The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1898-11-17

I
Mr.. Henry Gaunett. chief of the di
vision Of Forestry Reserves Of the De
partment Of Agriculture, has beer
questioned concerning the decrease IL
the white pine supply and the practi.
cability of a replanting of denuded
| areas by the government. In reply
Mr.. Gaunett says:
The question Of the white-pine sup
ply is one about which there has been
considerable agitation in recent years
The impression has long been abroad
that the demand was in excess of the
supply, and that at the rate of cutting
which has prevailed during the last
twenty years. it would not be many
decades before the supply would be
exhausted. The first definite note of
alarm was sounded in the reports of
the tenth census, in 1850, where the
statement was made that only eight
years supply was still standing. That
this prophecy was incorrect is shown
by the fact that although double the
time assigned has elapsed, white pine
is still being cut In large amounts. and
there is yet a sufficient supply for
many years in sight. The failure of
this prophecy has not deferred others.
Senate document No. 40, first section,
LVth congress, being a statement from
the division Of forestry Of the depart
4nent Of agriculture, contains the pre-
diction that five or six years more will
see the practical extinction of the tree
as a source Of lumber supply. The
figures upon which this prediction is
based are, however, confessedly worth
less.
But, after all, there is no reasonable
question but that the destruction of
white pine is in excess of its reproduc-
ton, and that the time will come, but
probably not in our day, when the sup
ply will be exhausted, unless measures
are taken for its reproduction. This
conclusion is universally accepted by
the lumbermen of the white-pine
states, although they expect it to last
for generation yet.
white pine is found in New Eng
land, New York, Pennsylvania, West
Virginia and the lake states-Michi-
gan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. In the
northeastern states the species COM
monty reproduces itself when cut away
that is. when white pine is cut it is
succeeded by white pine; but in the
lake states this does not appear to be
the case. 1t is succeeded by birch, al
ders, Norway pine or hardwoods, all
species of less value. Why this is so
is a question which has received much
attention. The state fire warden of
Minnesota has obtained the opinions Of |
many lumbermen and other residents
Of the pine woods portion of the state, |
and the consensus of opinion among
them seems to be that the cause is |
principally the burning over of the |
ground after numbering, practice
which Is commonly resorted to in or
der to dispose of the tops. Sucn fires |
destroy all young trees and the fallen |
cones, and as reseeding Of the area de- |
Ponds upon seed brought from a dis
ance, other species, the seed Of which
are transported more easily for great |
distances, have an advantage over the
<hite pine The remedy, therefore,
;eems to be the prevention of fires, and
n Minnesota, at least, the fire warden
service is extremely efficient. It has
,een suggested that the general gov
.rnment obtain control of the cut-over
ands, which, after the lumberman has
feared them, are of little or no value,
md protect them for the purpose Of
aising a second crop, even going to
he expense of reseeding or planting
inc trees upon them.
"The first part of this proposition
GEMS entirely practicable. It is prob
BILE that much Of this land would
be returned after the timber
rop had been reaped, in order to avoid
be payment of taxes upon 1t. Indeed,
,uch land has been acquired by the
tates through failure to pay taxes. It
annot be expected, however, that the
tates in which such lands exists will
,ok with favor upon this proposition,
as it would reduce their in
Ome IIOm ld4dllOu. ne ScCOuV part |
I the proposition is not, in my judg-
lent, feasible. on account of the ex-
ense involved. Indeed, the puny ef-
,rts of man in planting trees would
e completely thrown in the shade by
he efforts of nature. Where a man
,uld plant one tree or one acre nature
ould reseed thousands.
After all, the question returns to the
latter of forest fires. If fires can be
trees will grow, and the
ew-coming forest will require little [
ire or attention. Fire is a far great
enemy of the forest than the Ak has
Ter been, and the growing sentiment 1
yainst fires which is apparent In all
lrts of the country is most hopeful /
allure In the matter of forest preser-
ltion." G
Alkan Soils. I
Farmers in the West are occasionally I