The Daily Missoulian., 1909-01-23

To prevent their complete extinction
the states and the United States have
taken In hand their protection, and
their numbers are now increasing.
Forest game yields over 100000
worth of food each year.
With game birds the story is much
the same--wanton destruction until
the number has been greatly reduced,
followed in recent years by wise pro-
lection, which in some cases allow the
remnant to survive and even to in
crease.
Each citizen Of the United States
375,000,0 900 acres of public lands, ex-
elusive of Alaska and the insular pos
sessions. Besides this there are about
235, ,000,0 900 acres of national forests,
national parks and other lands de-
voted to public use.
Good business sense demands that a
| definite land policy be formulated.
| The national conservation commission
| believes that the following will serve
as a basis therefor:
/. Every part of the public lands
will best subserve the interests of the
whole people.
2. The classification of all public
lands is necessary for their admins
tration in the interests of the people.
| 3. The timber, the minerals and the
| surface of the public lands should be
disposed of separately.
| A. Public lands more valuable for
conserving water supply, timber, and
natural beauties or wonders than fol-
| agriculture should be held for the use
| of the people from all except mineral
entry.
| 5. Title to the surface of the re-
naming non-mineral public lands
| should be granted only to actual
home makers.
| 6. Pending the transfer of title tc
| the remaining public lands they
should be administered by the govern
ment and their use should be allowed
in way to prevent or control waste
and monopoly
The present public land laws as {
whole do not subserve the best inter.
ests of the nation. They should bt
modified so far as may be required tc
bring them into conformity with th'
foregoing outline Of policy.
Next to our need of food and water
comes our need of timber
Our industries which subsist wholly
or mainly upon wood pay the wage:
of more than 100000 men and women
Forests not only grow timber, bu
they hold the soil and conserve the
streams. They abate the wind an(
give protection from excessive hea
and cold. Woodlands make for thu
fibre, health and happiness of the cit
izen and the nation.
Our forests now cover $4,000, ,00t
acres, or about one-fourth of thu
United States. The original forests
covered not less than S50,00O,0O0 acres
Forests publicly owned cover one
fourth of the total forest area ant
contain one-fifth of all standing tim
Der. Forests privately owned covel
three fourths of the area and contain
four -ffths of the standing timber
The timber privately owned is mo-
only four times that publicly owned
but is generally more valuable.
Forestry is now practiced on 10 pei
cent of the forests publicly owned ant
on less than / per cent of the forest:
privately owned, or on only IS pei
cent of the total area Of forests.
The yearly growth of wood in ou
forests do not average more than l:
cubic feet per acre. This gives a to
tai yearly growth of less than 1000,
900, 900 cubic feet.
We have 200, 100000 aeres of nMtur,
forests, in which yearly growth i.
balanced by decay; 250,0O0,000 acre
partly cut over or burned over, bu
restocking naturally with youn,
growth to produce merchantabl
crop, and 100,0O0,000 acres cut owe
and burned over, upon which younl
growth is lacking or too scanty t.
make merchantable timber.
From the Forests.
We take from our forests yearl
including waste in logging and ii
manufacture, $4,000, 100000 cubic fee
of wood. We use each year 100000,
900 cords of firewood; 10000, ,000, 90
feet of lumber; more than 1000, ,000, 90
posts, poles and fence rails; $4,000,
900 hewn ties; 1900, 100000 slaves; owe
1873, 100000 sets of heading; nearl
500,O00,00O barrel hoops; 100000 cord
Of native pulp wood; 165,OO0,OOO cubi
feet of round mine timber and 1850
900 cords of wood for distillation.
Since 1870 forest fires have destroye