The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-02
PLEA FOR FORESTRY
GEN. ANDREWS DELIVERS Az An
DRESS IN REPRESENTATIVE
HALL ON THE SUBJECT
GREAT VALUE OF PINE LANDS

ne supply NOW Standing May Last
FlIteen Years Longer, but by Re-
Toresting the Waste Lands the
i1mber Industry May Continue
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Statistics ON
the Subject.
ABOUT 200 people gathered in the hall
OIL the house of representatives at the
cdFltol last evening to listen to a lee
eure py Gen. c. c. Andrews, chief fire
warden CT the state, upon Our Timber
oupply-Principles of Forestry" Gen.
ANDREWS was introduced by J. c.. pope.
chairman of the house committee on
forestry and fire protection.
Inc lecture was in the interest of a.
Dill now before the legislature for the
redemption by the state of land unfit
Tor agricultural purposes and to he
used for forestry. 1t was replete with
valuable information and illustrated
ny excellent stereopticon views from
Mile Lac, 1tasca, Carlton and ST. Louis
counties In northern Minnesota and
from the black forests of Bavaria.
Gen. Andrews said in part:
Natural forest wealth is one of Minne
sofas specialties. The white pine, the most
valuable timber tree in the world, is ia
vorite OF our climate and soil. A single
acre has sometimes contained 100 010 feet
OF standing pine worth easily $780, A dun
dred million dollars worth OF pine has been
cut In Minnesota and the supply is nearing
the end.
Michigan was remarkably rich in pine.
but her supply is SO nearly exhausted that
she now annually imports from Canada So
0o, 600 worth of logs to keep her mills run
ning; but We are too distant to do the same
Our supply of standing pine may last@Afteen
to twenty years longer. On our school and
university lands. as well on private lands,
1 mucn young pine is growing, and, if pro-
tected from fire. and especially if some of
the waste lands be reforested, the timber in
dustry can be indefinitely continued This
means much to the general prosperity, for
the logging camps and mills together en-
ploy 20,OC0 hands
The most prominent economic principle in
forestry is that only non-agricultural land
that is too sandy, too hilly or too rocky for
field croDs) should be permanently occupied
1or forest. On average soil forest growth
tine annual fncremenO equals interest on the
capital economically expended for planting
IL Much or the land on which no taxes are
forested.
Forest when young must be crowded SO as
10 promote high growth. Trees compete
Tor air and light. Like human beings they
struggle to be uppermost. The weak ones
are suppressed and die, the strong ones tow
tall trees free from limbs. In the Black
forest of Germany the average number Of
trees standing on an acre thirty years after
planting is 1850; at 100 hundred years of
age, 262.
Another principle is that forest, after once
established on an economical basis on non
agricultural land should be treated as a
permanent capital, and no more be cut in
year or series of years than corresponds with
the growth for the same period. Still an
other principle is that timber should be cut
in strips so as to facilitate reproduction. For
ests afford many general benefits they en-
rich the soil, they lend beauty to scenery
they ameliorate the climate. and. as a nat
ural reservoir Of moisture at the head waters
of streams, they maintain water flow The at
richer in ozone, and therefore healthier, than
that of open country.
For twenty-five years the state has been
planting on the prairies In ali $50 eco has
been so paid. Is it unreasonable now to ask
that something be done for reforestation in
the timber regions?