Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-10

@agU1(
IM YYW government estimates the
liz H q H forest area in the Philip
I'D b M E pine Islands is 32,000,OOO
Ina IS MAl acres, and the standing
kAsUkks2Ez1A timber Is worth S6,500,r
100000. This means that
If the forests are suitably protected
and rightly exploited, the development
of railroad and water transportation in
F., the islands will make Manila one Of the
/ important lumber ports of the world,
/ and give the islands a large perpetual
/ source of revenue. The question is
! whether or not the bureau of forestry
/ will be granted sufficient "sinews of
war" to render the scope of its work
as large as 1t should be. At present
the department is struggling along un-
der an insufficient appropriation, al
| though it's usefulness is beyond ques-
| tion.
] There are nine white foresters and
| twenty-five Filipino rangers and
guards Japan has, In about an equal
area, 925 foresters and 1884 rangers and
guards. In Java the Dutch administer
5000 900 acres of forest land with thirty
foresters and 1000 rangers and guards.
In India, where there are SS,0OO,0O0 acres
of forest, there are 312 foresters and
9103 rangers and guards. Germany, a
pioneer in forestry and demonstrates
of Its economic usefulness. maintains,
to look after 100000 acres of forest,
SOC foresters and 3739 rangers ana
guards.
That forestry is an exact science is
plain, from the fact that the net reVe-
! nue. in the various countries bear about
the same relation to the expediture. Ii
Is only necessary to increase the size
of the Philippine forest service in or
der to increase the net revenue. OI
greater Importance than the question OF
net revenue, however, is the duty or
the present generation to make plans
to so protect the forests now standing
that ruthless exploitation VIII not roll
low upon the heels OF railroad develop
ment and destroy timber which in ltseit
is the second natural resource or the
islands and which, because of It's IN
fluence upon agriculture, Is really the
first resource.
Manila is the natural lumber center
of the far east Hong Kong, Shanghal,
Nagasah, Singapore and Sydney, all
demanding large supplies OF forest
products in various forms, are withln
easier reach Of Manila than are the
| ports from which their markets are
supplied. The Philippines are not only
competing in these markets, but are
importing lumber from the United
states. while vast areas or excellen'
hard and soft wood lie untouched IN
the island forests. The Pacific coast
sends Manila about 81, 900 worth oi
: lumber and building material every
year.
Except for the fast vanishing areas
in the Appalachian region, the Phlllp-
pines contain the only considerable
quantity of hardwood now under the
United states flag. Some of the finest
cabinet woods in the world are found
l. and several
other hardwoods which have no coun-
terpart In the States, the Philippine
forests could replace every furniture
wood now in the home markets. rms
does not, of course, mean that if nc
effort is made to protect the American
hardwood supply, the Philippines coulo
fill the demand perpetually and mee'
the far eastern demand as well.
Softwood is even more abundant
Iauan, which is considered the equa
of oregon pine or California redwood
20 much handsomer In figure, anc
apitong is harder, heavier and strong
er There are in all 1000 known Varie
ties Of trees in the archipelago OF
three times as many varieties ~ art
boast by the entire United states
Foresters say that there are approx
mateIv 1000 kinds now unclassihed. Oi
course many Of these are not mer'
chantable but about $50 kinds are IT
the market now. AS numbering opera
tions have moved in America from
Pennsylvania to the lake region, anC
thence to the Pacific coast, and as The
''maximum cut" has been reached II
the furthest American west, the old
time slogan Of the lumber king'
westward ho." should in time brint
them to the Philippine forests. 1t will
be necessary when that time arrives Il
. so administer the forests as to pro
vide for their exploitation without de
struction. In the meantime much val
liable timber. after having reached ma
turity. Is going to waste for want o
cutting.
Nomadlc agriculture has been one o
, the worst enemies OF the forests in thu
! Philippines. But for the fact that th'
! forests are large and the population
small serious inroads upon the tlmbe'
; supply would have been made long ago
: AS matters stand the denudatton O.
watersheds has increased flood dam
age, and millions of dollars worth o.
magnificent timber has been destroyed
: to make room for rice patches whose