Evening star., 1909-02-21

lumber companies. paper manufacturers.
owners of large estates, country clubs,
aSsociat ions for game and fishing and Oth-
er organizations are employing large
numbers of trained men, and the need VIII
increase rapidly in the future outside OF
the government service.
If the natural forests of the United
States were admnist cred upon the syS-
tenn that prevails in Germany, more than
125.OIO men would be employed. over
three -fifthS of the forest land in the Unit
ed States is owned by private individuals
companies and corporations. which are
beginning to realize the advantages of
cultivating and preserving rather than
destroying their timber.
\ few years ago it was customary to
begin at the edge OF piece of timber
land and cut down every tree. large and
small until the farther boundary of the
property was reached This wastefur dev-
astation has been arrested in many
places for the owners of tracts of for
ests have learned that they can cut their
timber and have it. too: thai there is
greater profit in selecting the mature trees
to be feF ed and allowing the smaller
ones TO attain greater value by further
growth. To carry out such economic
work TO the best advantage it is neces-
sary to have skilled foresters: hence,
the great demand, which will undoubtedly
continue
States Need Foresters.
several states nave forest pOll-
ces similar to that of the general govern
ment and require an increasing number of
trained men. The demand is not confined
to the states which are abundantly TIM
bered In the prairie states the scarcity
of timber creates a need for the artificial
cultivation of trees by farmers for their
local supply of fuel, fencing and other
uses.
State foreSters are needed TO teach the
farmers how to plant and malnt tam wood
lots. Eventually it is likely that every
state in the Union will have its corps of
foresters. while several states likely
to have considerable forest reserves of
their own. This would mean not one, but
staff of professional foresters for each
of these states.
One OF the duties of the state forester
is generally to give lectures in the state
universities or agricultural colleges.
Every progressive school of scientific ag-
riculture now includes as a part OF its
curriculum instruction in the subject of
forestry. This is in addition to the pro-
fessional schools which will turn out fully
trained foresters just as the agricultural
college teaches its students how to take
are of stock and the veterinary schools
train professional veterinarians.
The demand for teachers in those insti-
tutions is drawing into this field some of
the most capable young fores-ers in the
country. The government feels this drain
can, even at temporary sacrifice, to
help along the general educa tional move
ment.
Employment on Railroads.
Among the latest openings for the COM
mercial forester are the positions which
such railroads as the Delaware and Hud-
son and the Pennsylvania have made for
the purpose of providing and increasing
their own supply of timber for ties. The
places offered by these two railroads have
been filled from the staff of the govern
ment forest service which. in co-Operat-
ing with the companies in various timber
investigations. had shown conclusively
that the employment of a forester in each
case would be good business
And there is yet another opening for
the professional forester. Instead of ac
cepting place with single employer, he
may set up In business for himself as
consulting and contracting forester.
THIS field has many attractions. 1t af-
fords an opportunity for dealing with
greater variety of problems. Moreover,
in q great number of cases, it is quite