD OF A NATURALIZED CITIZEN CLAIMING CITIZENSHIP THROUGH THE NATURALIZATION OF THE PARENT.-In addition to the statements required by rule 3, the applicant must state that he or she is the son or daughter, as the case may be, of the person described in the certificate of naturalization, which must be submitted for inspection, and must set forth the facts of emigra tion, naturalization, and residence, as required in the rule governing the application of a naturalized citizen. 9. A RESIDENT OF AN INSULAR POSSESSION OF THE UNITED STATES WHO OWES ALLEGIANCE TO THE UNITED STATES.-In addition to the statements required by rule 3, he must state that he owes allegiance to the United States and that he does not acknowledge allegiance to any other Government; and must submit affidavits from at least two credible witnesses having good means of knowledge in substantiation of his statements of birth, residence, and loyalty. 10. EXPIRATION OF PASSPORT.-A passport expires two years from the date of its issuance. A new one will be issued upon a new application, and if the applicant be a naturalized citizen, the old passport will be accepted in lieu of a certificate of naturalization, if the application upon which it was issued is found to contain sufficient information as to the naturalization of the applicant. Passports are not renewed by the department, but a person abroad holding a passport issued by the department may have it renewed for a period of two years upon presenting it to a diplomatic or principal consular officer of the United States when it is about to expire. 11. WIFE, MINOR CHILDREN, AND SERVANTS.-When the applicant is accompanied by his wife, minor children, or servant who would be entitled to receive a passport, it will be sufficient to state the fact, giving the respective ages of the children and the allegiance of the servant, when one passport will suffice for all. For any other person in the party a separate passport will be required. A woman's passport may include her minor children and servant under the above-named conditions. The term servant does not include a governess, tutor, pupil, companion, or person holding like relations to the applicant for a passport. 12. TITLES.-Professional and other titles will not be inserted in passports. 13. BLANK FORMS OF APPLICATION.-They will be furnished by the department to persons who desire to apply for passports, but are not furnished, except as samples, to those who make a business of procuring passports. 14. ADDRESS.-Communications should be addressed to the Department of State, Bureau of Citizenship, and each communication should give the post-office address of the person to whom the answer is to be directed. THE WHITE Houss, March 10, 1913. No-An applicant who expects to go to Russia accompanied by wife and children should in form the department to that effect and state the names of the wife and children so that they may be inserted in the passport, to conform with the Russian regulations. 1 PASSPORT REGULATIONS—Continued. NOTICE TO AMERICAN CITIZENS WHO CONTEMPLATE GOING ABROAD. All American citizens who go abroad should carry American passports. American citizens are advised not to visit unnecessarily countries at war. It is especially important that naturalized American citizens refrain from visiting their countries of origin or countries which are at war therewith. W. J. BRYAN. Department of State, Washington, August 12, 1914. PASSPORTS FOR AMERICAN CITIZENS IN EUROPE. Emergency passports may be obtained by American citizens in Europe from American embassies, legations, or consulates upon their submitting thereto proper sworn applications supported by the necessary evidence of citizenship. A person claiming citizenship through naturalization in his own right should submit his certificate of naturalization with the application, and a person claiming citizenship through naturalization of parent or husband should submit the certificate of naturalization of such person. If the certificate of natural zation has been left in this country It should be forwarded to the department, and notice of its receipt will be sent by mail or telegraph to the embassy, legation, or consulate in which the passport application is to be made. Where a person is residing in a remote place abroad and cannot, without great danger, difficulty, or expense, reach an American embassy, legation, or consulate to make his or her application, the department will consider the issuance of a passport upon receipt of a proper sworn application made in behalf of such person by the husband, parent, next of kin, or legal representative in this country. The person who signs the application should set forth the full name and personal description of the one for whom the passport is sought, and should state, to the best of his knowledge and belief, where and when such person was born, the nationality of his father at the time of such person's birth, how long and in what places such persons resided in this country, what occupation he follows, when he went abroad and for what purpose, his exact present address, and his intention of returning to the United States for permanent residence. In the case of a naturalized citizen he should also state when he or she, or the parent or husband through whom naturalization was acquired, first came to this country, and when and before what court the naturalization was obtained, and the application should be accompanied by the naturalization certificate. When the person in whose behalf the application is made is accompanied by wife, children, or servants, who are citizens of the United States, the application should include their names, with the dates and places of birth. The department does not furnish special blank forms of applications for the use of persons applying in behalf of others. The blank forms prescribed for ordinary applications may be used, with the necessary alterations and additions. The applicant should sign his own name, followed by the name of the person for whom the passport is desired, and should state his relationship to such person; thus: "John Jones, in behalf of Sarah Jones, his wife." The seal of the notarial officer before whom the application is executed should be affixed. The personal description should contain the following items: Age, — years; stature, inches, English measure; forehead, eyes, ; nose, --; mouth, -- -; chín, m ; hair, -; complexion, feet face, The application must be accompanied by a certified statement of some credible witness, other than the applicant, that he is acquainted with the applicant and the person for whom the passport is requested, and that the facts stated in the application are true to the best of the witness's knowledge and belief. Upon special requests the department, Instead of issuing a regular passport, upon the application received, and sending it through the mall, may telegraph the proper American diplomatic or consular officer in Europe to issue an emergency passport and send it to the person for whom it is desired. Such telegraphic Instructions must necessarily set forth the full name, personal description, and address of the person for whom the passport is sought. Whenever it is possible the department prefers that the application for a passport be made by the person to whom it is to be issued, and, when so requested, the department will instruct diplomatic or consular officers by telegraph to advise Americans abroad how and where applications may be made. The expense of sending a telegram must, in every case, be assumed by some reliable person In this country, to whom a bill therefor will be sent. The legal fee for the issuance of a passport by the department is one dollar, and, if this amount is sent in the form of a money order, it should be made payable to the "Disbursing Clerk, Department of State." In view of the present conditions in Europe, fees for the issuance of emergency passports by American diplomatic and consular officers will be waived. W. J. BRYAN. Department of State, Washington, August 12, 1914. LIABILITY FOR MILITARY SERVICE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES OF PERSONS RESIDING IN THE UNITED STATES. THE Department of State has recently received numerous inquiries from foreign-born persons residing in this country as to whether they may be compelled to perform military service in their native lands and as to what penalties, by way of fines, connscation of property, or Imprisonment in case of return, they will incur if they fall to report to the authorities of their countries of origin for milltary service. Some of the Inquiries refer to persons who have obtained naturalization as citizens of the United States, others to persons who have made declarations of intention to become American citizens, and still others to persons who have taken no steps toward acquiring American citizenship. Misconception and confusion concerning this matter appear to be current. The United States is not a party to any treatles under which persons of foreign origin residing In this country may be compelled to return to their countries of origin for military service, nor is there any way in which persons may be forced into foreign armles against their will so long as they remain in the United States. The department cannot undertake to give authentic, official Information either, in general, as to the requirements of the military service laws of foreign countries and the penalties provided therein for evasion of military service, or, in particular, as to the status and present or future llabilities of individuals under such laws. Information of this kind must be obtained from omelals of the foreign countries concerned. The department issues printed circulars concerning the status in their native lands of naturalized citizens of the United States, natives of certain European countries, and these will be furnished to interested persons upon request. It is specifically stated in these circulars that the information contained in them is not to be considered as official so far as it relates to the laws and regulations of foreign countries. The United States has concluded treatles of naturalization with the following European countries: Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Denmark, the German States, Great Britain, Norway and Sweden. Copies of these treaties are to be found in "Treaties, Conventions, etc., between the United States |