Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1897-11-13
well as telegraph lines and is largely
used also in the mechanic arts.

used also in the mechanic arts.
Twenty-six p r cent. of total avail
able area Of Germany is occupied by
forests, one-third of which is State
property, managed by the Govern
ment This is inadequate for home
consumption when kept under the
best possible management and large
amount of lumber is imported. The
forestry administration is very com.
pick and dissipates forty per cent. of
the total income, yet the yield with
prices Of wood about the same as in
our country, is from one to four dol
lars per acre annually. Though the
complicated European systems could
not be practised here, we can adopt
system suited to our conditions,
which will enable the forests to fur
nish Il large amount of State revenue
after having become well establish
ed.
The latest statistics indicate that
the consumption of forest products
in Virginia is far in excess of the year
ly growth and that if no measures are
adopted to protect our forests, q half
century is a conservative estimate for
the complete exhaustion of large tim.
Der. Much of our yearly consumption
of lumber is now brought from other
States, costing millions of dollars, yet
we have over ten million acres or for
ty per cent. of the total area of the
State fit for nothing but wood crops,
which should, with only Indifferent
care, produce annually several mil
lion cubic feet of lumber for export
after supplying home consumption.
In the eastern part of the State,
where the pine is so persistent there
is much young growth, which if af-
forded proper protection and allowed
to mature promises fairly good crop
and therefore the renewal of the for
est growth in this section is of less
Importance; but the condition OF mid
die and western Virginia is vastly
different.
That private individuals do not
properly care for and protect these
districts is sufficient proof that they
will not; besides, the time require /
for the growth of merchantable tim
Der is a great drawback to its culture
by private parties. Therefore it is
on the States o exercise
their power to build up this great
industry.
1t is the duty of the State to pro-
tect all forest property from incen-
diarism. Until this is accomplished,
forestry, that is the systematic grow
ing of wood crops, is impossible. So
long as there is danger of the crop
passing off into smoke after fifty or
one hundred years growth there is
no incentive to apply thought, ener-
gy and capital to it's production.
4 stock law should be enacted, to
protect the young growth and pre-
vent the use of an unnecessary
amount of timber in the building OF
fences. Much Of the mountain and
waste land will have to be taken in
charge by the State and put in proper
condition, and this is now being done
by some States.
Experiments should be conducted
on scientific principles in order to
a knowledge of the work and
a familiarity with those species Of
economic importance. a forest com
missioner, well fitted for the position,
well paid and provided with the
means for carrying his ideas of re-
form into execution, should be ap-
pointed to look after the forestry in
terest in all its bearings.
Fire is the great curse of our forests;
we often view the mountain slopes
covered with flames, standing out in
bold relief upon the darkness of night.
The conflagations, often miles in
length, shooting their fiery tongues
high in the air as they attack the
taller trees, then falling away to
darkness again form grand spectacles
indeed. Yet who but the thought
less can view them without thinking
of the dire effects they presage to our
race! They are robbing the hillsides
of their beauty, destroying the
wealth of the State by laying bare
and leaving desolate immense tracts
of land which would be more valuable
in forest than mine of gold, while
the climate, advancement and all the
best interests of the State are placed
in jeopardy.
it has been said, that where forests
perish men decay. Can we then, the
boosted descendants of patriotic Vir-
ginians, sit with arms folded, view
this destruction with complacency
and allow posterity to pour its NAL
edictions upon our heads? No, our
statesmen and citizens will
come to sense of their duty and
give this great subject the attention
it demands.
1897. J. l.. PHILLIPS.
The Success Of Cooperation.