Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1908-04-02
WHAT FORESTRY HIS DONE.

forestry had never been tried until the Gov
ernment began to practice it upon the
National Forests. Yet Forestry is practiced
by every civilized country in the world ex-
cept China and Turkey. 1t gets results that
can be got no other way, and which are ne.
cessary to the general welfare.
What forestry has done abroad is the
strongest proof of what it can accomplish
here. The remarkable success of forest
management IN the civilized countries of
Europe and Asia is the most forcible argu-
ment which can be brought in support of
wise forest use in the United States
The more advanced and progressive
| countries act first and go farthest in for
estry, as they do in other things. Indeed,
we might almost take forestry as yard
stick with which to measure the height Of
civilization. On the one hand, the nations
which follow forestry most widely and sys-
tematically would be found the most en-
| lightened nations. On the other hand,
when we applied our yardstick to such
say with good deal of assurance, by this
test alone, Here is backward nation"
The countries Of Europe and Asia, taken
together, have passed through all the stages
of forest history and applied all the known
principles of forestry. They are rich in
forest experience. The lessons OF forestry
were brought home to them by hard knocks.
Their forest systems were brought home to
them by hard knocks Their forest sys-
TENS were built up gradually as the result
of hardship. They did not first spin fine
theories and then apply those theories by
main force. On the contrary. they began
by facing disagreeable facts. Every step
of the way toward wise forest use, the
J world over, has been made at the sharp
spur Of want, suffering, or loss. As re-
suit, the science of forestry is one OF the
most practical and most directly useful of
all the sciences. 1t is serious work, I'M
} dertaken as measure of relief. and con-
tinued as safeguard against future CAL
amity.
The United States, then, in attacking
J the problem of how best to use its great
forest resources, is not in the position Of a
pioneer in the field Is has the experience
Of all other countries to go upon. There is
no need for years Of experiment with un-
: tried theories. The forest principles which
hundreds Of years of actual practise have
) proved right are at its command. The only
, question is, How should these be modified
, or extended to best meet American con-
] ditions? In the management of the Nat
ional Forests the Government is not work.
ing in the dark. Nor is it slavishly copying
European countries. 1t is putting into
Q practice, in America, and for Americans,
, principles tried and found correct. which
will insure to all the people alike the full
lest and best use of all forest resources.
e Take the case of Germany. Starting
7 with forests which were in as bad shape as
s many of our own which haye been .reckless-
a ly cut oyer, it raised the average yield Of
wood per acre from 20 cubic feet in 1880 te
65 cubic feet in 1904 During the SAME
' period of time it trebled the proportion Of
8 saw timber got from the average cut, which
e means, in other words, shat through the
/ practice of forestry the 1timberlands of Ger.
many are of three times better quality TO
!. day than when no system was used. Aud
. in ffty-four years it increased the money re
q turns from an average acre of forest seven
). fold.
: In France forestry has decreased the dan
/; ger from floods, which threaten to destroy
s vast areas Of fertile farms, and in doing 81
has added many millions Of dollars TO the
National wealth in new forests It has re
moved the danger from sand Ounce and il
heir place has created property wortl
many millions of dollars. Applied to th
State forests. which are small in comparison
: with the National Forests of this country,
: 1t causes them TO yield each year net rev
. enue Of more than $4,000, 900, though the
sum spent on an acre for management il
over 100 times greater than that spent or
r the forests of the United States.
France and Germany togssher have I
+ population Of 100000, in round mum
!, bers, against our probable s5,00o,0 900, and
State forests of ID, SOC, 900 acres against III
! l60, 900, 900 acres of National Forests; but
y France and Germany spend on their forests
: 81 100000 year and get from them in
net returns $S0,00o,00o year, while the
United States spent on the National Forests
last year 81 100000 and secured net re.
f turn of less than $3.50, 900.
!. In Switzerland, where every foot of agri.
cultural land is of the greatest value, for
estry has made it possible for the people to