Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-24
PRESERVING MAINE FORESTS.
Operations of Lumbermen May Make
Legislative Action Necessary.

Bangor Correspondence New York Tribune.
Since the day the first pulp mill was put
into operation in Maine there have been
those who have said that they foresaw in
the pulp and paper industry the doom OF
the spruce forests of the state. These men
have seen certain operators clear the tracts
of land much too clean, thereby increasing
the danger of forest fires and making the
possibility of future growths of spruce very
limited. That such would be the result,
were there not some restriction, no one
doubts, and so it has been suggested that
the legislature regulate the size OF the trees
which may be cut.
A prominent operator. who cuts only to
supply the lumber mills, and who thinks
that a legislative enactment would be
good thing. says: THE pulp mills are bound
to be the ruination of Names timberiaads.
The pulp men thin out the forests so that
there is practically no prospect Of another
growth. They take not only spruce, but fir
and poplar both of which are cut closely
as the spruce. This has the effect of in
creasing the danger of forest fires. making
the tract a constant menace to the lands
around it. They cut trees that will not
show more than twelve or fifteen inches at
the butt, whereas no tree less than Twelve
or fifteen inches twenty-five feet from the
butt should be cut.
Many lumbermen and timberland owners
agree that there is no need of legislative
enactment in this matter, as the land own
ers themselves have the power to control
the size of trees which shall be felled. For
a number of years there has been con-
stanuy growing feeling among the land
owners that the timber supply must lie con-
served il their lands are to continue to be
valuable This has now come to be gen.
orally accepted theory. and all are doing the
most they can to protect the forests.
The manner Of accomplishing this is SIM
pie. When a man seeks permit to go on
a township for the purpose of logging,
whether he desires to cut for sawmill or
pulp mill. clause is inserted In the permit
stating that no tree that will not give
certain measurement at given distance
from the butt shall be cut AS a rule. this
measurement is from twelve to fifteen inch
es in diameter at a point twenty-five feet
from the butt. or at the small end of the
finished log. Some land owners are going
even further than this in their efforts to
protect their lands, by inserting a clause
providing that trees shall be sawed rather
than chopped. This makes a saving OF
considerable amount in each tree, amount
ing to a good deal in the course Of a VIM
ter's operation
1.-The danger" said one man. 'is in the
man who secures small parcel Of land.
paying the prices that now prevail. lie de-
sires to realize at once on his purchase,
and cuts everything. as he certainly has
right to do. clearing the land clean. What
Is not fit for lumber goes to the pulp mills
If he can find a buyer-and he usually can
while frequently he sells his entire cut to
who has a wood lot. On 1t is supply OF
spruce and pulp wood. He wants TO turn
this into cash. and so starts lumber oper-
alton. The great part OF the wood being
unfit for lumber, he sells to the pulp mill
1t is not 1t seems to me. fair to blame the
pulp mill people for what the owners OF
these small tracts of land do of their own
free will"
Should this question come up in the legis-
lature at the session which will begin next
month an interesting contest is expected.