The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-11-05
SOUTH CARING FOR
ITS timber LANDS.
Virgin Forests Will Be Exploited
on Scientific Plans to
Avoid Waste.


Washington, Nov. 4.-The Bureau OF For
estry of the United States Department OF
Agriculture receives innumerable requests
for advice and assistance in the manage
ment of private woodlands in the South.
One OF the latest requests is for a work.
ing plan for 100000 acres of long-leaf pine
of the Kirby Lumber Company and the
Houston Oil Company of Texas.
The holdings of these companies cover
about so per cent of the virgin forest Of
long-leaf pine in Texas. The officials state
they are anxious to exploit their forests on
scientific lines. cutting the Inerchantable
timber in such a way az to insure protec-
ton to the young growth. A preliminary
examination of this large tract will be male
during the winter by agents of the bureau.
This large tract of timber land. IL handled
on the lines which the bureau will advise,
is expected to prove to be one Of the most
interesting undertakings in the line Of for
the United States.
"The above request for assistance is but
one of number which have recently been
received by the Bureau Of Forestry" said
the chief of this division.
Ask for Government Advice.
THE Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com
pany has asked for a working plan for its
tract of 125.O00 acres of mixed hard and
soft woods situated in Nicholas and Poca-
hontas counties. Southeastern West Virginia.
Burton & Co. have asked for an examina
ton of their tract of 5000 acres of pine
land situated in Berkeley County, South
Carolina. The East Tennessee Iron and Coal
Company. owning 6o00O acres of hard woods
in the Cumberland Mountains. desires to
If,,aC o-a1
has requested preliminary examination Of
its tract.
From North Carolina comes a request
from Hugh McRae in advice in the ham
ding of 5000 acres of hardwood situated
near Grandfather Mountain. A request
has been received from the Georgia Iron
and Coal Company. with headquarters at
Atlanta. This company desires advice in
the handling of two tracts-one of 1900
acres in Barlow County and the other of 30
900 acres in Dade County. An examination
is also asked for by another firm for 16.-
600 acres of pine land in Polk County. Geor-
gia. Agents of the bureau will inspect
these tracts at an early date.
I'm October, 1898. the Department OF Ag-
rculture first offered to give practical as
sistance to farmers. lumbermen and others
in the handling of their forest lands. The
response to this offer was immediate.
and In three years private owners of over
100000 acres of woodland have availed
themselves of the opportunity.
south Guarding Its Timber.
an no part of the country is wider inter-
est being shown in conservative forest man.
agement by private owners than In the
Southern States. Up to date the amount of
private lands in the South. for which advice
in handling has been asked of the bureau
is 1,SS4.0O9 acres and very large part of
the work which will be done by the bureau
for private owners in the immediate future
will be in that section.
THE Industrial development of the South
on all sides during the last ten years has
been remarkable. but no single industry has
made greater strides than the lumber busi-