Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1895-03-22
PENNsYa.yANFA's FOREsTs.
Some Facts and Figures Report
csa 10y the STATE COMMISSION.

HARRISBURG, March J7-The re.
port to the Legislature by the For
estry Commission, which was due on
March 18th, was probably presented
to both houses on Thursday. 1t
forms volume Of about GOO pages
Of manuscript, with nine maps and
profles, illustrative Of the water
sheds Of the State, giving relative
rates Of water flow from them, as
well as the high and low water stages
OF the Susquehanna at Harrisburg,
from 1874 to 1894. These, with the
accompanying texts by William f.
Skunk, will constitute an original
and reliable statement of facts by
one Of the best authorities in the
country.
1t has been discovered by the COM
mission that the State practically
owned no wild land. 1t appears
from the statement of the botanist
member Of the commission that Penn
sylvania was naturally the best
wooded State in the Eastern half of
the Union. Under original con-
ditions particularly the whole of the
area was timbcred. Owing to the
rage and elevation from sea level to
Elk Mountains, in Susquehanna Co.
where there is an elevation Of 2700
feet, the State possesses such q
range Of climate as enables it to
produce valuable trees which could
not otherwise have been found south
of New England. While the timber
area of the State is nearly sc per
cent. of the whole, there is only 25
per cent. actually producing any
timber Of value.
1t is amasing to think of the de-
population which is already going
on in portions of the State. One
table shows how hemlock is super
seding white pine, because of grow
ing scarcity of the latter. In 1875
l90,000,000 feet, B. NJ, of pine went
through the boom at Williamsport.
Tn the same year there were 49, $685.
1876 feet of hemlock. In 1898 49,
1917 ,267 feet of pine went through
and in the same year lo6, ,9S4,47S
feet of he MOCK This does not in
dicate an inexhaustible supply Of
Eemlock, for that cannot last at
most over Is years, but it shows
that the lumber market is glutted
with hemlock wood because the trees
happen to be felled to Obtain hens
lock bark. 1t is no less a surprise
to learn indisputable figures that in
the year 1894 there were advertised
to be sold for taxes in different coun-
ties of the Commonwealth, so far as
heard from, not less than 100000
acres Of land. This does not include
5000 smaller lots in cities and towns
Unless something is done to re-
store the numbering industries of the
State the commission shows that in>
dust,ies worth $30,OOO,0OO or $685.
600, 900 annually to the Commons
wealth will be blotted out.
The reports as to forest fires arc
incomplete Notwithstanding the
efforts of the commission to obtain
full details. Here, however. are
some statements: One county re-
port loss in twenty five years of 81
100000 from forest fires, of which
$500, 900 was in one year. Another
county reports 100000 IN the last
five years, another an average of
$45, 900 year. A man in ]4uzerpe
county expended $4,000 last year to
extinguish fires on his own grounds.
Another county reports several
million dollars worth of timber lost
by forest fires. Potter county re-
ports for last season loss by forest
fires OF 100000 in money and the
labor and time of large body of
men. Sullivan county reports n
loss of equally as much. One firm
reports the loss of $50, 900 900 feet
standing timber during the past few
years.