The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-06-11
Forests and Taxation.

Geo. May Powell, Chairman OF the
Forest Committee, read the following pa
per before the American Institute. New
York City. few days ago:
\ successful teacher gave as an axiom
attic proposition that 10 simplify and
repeat was the only condition necessary
10 prosperity Of his work with his pupils.
Simpliiication and repetition are the oars
with which the forest boat launched by
the American Institute must be propelled.
The latter IL much easier 10 use than the
former, but they must both be used if the
boat would be shot ahead instead Of spun
round and round. There are three cardi-
nal points of the forest question. the agi-
tstion of which, vigorously and intelli-
gently, will insure an immense change for
the better within less than score OF years.
Two OF these have been somewhat dis
cussed by Us In previous papers. First.
or the latter and generally. IL will "pay,"
IN almost every conceivable point of view,
for all persons owning real estate In
either town or country. on farms or in
villages. To plant trees on their premises,
especially along the highways aud in
waste corners and patches of ground and
also very carefully 10 economic any
timber they have left still standing. All
other things being equal, il has often been
practically proved that five dollars ex-
pended in tree-planting around or near the
buildings will add hundreds of dollars 70
the salable value Of the property. Thus
much Of the financial value of the beauti-
ful. climatic. meteorological and other
gain thrown i'm free. Second. Ia the crea-
ton of new forests, planting of tree seeds
on the Identical spot where the trees are
expected permanently 10 grow is the
OR Of.
reproduction OF trees An hour spent in
putting hard maple, elm, linden and ash
seeds and hickory and other nuts into the
ground being often equivalent TO months
of traDsplaniing. This j. true especially
In respect to the number of trees which a
given amount of labor will plant. In this
particular the difference i often rs one TO
one hundred. In regard 10 cost OF stock.
the price OF trees ifpurchaSed would often
BE- X one to one thousand compared 10
buying tree seeds. These differences are,
of course. the KEYS TO the situation. In a
large majority of cases they determine
whether any silvaculture at al shall he at
tempted. Thus much of what individu-
ais can and should do for themselves indie
pendent OF any action either of counties,
States or General Government. Such ac-
ton of individuals must. IN the aggregate,
amount TO far more than any local or Cen
eral Government action. and than all such
action combined. Third. I'm respect 10
taxes. Here j. the chief point for govern
mental movement. The Governments OF
Europe reap vast sums from
the sale of timber from the
forests, instead of sale of the
lands on which that timber grows. This
principle, by wise economy of the forest
management, secures not only an extern
sive but perpetual revenue. which re
duces the taxes of the people by subsian-
TALLY those amounts. The people in turn
secure timber for fuel, architectural and
other mechanical uses quite as economic
ally. all things considered, as we do in the
older sections OF our own country. This
line of policy also insures the possibility
OF always getting timber. and of getting
good article. Our Government has been
and still is selling millions Of pine and
other timber lands al II % per acre, on
large proportion of which the timber Is
not only worth from ten to a hundred
times that sum per acre, but 1t Is so sold
by spectators To the lumbermen at such
relative rates. These Spectators and their
heirs often reap also rich harvest by the
cuttings of each succeeding twenty years
from the same lands. These are figures
worth constructing w tlit ldA-pd.'iS vi
nation very considerably in debt some
thousands Of millions of dollars. Until
our national debit reduced, ''hard times"
ARE absolutely certain 10 continue. States.
too, NAV in some cases adopt timber
selling instead of lsnd-selling policy to
the advantage of their payers OF state
taxes. Some States are granting certain
exemption from taxation TO those planting
trees. Within any probable limits, and
under proper regulations, the more OF that
"a 49,