New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-06
NEW WORK IN FORESTRY.
HOW THE GREAT FIRES IN THE WEST
MAY BE CHECKED.
AN OBJECT LESSON TO OWNERS or TIMBER LAND
PROPOSED BY MR.. PINCHoT.

An OBJECT LESSON TO OWNERS or TIMBER LAND
PROPOSED BY MR.. PINcHoT
fry TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
Washington Nov 5.-The forest fires in the west
causing the destruction OF millions OF dollars worm
OF valuable timber have stimulated the depart
ment Of Agriculture to institute line OF study OF
forest fires their causes and effects. In July the
Department accepted the resignation OF h. r. FER
now then chief Of the Division OF Forestry. who
was called 10 the newly created chair Of forestry
AT Cornell University but secured the services OF
Clifford Pinchot for the place thus vacant. ne
has made a special study OF forest hres' ana DE-
lieves that they be- almost entirely mel" III
check by proper State regulations ana 'ho'o"s"
organization.
Forest fires always run along in waves tnro"
ing out points or SPURS ahead OF the main me,
said NJ pInchot talking on the work or ms
division II have Investigated the hre-purhen us
tricts OF Ncw-Jersey, where the country mas pee"
literally crisped. and md that the people '"eie'
I'm attempting to fight fire. begin BACK III 'he III
dentations or slower-burning portions OF '"e nv
and then attempt TO catch up with the spurs Inns
IL wrong. and usually hopeless task The hsn'-
inc nartes should station themselves in front or the
SIM. and back-dre from there. when. having
stoned tn, portions making more rapid progress
they could easily conquer the long sweeps between
the spurs
this country IS Mr. Plncho;'s offer OH behalf OF me
Department to take charge OF individual prlSa'e
tracts OF woodland and demonstrate without coso
TO the owners how II Is poss ble probably to mar
ket the timber or lumber product and AT inc same
time preserve the identity OF the tract as 4 io'eS
for future income -.-. + - az,
The motto of the commercial forester - 10 Guy
everything +" said Mr.. PinchOt. There are now III
the Northwest millions OF acres Of land from VINO
the timber has been cut. which nave pcen purnru
and grown M - scrub that now they are
rents an acre the reproduction or these I0resls
could have been assured and that Is what pl"-
pose TO show practically 70 timber owners. ne
practical commercial forester employs no sehilHel
In his tinber-cuttfng. and unless H." can 10, '"i,'
~ coo INA, no can ctt and market his timber anu
at tho same time by very slight expense. su9-
tofn tho identify Of his forest lana ~, Il lut'i
revenue producer leave 1t IN such CONDITION ,h"
r. viii have "A much greater market Nalie, mos ."
n,r timhor land Is liable to share the fat" 81 n''
great tracts Of Wisconsin and Otn'r unV'' So
In response 10 my proposition; mac o,l,s g."
shor. time ago. tO,cirrY on tht So ONE, l-l'"i9
Tho hone Of educating the timbet-and owners, we
have secured some zoo acres OF private 'l"'n,L
ianI TO be operated upOn. lDWv or II III ~. w
Adirondacls Spruce Is tie timber Wlch Is so.h, .
after bv Adirondack lumbermen- H'N, .utl 49,
as small as ten ana twelve incEes ai" tiT - Pr,oro
IayIng a hard fighr FOR II anyway among the mo-
vigorous rd-wood trees, after the luinnr i ti
have travcrsed a tract there Is scarceIy any 10
af for a future crop,of this valuable timber, pr
noeo in cutting 10 leave enough Of the tWeNe-l
reos 70 act as seed trees and also 10 leave sltg'
trees standing I'm areas where there are no Yo"lS
trees. this can be done at an eXpens" OF SIN ~
eight cents an acre, and tine Identity OF the SP'c''
Will be maintained.