Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-03-16
NEW HAMPSHIRE FOREST
CONDITIONS.
Results Of Examination by the Burcuu
Of Forestry in the White Noun.
tain Region.


Connecticut river is almost entirely for
est covered, and for the most part will |
always be most valuable under forest |
growth. 1t contains 80 per cent. of the |
total area Of the State, or nearly 1000, ZOO |
acres. |
In the winter of 1903 the State lcgisla-
turc appropriated 5000 for an examine
ton and study of this region by the
Bureau of Forestry. A full report on
this work has been prepared, and will
soon be published by the Bureau. 1t
includes description and estimate of
the forest, by drainage basins, an ac-
count Of the characteristics OF all i'm
portant timber trees. careful discus.
sion of forest fires and their effects. and
n study of the lumber. paper pulp. and
other state industries dependent upon the
forest.
rho region studied constitutes two
in general character and in forest growth.
!hc southern of these is the White
mountain region. which contains ap.
proximately $4,000 acres. 1t is very
rough and rugged, with numerous brok-
en- mountains ranges intersected by
deep, narrow valleys with steep slopes,
which invite soil erosion and pcrma-
ncnt of forest growth on the higher
slopes. if careful numbering is not prac-
tccd and fire is not kept out In the
extreme southern part of this region
srcond-srowth white pine forms q valu-
able part Of the forest on the lower lands
but spruce is in general the leading COM
mcrcial species. Before numbering began
now. and the effect of present methods
is still further to decrease it's representa-
tor and to substitute for it the hard
woods. which are usually Of much lower
commercial value.
The region north Of the White noun
tains is characterized by hills or low
mountains ana wide valleys, and con-
tain many lakes. Here the spruce and
halsam form greater proportion Of the
forest growth than in the White noun
tain region While the greater part OF
this area has ben cut over the lumt err
ing has not been SO intensive as i'm the
White mountains, but has consisted
chiefly in cullng out the forest spruce,
pulp wood Of small dimensions not hay
ing been so extensively cut. AS con-
sequence there is great deal OF small
spruce and balsam on cutover land. The
region is admirably suited for continued
timber production. and owing to IT'S M
accessibility forest fires are not severe.
trtil 1863 the greater Part of the White
ln"untan region was owned bv the State.
Since then the Safe has sold large and
mall tracts at nominal prices, until to-
dav ali tho forest land is in private own
srshir. most of it. held by large lumber
and pulp companies. These companies
are making formidable inroads upon the
forests. Seven companies own nearly all
the timber land. and three oe them cut
annually about 100000 beard feet
mostly from virgin forests. TO this must
be- added tho tremendous losses by fires.
In 1903 nearly $500 acres We're burned
ever. with a loss of over 100000, not in
GLIDING the very great damage to the
,ouns growth and to the productive ca
rac,ty of the forest 1t Is hopeful
sign, that two of these companies have
adopted the policy of conservative lum-
herring
! CT tho total area examined. approXi-
I matcly 10000 acres, 9So5?2 are COW
cred with sOftwoods. 1902 with pine
AZ .ll2 with hardwo"ls. and Hi036 acres
are agricultural lands: the remainder is
made up of burned, waste and barren
land, and lakes and streams. The virgin
moi charitable forests comprise but &0,-
COG acres. while there are 1,3G3.il1 acres
Of cut-Over or culcd land, and l2o 40
acres of barron and waste land. The
present stand of softwoods is computed
to be 4,1Gi,01o.G board feet and the am
ntial cut is ca. 639Oo0 feet. In 1869 the
wooded area of the entire State was
SOS 100 acres and the cut for lumber
amounted to 5,0.3j7 Ot0 board feet. This
is equivalent to III board feet per acre
vi wooded area, and is more intensive
numbering than in any of the big tint
Der States. Wisconsin being next with
Ia board fest per acre.
i In relative importance in New Hamp-
shire tile lumber industry stands third,
tn" paper industry fifth. From July |.
1907. to June 30, 1908. the total amount OF
VOID cut in the northern part of the
state amounted to 21S 562 600 board feet.
Of which 81 per cent, or 225. AZ. O)l
board feet. was spruce. In the same
year the paper and pulp mills used 1885,
04l cords of native spruce and 7S5a
cords of Canadian spruce. The pulp
companies are each year importing
spruce in order 20 save their home for
} csts as much as possible. and by cutting
them conservativcly, to secure n con-
} tinuous crop through natural reproduc.
ton Lumber companies have not been
so conservative; In many cases clean
cutting has been the custom. The Bu.
rcau of Forestry recommends that all
largo lumber and pulp companies secure
in their own interest, as we'll as that ol
the region. the services of trained for.
; estcrs to regulate the cutting.
The paramount forest menace. in New
. Hampshire rs elsewhere. is fire rather
, than numbering. Rut for the seemingly
inva riable rule that fire always follow.
numbering. the cutting could and doubt
less would be more Conrervatively done
rhe lumberman naturally argues: Why
leave standing seed trees, or even tree!
Of smaller diameter only to he destroyed
ny fire. Thus while nc is cutting h,
. takes everything that he can sell. ant
. leaves rhe young growth to take its un
. equal chance against fire. Let the Stat,
. throw around the forests hut n 1.-THE o
tile fire protection furnished the business
!. enterprises of its cities. and numbering
!, will Immediately respond with method
- adjusted to the better business risk
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