Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-06-18
A FOREST&POLiCY.
A Plea for the Preservation OF Names
Forests.

In providing for the perpetuatio1
and increase of our timber supply
there are many things to consider
ard, as a precedent to this consldera-
ton, we must remember that con-
tinuity of policy on the part OF IN
dividuals requires, first, continuity OF
policy on the part of the State.
The application of Forestry to our
Timber Land can be successfully made
only under stable conditions; Will not,
in fact be made at all otherwise, for
Forestry at it's best means deferring
the possible maximum of present
profits to a plan covering the lifetime
of individuals and beyond.
Even under the best artificial condi-
tons pine trees require Is years to
mature, and spruce rs to so years lon
ger, while, under natural conditions,
contending for life with weed trees
and with each other, the growth is far
slower,
At present the state has no settled
policy, and public opinion is in a
chaotic condition, due, doubtless, to
the process of acquiring information.
But when this crystalizes into a
definite plan, as it soon must or be
too late to be of benefit, on the wis.,
dom of that plan hangs the fate of the
most valuable assets the State pos
SeSsCS.
Our timberland is divided into seven
classes: LIST, burnt-over and barren
land; I'd, land stripped Of all trees,
large class; Sd, land stripped of all
but hardwoods, a rapidly growing
class; 4th, land with all mature soft
woods cut out. the largest class; 5th,
land with mature second growth soft
woods; 9Th, virgin spruce forest.
very small class; and 18th, land on
which some attempt at forestry is be-
ing made. This is the smallest class
of all, though it should and must be
the largest; all, in fact. if our timber
supply is to be maintained.
The first three classes will again be-
come productive only under State
ownership, for they must be artificial
ly reforested; a process no individual
can afford to undertake commercial
ly as his lifetime is too short to real
iZe on it.
With proper care they may become
far more valuable than they have
ever been, for a township of 10000
acres can ne made to yield 10 million
feet Of lumber annually.
AS the whole matter is fundamental
ly business proposition both for the
State and for the lumbermen, the
policy hinges on consideration of
finances. That which affects the
lumhernen either favorably or adj
verscly, must also affect the State in
the same ratio, so we must learn what
will best tend, not only to maintain,
but to increase the incomes of each.
To state that numbering is an infant
industry would be to excite derision,
but il is in it's second childhood, and,
TO restore it to full vjgor, requires the
application of scientific principles
hitherto little used in this country,
though successfully used for many
years elsewhere.
Our timberland, in it's present con-
dtion differs from other forms of pro-
ductive property, such as farms and
mills, in that it cannot yield an ade-
quatc annual return. This is due to
many causes, all more or less related.
Forty years ago the amount of our
timber, in proportion to the demand,
was 50 great that even at the slow
rate OF natural reproduction, enough
would grow to more than supply the
demand. And it was but natural, I'M
der these conditions of cheap lumber.
and apparently inexhastible supply.
to cut without regard to the future
which seemed assured.
It vas due to the immense supply
that, for purely economic reasons, a
certain amount of forestry was I'M
consciously practiced, for then only
the biggest and best timber was taken,
though in cutting it, much was des-
troyed besides.
The land, once it had been cut over,
was abandoned for long periods.
though it was not as rule, cut near
ly as hard as it is today. At this
time pine was the timber in demand,
spruce having little or no value and
had our land held nothing but pine,
as i'll the forests of the Middle West,
Maine would have ceased to be an
important factor in the lumber indus
try But, after the pine was practi
cally gone, large amount of spruce
WAS left, and spruce became valuable.
taking the place of pine as a building
material, and finding a new use as
pulp, so that Maine became the larg-
est spruce producing State in the
country. But. if we allow our
spruce to follow our pine, there will
be nothing left, for our hardwoods, as
a rule, are of inferior quality.
Could the demand, both gross and
per capita, have remained stationary,
orr supply, barring fire, would have
lasted Indefinitely. But since this
time, not only has our national popu-
lation grown tremendously, but the
per capita consumption of wood has
grown even faster, until it has reached
nearly 500 feet per year for every
man, woman and child in the country.
and is still growing. With the advent
of iron, steel, and cement construc-
ton it was freely predicted that the
use would decrease, but for every
foot so displaced. two feet have been
used for some new purpose, 50 the
predictions have failed of fulfilment.
Forestry, which is merely the
scientific apDlicatiOn to our woods of