The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-08-25
TOM KING Is In IT
What Europe Has Done to Protect
Its Timber Treasures.
Summary of Continental Legislation b,
the Chief of the Forestry Division of
the Agricultural Department a
Lesson for the United States.


the preservation OF the vast belts Of
est natural treasures, and many OF the
states, New York in particular, have
moved in the same direction.
It is confessed. however, that our
forestry laws are inadequate in them
selves, as well as feebly enforced.
Mr.. Il. E. Fernow, the forestry expert
of the department of agriculture, has
summed up, in Century, the forestry
legislation Of Europe. Continental eX-
periences should have their lessons for
the United States. \ brief summary OF
Mr.. FernOw's article follows:
In Germany the various governments
own and manage, in a conservative
spirit, about one-third of the forest
area, and they also control the man
agement of another sixth, which be-
longs to villages, cities. and public in
situations. in so far as these commUni-
ties are obliged to employ expert or
esterS. and must submit their working
plans to the government for approval,
thus preventing improvident and waste
full methods.
The other half Of the forest property,
in the hands of private owners, is man
aged mostly without interference,
although upon methods similar to
those employed by the government,
and by trained foresters who receive
their education in one of the eight
higher and several lower schools Of
forestry which the various govern
ments have established
The several states differ in their
laws regarding forest property. Of
the private forests, 20 per cent. are
without any control whatever, while
so per cent. are subject to supervision,
so far as clearing and devastation are
concerned.
The tendency on the part of the gov
eminent has been rather toward per
suasive measures. Thus, in addition
TO buying up, or acquiring by exchange.
and reforesting waste landS-sOme
800. 600 acres have been SO Teforested
during the last twenty-five yearS-the
government gives assistance to private
owners in reforesting their waste land.
During the last ten years, 100000 was
granted IN this way.
In Austria, by law adopted in 1852,
not only are the state forests (cOmpris-
ing less than thirty per cent. of the
total forest area nationally managed,
and the management of the communal
forests (nearly forty per cent? official
" supervised. but private owners lhOld-
ing about thirty-two per cent? are
prevented from devastating their for
est property to the detriment of ad-
joiners. No clearing for agricultural
use can be made without the consent
OF the district authorities, from which,
however, an appeal to a civil judge is
possible, who adjusts the conflict of
interests.
Any cleared or cut forest must be re-
planted or reseeded within five years;
on sandy soils and mountaln-sides
clearing is forbidden. and only culling
OF the ripe timber is allowed.
In Hungary also, where liberty of
private property rights, and strong OBJ
lection to government interference,
had been jealousy upheld, a complete
reaction set in some fifteen years ago,
which led to the law of 1880, giving
the state control of private forest
property as in Austria.
Under a law adopted in Italy in 1Sss,
the department OF agriculture in coop
Grafton with the department Of public
works and in consultation with the for
estal committee of the province and
the respective owners. is to designate
the territory which for public reasons
must bereforested under governmental
control
The owners may associate them
selves for the purpose of refOreStation,
and for the purpose may then borrow
money al low interest from the state
soiI-credit institution, the forest de-
partment contributing three-Gfths Of
the cost of reforestation upon condi-
ton that the work Is done according
TO its plans, and within the time speci-
fed by the government.
In Russia. until lately. liberty to cut,
burn, destroy and devastate was unre-
stricted: but in 1855 a comprehensive
and well-considered law cut of. so far
as this can be done on paper, this lib
erty Of vandalism. For autocratic
Russia this law IS rather timid, and is
IN the nature of q compromise between
communal and private interests, IN
which much if not all depends on the
good viii Of the private owner.
4 federal law was adopted in Swift
-, an ha 70
ton control over the forests of the
mountain region embracing eight en-
tire cantonS and parts Of seven others.
or over LOCO, Geo acres of forest. The
federation itself does not own any for
est land. and the cantOns hardly l0o,
600 acres. somewhat over + per cent.
Of the forest area, two-thirds Of which
Is held in communal ownership, and
the rest by private owners.
The federal authorities have super
vision over all cantonal. communal
and private forests. 80 far as they are
protective forests" but the execution
Of the law rests with the cantonal au-
thoriJies, under the inspection Of fed
eral officers.
In France not only does the state
manage its own forest property lone
ninth OF the forest area IN approved
manner. and supervise the manage
men OF forests belonging 20 commuu-
titles aud other public institutions
double the area Of state forests. IL q
manner similar % the regulation OF
forests IN Germany. but it extends itl
control over the large area Of private
forests by for5iddinC any clearing ex-