Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-12-10
vERMoNT's NUMBERING PROBLEM


in general.
vERMONT's LUMBERING PROBLEM.
The movement for tho conservation
of our timber land in the United
states brings before the numbering
interests OF Vermont as we'll as of
every other State problem which has
n number OF serious phases. clifford
Pinchot national forester. in the
course of a recent address, presented
this question in It's different aspects
in an impressive manner. He showed
that our forefathers were at first
sight careful about the supply of
wood they found on our shores be-
cause the European supply had dwind-
led and they were accustomed to not
waste IT. When they explored the for
ests further, however. they found no
end and their protection Of the same
accordingly relaxed. Only in recent
years have we returned to tho ideas
OF our fathers in respect to the need
of conserving our timber supply.
Mr.. Pinchot shows that If tho lum-
Der industry is TO 20 on it must get
the logs, and for this reason It sounds
plausible TO argue that II you save
the forests YOU will stop the lumber
industry. but this would be one Of the
greatest mistakes any one could pos
sibly make Forests grow all the time.
and the longer they are kept the more
| wood can be got ont Of them in the
long run. SparinE the ripe. merchant
able forest trees does nobody any good
not even tho trees They are mado
to use, and the most that scientific
forest management can do IS to use
them best for the longest time. There
fore. the best THING that can happen
for the lumber industry is to use for
estry to keep the forest going. In a
word he characterzcs conservation as
the life insurance OF the lumber in
dustry.
lie holds that to say the New Eng
and forests should be conserved be-
cause the wood IS needed. is TO give
only one reason The forests should
be kept 20 maintain the water powers
OF the streams AND the channels of
the naviEable rivers. The principal
wealth Of New England Is her manu-
features. and her centers OF manu-
facture are on the rivers which rise
! In the mountain forests. These noun
tain Forests, which are natural reser-
voirs. are more valuable for the pro-
lection they give to the streams than
for anything else To lumber them in
the usual way, which leaves no hope
Of future forest growth. is not only
TO exhaust the wood 1t is to make
the water. in tho streams and rivers
irregular in flow and unreliable for
use. and, for part Of the year. either
entirely useless or exceedingly de-
struct.vs, In n hilly country witbou,
forests you have first too much water.
then too little.
According to Mr.. Pinchot's view
there Is no reason why the forests of
the White Mountains and Of the Green
Mountains should not be made 10
yield dp their lumber in the proper
way me trouble is that you can not
depend upon ordinary numbering to go
the proper way about the task. These
forests grow In situations whore on-
~ tho utmost care. Joined with the
skill Of trained forester, can take
the wood which is ripe at present
without leaving the steep slopes bar
rem for many years, perhaps forever
He thinks that II one can not have
skilled numbering, with provision FOR
the future. it would be far better TO
leave the forests untouched, rather
than risk forefting what control is
now had over the streams withou+
"hich manufacturing would DO Grip
pied In his estimation the only way
TO keep Zip the wood supply and to re-
tain control over the streams ,s .,
place the large forests in the hands
OF the people. and to manage them. M
the national forests in the West are
managed, for tho combined use ana
perpetuation Of all their resources.
| The need OF protecting forests from
hres Is specifically urged by Mr.. Pin
chot He says that in spite Of some
eNceilent forest fire laws In several
or 'he New England States. and also
IN New York. the ineffectiveness or
present fre protective methods Inns
oeeh made startlingly clear during
the past few months. 1t seems to him
emphatically. that the fire problem IS
pest solved by means OF an efficient
hre patrol and fire fighting force. paid
Tor this work and mainly dependent
'po" IT, such force as does not now
'"'st anywhere outside OF the national
FORESTS Mr.. Pinchot continues:
sometime, a farmer will ask, How
aoes This forest conservation concern
''o know of no better way Of an
s"er'ng him than by asking him IN
'e'urh' Does anything else concern
! ou more| Very naturally and Justly
Wv 'driher Is proud OF his independ-
u,oe' AS tho President has said:
successfully managed family farms
ISNc TO the father the mother ana