Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-11-13
MORE ABOUT FORESTRY.
Laundering Methods In Maine Must
Change Radically.


"Unless the present method of lumber
ing here in Maine is changed, twenty
years from now there will be but very
little spruce timber left In the State"
This is the statement which Henry
Grinneli, field assistant and computer OF
the bureau OF forestry OF the United
States department of agriculture, made
recently on his return from an expedition
to the north and south branches of the
Penobscot where, during the past sum
mer, he has gone over seven townships, or
about 1s0,0 600 acres in all, making a seien-
tific investigation Of the conditions there
for the Great Northern Paper Co. He is
now on his return to Washington, and
detailed report of his summers work may
be expected before long.
Timberland owners may apply to the
bureau OF forestry at Washington, and at
their request a thorough examination OF
the land will be made and a report sub
mitted In which the value OF the timber,
the rate at which 1t should be cut, and
the best method OF increasing the value
and productiveness OF the property, will
be given. II person owns more than
500 acres, he is required to pay some pro-
portionate part OF the expense of the
party. Otherwise than this the work and
the estimates cost nothing.
The Great Northern, which owns large
amount Of valuable land along the south
and north branches OF the Penobscot,
made an application of this sort, and last
June Mr.. Grinneli was sent down from
Washington to investigate the conditions.
He went into the woods about the middle
of June and has Just finished his work.
He had several assistants and a party of
from sixteen to thirty men.
Mr.. Grinnell talked INTERESTINGLY con-
corning the result of his Investigations,
explained the strip system by which the
value OF timber on a township Is COM
puted. Lines are run with compass
through the town from north to south
and then other lines are run from east to
west. Each square made by the intersect-
ions of these lines contains an acre of
land. Either Mr.. GrinneIl or his assist.
ants then make measurements along the
entire length OF these lines, jotting down
the circumference of the trees at a height
OF four and one-half feet from the ground.
The average of all these measurements ia
then taken and a pretty correct estimate
OF the growth on the township is thus OBJ
tanned. In addition to this, the length
OF time which 1t will take for the land to
become productive again after having
been cut of and various other valuable
facts are determined.
SIN the first place." said Mr.. Grinnell.
"if the lumbernaen OF Maine desire To
save their spruce forests they must make
radical change from the manner in
which they are operating at present.
Under the present system an operation
will be started In the woods and a number
of good clumps of tim Der, somew hat apart
from one another, will be cut. This leaves
other trees to grow up untouched. Gem
orally these trees are valuable, but little
clusters in which they grow are SO far
apart that there is no profit In cutting
them. There Is not enough lum Der to put
camp at each cluster, and unless this is
done the logs cannot be cut successfully,
1.-THE remedy for this is a cleaner cut
and unless cleaner cut Is made we can
do but little. Whenever a camp is placed
in certain locality all the trees which
are large enough to cut in that vicini
should be taken. The crews should "a,
be permitted to jump from one point
another, taking only the best. Thi