Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-09-06

town and farm for corporation or an
individual TO cut in few days pine
forest which has been centuries grow
ing, and then TO lea Fe it deSOlate
waste to the state. In general it is
true that the present methods of
numbering are unnecessarily deStruc-
tive and wasteful, but nothing to be
compared with the pine numbering of
twenty-five years ago. The old form
of numbering. with its rough-and
ready methods, It's enormous profits,
and its disregard of the future, is
thing of the past. 1t has gone with
the "buffalo-killings" with the flush
times that marked improvident use of
resources whose limits had not yet
made themselves felt.
The forests of the United States
cover an area of seven hundred
million acres, or more than thirty
five per cent Of the surface of the
country. Originally they were the
richest on the earth, and with proper
care, can be made so again. The
value of German forests, public and
private, are four billion five hundred
million dollars. The French Govern
ment has two million seven hundred
and tify Thousand acres of forest that
yield a net return of more than $500
per acre. Switzerland has forests that
have yielded net return of $500 per
acre for the past two hundred years.
India is like the United States, in the
great extent and variety Of her forests
and in the lumber and tierceneSS of
forest fires. Ten thousand men are
employed to care for these forests, yet
they return net annual income of
three million dollars year.
The history OF numbering in the
North Wisconsin woods differs only 10
detail from its development elsewhere
in this country. 1t grew rapidly from
small beginnings to great industry,
every branch Of which is aimed at the
prompt conversion of trees into money.
The development Of this country
North from Bruce through the Arpin
Lumber Company'S hardwood lands
has proceeded far enough to demons
trate the possibilities in various lines
of agriculture and dairying. For the
most part, the property is raw
material, awaiting an army of settlers
who shall come and convert it into
finished product. In years of Western
life and observation, | have never
seen better opportunities. But the
soil deserves higher compliment
than that implied in naming the
crops to which it is specially adapted.
1t is suitable for that safest, SureSt,
and most profitable institution of our
Northern empire-the little diYerSi-
fed farm.
The land hungry are being driven
here just as the lumber hunger has
sent hither the Saw-mill man. The
saw is cutting deep in the last large
tracts of timber in the Northern
Wisconsin and more and more sun
light is being let in upon the Eleadow
valley and sparkling stream. Wash
ington is the chief lumber State and
Louisiana second, while Wisconsin
holds third place. The white pine
furnishes but three per cent of the
yearly cut, while the once deSpised
hemlock furnishes three times as
much.
The most interesting individual |
encountered on this trip was man
past middle age, and like certain
others of US, neither very exciting nor
very decorative. Most of his life had
been spent in shop. 81 got tired Of
working for other people,, be said,
land traded my house and lot in town
for this eighty acres. Apparently
the soil was good. 1t was partially
| improved and located close to the
forest line, his little farm was much
diversified. He seemed prosperous
and contented. | shall quote no
| figures showing the returns which may
be had frem this crop or that. Such
figures are always more or less decep-
tive, because the individual is one of
the important factors in the problem.
Besides, am not interested in Specula-
tion. The old-time scarlet coated
"lumber-jack" has given up the fight
and acknowledges that his zone is
narrowing and his habits changing.
He still exists ia many places in North
ern Wisconsin, though the rough edges
have been worn from his disposition
and his makeup by the modern civil
ization that is closing in around him.
His passing is inevitable, because he