Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-12-02
oun NATURAL RESOURCES.
Understands and Wstsrpowers Prae-
tIeaIIy consIaersd BY Q. J. Msreatt.

tlcaily Conslcered BY o. ,. Marcott.
In Randolph, where the Champlain
Realty company has established 3 spruce
tree nursery from which to reforest tracts
of waste land in this part OF the state, the
subject Of forest preservation is becoming
of more than ordinary interest to the
thoughtful and to those inclined to look
beyond the present convenience or small
chance Of profit.
As a practical lumberman, o. J. Mar
colt has given the matter careful study,
the result OF which, as stated below, will,
1t is believed, claim the attention Of those
who already have woodlands to conserve
or improbable acres which might we'll be
planted to thrifty little pines and
spruces.
"We are cutting timber now" says
SIR. Marcott, "from the forests OF the
United States at the rate OF 500 feet,
board measure, for every man, woman
and child in the country. In Europe
the rate is 90 feet, board measure. AT our
pace, in less than 80 years. all our re-
naming virgin timber will be cut and,
meantime, the forests which have been
cut over are in a deplorahle condition
from the want OF care so that those,
y " ultu AEC uDt QtNA1AhAGu " nAtt BAoAAN~
\ but very inferior second growth, little
better than brush. We are clearly near
/ ing a timber famine, which Is not due to
necessity; for a forest Is a renewable re-
source and, rightly used, can go on pro-
duciDg crop after crop indefinitely. The
scarcity is rather due to wasteful methods
in cutting and manufacturing. We
probably still possess sufficient forest
/ land to grow plenty of wood for our sup
I ply and, II we are moi blind or wilfully
wasteful, We may yet preserve our forest
/ independence and, with it, one OF our
great industries.
'sPresent waste in lumber production Is
enormous. In the case OF yellow pine,
half the quantity cut in 1907 was used and
the other half, amounting to 5000, 600,
cords, was wasted, 20 per cent of il repre-
senting the timber growth on 800, 900
acres, being left in the woods.
aForests can be made to produce three
or four times as rapidly as they do now.
The countries Of Europe know this aud
Japan knows IL, and their forests are be-
coming, with time, not less, but more,
productive. Germany has been conserv-
ing her forests for $50 years and In that
period she has doubled their productive
ness many times over.
"A bill was framed fer introduction In
Congress, asking for two reservations,
one 10 the Appalachians OF 5000, 900 acres
and one IN the White mountains OF $780,
600 acres, but the scheme met with vigor-
Gus opposition, notwithstanding the OBJ
vious need OF such a measure, particularly
in the Appalachian range. This area sup
plies q large per cent of the high grade
hard wood cut ia this country and from
the statistics Of the bureau Of agriculture
il is learned that there is only enough
hard v God left in the country to last 10
years longer
ssForest denudation places before as an
other problem, that OF water. Habitually
we regard our supply of water as mex
haustible as the air, and it is true that
our folly can never prevent the larger
movement OF water upon the earth. The
rains and SHOWS are controlled BY great
cosmic forces ana geographical condi-
lions. over which we have little control;
but, while We can exert slight influence
over the supply Of water In general, we
can determine somew hat the form in
which il shall reach us. Wherever there
are hills and valleys, there are water
sheds and water courses, and nothing
that We can do can prevent the rain from
falling upon the hills, running down into
the valleys and passing OF in streams and
rivers into the ocean; but We can change
the spread OF the water flow In the drain
are basins. II we cut down the forests
on the hiIIsides we remove a check which
otherwise retards the flow, with the re-
suit that the rain runs on quickly into
the rivers, swelling them violently aDd
causing Hoods. Where the slopes Of
drainage basins have been cleared in this
way, the floods have been disastrous and
have heen followed by drouth; because
the hills, which are naturally the reser-
voirs OF the streams, have run dry.
France has a saying, NO forests, no riv-
ers.' lust because this is so.
aAnother use we make OF water IL to
generate power. Engineers tell as that
this is the beginning Of the age OF electri-
CITY. and that means the age OF water
power. Heretofore water power has been
developed only whereit was readily accessi-
-. - fho futura water mower will be