The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-30
At Present the Only Method of Con-
%servation Is by the Creation of For
est Reserves by the President.
COST OF LIVING IN GERMANY
1T HAS INCREASED HEAVILY WITH
OUT GREATER EARNINGS.
Meat a Decided Luxury-PrOsperOus
Fisheries of Canada-American
Trade I'm Russia and Norway.
special to the Indianapolis Journal.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 29.-COngreSS has
been repeatedly urged by President Roose-
welt and the forestry experts of the Interior
Department to give into the hands of the
latter entire control Of all timber on the
public domain. So far the legislative body
has not seen fit to make this transfer, with
a result which is now set forth daily in sem
sational stories of fraudulent acquisition of
timber and willful destruction of valuable
forests in the Rocky mountain region of
the United States.
European governments have long ago ac-
cepted government control of timber lands
as a necessary economic principle and the
favorable results of this control are already
apparent. In Sweden the value of the wood
exported last year amounted to sc per cent.
of the total exports of that country, and a
new law now compels the Swedish forest
owners to adopt a regular system of forest
protection. Denuded areas, now covering
hundreds OF thousands of acres, are to be
reforested, and all plans for cutting timber
are laid before a special committee, by
which they must be approved before being
put into effect. The law limits the rights
OF the owners and the use of the forests,
but it is hailed as the salvation of Sweden
in the matter of it's timber supply.
In Germany the effect of government con-
troll over the forest area has been very
beneficial. The number of agricultural hold
ings with forest lands attached is declin-
ing, but the forest lands show a distinct
increase. Nothing Is neglected that will Sc
cure the woodlands from wanton devasta-
ton, and everything Is done that science
indorses for their development. This Ger
man system has been carefully studied by
the Washington experts and the same prin-
ciples are employed in the legislation now
asked by Congress. There really seems to
be some prospect in the near future Of the
passage Of a law which will allow this gov
eminent to scientifically conserve the tim
Der resources of the country. A liberal use
of the authority given the President to set
aside the forest reserves is at present the
only way in which the timber can be saved.
This has been used freely, and 63, OOO. 600
acres are now included in the forest reser-
vations of the United States.
AK
The German people are suffering from a.
decided increase in the cost Of living without
a corresponding increase in earning power.
Meat is now an article of luxury to the
German working people. 1t retails from %
TO ~ cents per pound. In the poorer dis
tricts practically none is consumed. In the
wealthy districts of the country the con-
sumption amounts to about 6S1k pounds per
capita. The import duties and restrictions
stuns serve to keep the price of wheat fiour
almost double that paid for the same quail
lily In the United States. Rye flour, the
great staple of the poorer classes. is chean
Vegetables, especially potatoes, are so cheap
that they form the principal article of diet.
wages for certain classes of skilled labor
nave advanced in the past year, vet. as a
whole. such increase is not in proportion To
the increased cost of living. Consul
Muench, stationed at Plauen, German
does not take an optimistic view of the cit
uation and he finds much discomfort amonp
the German people.
The American commercial agent at Mono.
ton, Canada, sends the State Department
an account Of the fishing industry of Can.
ada This industry seems to be in a most
prosperous condition, the total capital in.
vested being about s12,O OO, 900. Nova Scotia
and British Columbia, the two provinces
at the extremes of the Canadian territory
have the largest investments. About ISL
men are employed and the catch last Yea,
was about $26,O00,00, an increase of "a. 600 ON
over the previous year, and by far TN
largest amount in the history of the indus.
try.
In New Brunswick hatcheries are beine
cult, and II is expected that next season
at least 100. 900, 600 eggs will be Matched r.
keep UP the supply of fish along the coast
No American situation is of moro cor.
Germ to the Europeans than that affectinf
American cotton. The ~tiuctuation of thu
American cotton market during the pas
twelve months has greatly disturbed tn,
foreign spinners and weavers. Manv o.
the mills continued to work, but at a loss
Some failed entirely, while others hav,
sought to evolve novelties for which fame,
prices might be obtained. The merceriza
ton of the Egyptian cotton, producing
most plausible and deceptive imitation q
silk, and the manufacture of cotton hInrI
cts and other specialties nave been stronuI,
pushed.
The desire to multiply the present source
OF COTTON supply mas produced a stron,
feeling among German manufacturer :,
favor of cotton culture on a large seal
in German and British African colonie
as well as in other regions where cotto,
has not hitherto been considered indipen
Gus. The present attack OF the boil weevi
upon the American cotton fields is We've,
with considerable alarm abroad and a prac
teal acknowledgment by the American gov
eminent officials that so far nothing ha
been discovered to check the ravaees n
this plague is considered most discouras
ing.
Consul Slocum, writing from Warsaw
Poland. says that his station is called tn,
gateway for the introduction of foreign
/ manufactures into Russia. Condition
there are favorable to the Introduction O
foreign goods. not only on account of tn
location geographically. with all the at
tendant facilities for shipment, but NOR
particularly because of a deep prejudic
against German manufactures, which exist
TO the extent of almost a boycott of al
German articles. The French, British an
Austrian manufacturers have been abb
to take advantage of this, and their sales
men cover this territory frequently an
with success.
The consul notes that the American rep
resentative. except in the interest of agri
cultural implements, is a rarity, and h
remarks that in general the American
manufacturer seems to think that tn
! ground has been covered when he appoint
; a general agent for the whole of Europe
and this agent, at least so far as Russi
is concerned, is usually located in som
, German city. The American consul be
! lieves that the time has come when I
satisfactorily increase the American trad
, in Russia local agents must be maintaine
> and personal representation secured when
! ever possible. Credits, he says. are good
: and yet here again is where personal reu
' resentation is OF service. The Russian gen
eral agent of a foreign manufacturer. ex
, cept in the case of goods destined for tn
; Siberian market, should be located In War
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