Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1905-09-21
NEW JERSEYS FOREST POLICY.

blon COMMISSIONERS met With Governor
Stokes, in Trenton. last week, to consider
several timber tracts and to determine ID
measure the future policy Of the commission
in reference TO forestry in the State Since
the organization Of the board, in June,
there has been no meeting, but forestry
work Of preliminary nature has been
going on throughout the summer, under
the direction Of II. B. Kummel, executive
officer of the board
In order to ascertain, if possible, in what
sections Of the State suitable lands could
be bought, Secretary William q. Chew was
authorized to invoke the cooperation Of
the newspapers in placing before the peo-
pie the objects Of the new forest law. A
synopsis Of the law was prepared and
timber land owners having property for
the commission. These circular lessons
were sent to the principal newspapers, and
the result has been the tender Of many
tracts of timber land in all parts of New
Jersey. These tenders were grouped to-
gether and the most advantageous tracts
were investigated BY such expert foresters
as John Clifford and r. B, Meier.
The tracts examined were in the north
ern and central parts Of the State, as we'll
as in the pine belt Of the south. At first it
was thought that the policy of the COM
mission would be to purchase one large
tract, preferably in the southern portion Of
New Jersey, where the land could be bad
at very low figure. and which could prob
ably soon be made to return sufficient
amount Of money to make the tract self
supporting
The matter was thoroughly considered
and il was later determined that a wiser
course for the commission to pursue would
be to establish one or more smaller tracts
on which the principles of forestry could be
practiced with a view to benefting a
greater number OF timber land owners
throughout the State. Accordingly it will
probably be the aim to establish these
demonstration tracts in accessible local
tiles near towns and railroads, where they
may be easily visited and where the bene-
fits OF practical forestry may be observed
by more people than would travel. to re-
mote region to examine large reserve.
Bot, Of course, if this policy is adopted it
is expected to establish, in connection with
these smaller tracts, a large reservation
from which crop of timber can, after
time, be annually taken with profit to
the State.
In connection with the smaller tracts,
which will each be Of about three hundred
acres in extent, it should be stated that the
timber will be so selected that it will at
once return sufficient profit to pay for
maintenance Of each tract without further
cost to the State than the original purchase
price OF the land.
Another policy which the commission
may adopt, although it has not yet been
definitely determined upon, is cooperation
with private timber owners and municipal
water companies which own woodland
around the sources Of their water supplies.
Should this work be taken up, it will only
be done with the distinct understanding
shat the commission shall be unrestricted
in its management Of such forest land.
The commission had hoped that there
might be some practically worthless timber
land rendered without cost but so far no
offer of any kind has been received save
from John Clifford, who has offered TO pre-
sent some sixty acres Of good forest lying
along the Great Egg Harbor RIVER, near
Mays Landing. This offer was very favor
ably received and the commission will meet
again in two weeks to take final action in
the matter.
Many Of the tracts investigated by the
expert foresters have been found impracti-
cal because of their inaccessability TO rail
roads and the great danger of forest fires.
Fire is the greatest menace to forestry and
Judgment is required to select tracts which
can, without great expense, be protected
from its ravages
Land has been offered to the commission
at prices ranging from 81 an acre up to pro
hibitive figures, but the commission pro-
poses to use the limited appropriation at its
disposal to the best possible advantage
Throughout the State gratifying interest
in forestry is being awakened, and the
work of the board promises to be fraught
with much benefit to the people of New
Jersey.
The commission adopted as its official
emblem for its seal the famous Salem
oak, = over three hundred years old, and
which stands in the ancient Friends bury
ing ground in Salem. This tree is believed
to be one Of the Oldest in the State, being
of mature growth when the first Friends
Netting House was erected alongside Of it
n Salem, in 1850.