Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-05
PRESERVATION OF FORESTS
NECESSITY DISCUSSED AT LUM.
Der DEALERS CONVENTION.
Destructiveuess Of Careless Methods
Described-Hopeful Signs That
Timber Will Be Preserved.

were the principal topics before the second
session in the New Willard today OF the
sixteenth annual convention of the Ma
tional Wholesale Lumber Dealers Asso-
citation. A report for the committee on
forestry was presented by N. P. Wheeler
and brief addresses were made by Messrs
Hall and kellogg of the forestry service
and Mr.. Hopkins Of the bureau of ento-
mology OF the Department OF Agriculture
Mr. Wheeler reviewed the destructive
ness Of the early settlers in clearing thei'
land. and the same careless methods, NJ
said, obtained for fully two hundred years
THE usual conception of lumberman
| Is one who cuts down and denudes forests
not one who preserves them. Mr.. wheel
| err said but to this he added the state
| ment that the lumber dealers OF today
realizing the inevitable shortage which
doing more. probably, than any other
agency to promote the cause OF forestry
Care Now Exercised.
LAUNDERING now is carried on much
more carefully than even before" the
speaker continued. land trees when cut
! are used from their very base to within
six inches of their tops: Shakes that
formerly were left lying on the ground a:
waste are now cut up into shingles. and
even the scraps are raked together an
sent to the pulp mills. We believe the
homestead law as applied to timber lands
| should be repealed. but We approve OF
the general forest reserve policy of the
government. Under such management
the forests should continue forever to
furnish material for the homes OF men
| to preserve the water flow and shed its
| beneficial influence over the plains and
rivers below.
This. with the growing interest in for
| estry generally. the greater care OF lurn-
berMen to prevent waste OF their TIMBER
holdings, the protection Of the wood lot
and wind breaks by the farmer and the
natural reforestation OF abandoned farms
that never should have been cleared, are
hopeful signs that our forests will still
be preserved"
Timber Resources Of the Country.
In casting up the timber resources of
the country at the present time Mr.. KEEL
iogg of the forestry service said the
standing timber has been estimated to
total 1900. COO OO0, 900 board feet, and the
annual growth on new forest to total
80 OOO, OOO, 900 to 10000, 0O0, 900 board feet,
while the annual consumption equals
fully 100000, 100000 board feet: SO that
| the nation faces an absolute lumber fam
inc within forty years or less.
"a fundamental requirement Is that we
conserve our national resources" Mr
kellogg said, land surely one Of the first
to be considered is the forests
F. S. Underhill reported the happenings
in connection with the recent hearing on
the census of standing timber, while re-
ports for the committees of legislation
and railroads and transportation were
made, respectively, by r. w. Higbie and
F. r. Babcock.
quet this evening at the New Willard.
After the business meeting yesterday
the delegates to the convention were re-
ceived at 2:30 o'clock at the White House
by President Roosevelt.
Congratulations From President.
In welcoming them the President said:
1T is a great pleasure to greet you
here. The National Lumbermens Asso-
citation represents those who deal. not
only with one of the most important in
dustries, but with one Of those indus
tries wherein 1t is imperative that the
national government should cooperate
with those engaged in the industry them.
selves in endeavoring to perPetuate it.
We are on the verge OF timber famine
in this country. and 1t bshooves every
man who wishes to see the land left bet
ter, instead of worse, for the children that
come after him, to join with the govern.
ment in trying to take steps to make the
lumber industry a permanent industry. to
perpetuate through use the forests of this
country. We all Of us in this country
must turn our attention more and more
10 the conservation of the natrual re-
sources of the land; but there is no body
of our citizens to whom 1t Is matter OF
such immediate moment as this body that
I am now addressing.
II want to congratulate the members
of this association upon the admirable
taste of some of them in bringing their
better halves with them, and apparently.
at least, one or two representatives OF
the next generation. in whose behalf ] am
speaking"