New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-01-31
BRITISH FORESTRY
A Large Scheme for Promoting
Public WeIfare.

There are leads of open water in the pack lc7
of Socialism. The report Of the Commission on
Afforestation IS a logical and effective applica-
ton of the principle of coIlectivism- 1t assumes
that thera are 100000 acres Of waste land
unavailable for tilage or sheep walks Whlcn
can be converted into national forests 1t rec
ommends the purchase OF these lands for future
tfn7be supply and the creation of a forestry H.
dustry which will employ $4,000 men during
the winter months and ultimately 9O,OOO men
in the maintenance Of the entire area. and a
large number in subsidiary industries. 1t de-
scribes the scheme profitable investment
since at the end of eighty years the state viii
be in possession of an estate worth about $500
O0GO in excess of what has been paid for II
in land purchase, interest and forestry expendf-
lures Radicals. Conservatives, Trade Un1onists
and Socialists have united in advocating this
stupendous enterprise, after conducting a most
exhaustive Investigation, and the report Is so
lucid and plausible that 1t is likely TO be made
the basis of legislation with the consent of all
parties. There can hardly be , more practical
object lesson in state socialism. Labor is to be
employed, industries created and d highly
munerative investment made through the col
Iective agencies OF the nation In the place Of
waste lands there VIII be valuable forest. with
larger home supply OF timber than is now
imported.
Two-thirds Of these lands are in Scotland and
land. If the report be acted upon commits
sion viii be empowered to make a general sur
vey and to purchase for the nation lands suit
able for anorestation, having recourse to COM
puIsOn If private negotiations are futile. With
an annual planting Of 10000 acres in pine or
conifeTous softwood adapted to the climate and
the SOIL the entire estate can be reclaimed from
Improbable agriculture and sheer waste in the
course of sixty years. It viii then become self
supporting and can be worked on a forty years
rotation for one-third of the area and on an
eighty years rotation for the remainder with
rapidly increasing profits. which will wipe out
the cumulative charges and yield a permanent
source of revenue. As an alternative scheme the
acquisition Of 6,O0O000 acres, afforested at the
annual rate of 1900 acres and worked on
eighty years rotation is suggested and g prop
erty worth S3O4, 72O 900 in advance OF what If
will cost is calculated in detail Whether the
larger or smaller estate is managed afforesta-
ton Is emphaucally pronounced practicable de-
slr&ble and ultimately remunerative With the
increasing consumption of timber all over the
world and shortage of supply with steadily
rising prices there will be ample security that
the national investment in forests will be sound
and businessIke. There Will also he q rnarl,od
Improvement in quality of timber. which has
been deterlorating during recent years
Inc commission does not lay stress upon the
general advantages Of the restoration of forests
such as the prevention of coast erosion b1, nlan-
tatons of pine. the regulation of streams and
the promotion Of a more equabe climate II 10
concerned primarily with the economic side ,f
the question: and secondarily with the aspects
OF unemployment 1t proves by painsta kfns, c,I
culations that while the national forests 70 ba
financed by loans during a long period would
cost a large sum. the state would be certain -
get back the money invested and to make =
handsome profit. Moreover, it would be sunnl,,
ing temporary employment to $4,000 men in
tree planting every winter, and creating an
estate requiring ultimately the permanent ser
wees OF iofce hVe times as large With forests
10 De systematically enlarged in every section of
the Kingdom, there would be in syIvicuIture a
source or work for the unemployed peculiarly
suited for restoring physical and moral orr.
cheney, and with the creation of the timber An
dustry on large scale there would be the i'm
PRODUCTION OF many incidental trades ,rtasa O.
the main considerations which have Influences
the commission In proposing definite and sci
entihc scheme OF afforestation. The text OF Tho
report reveals the handiwork OF experts such as
PROFESSOR SonerVlHe and Mr. Rider Haggard
out the unanimous recommendations OF a mixed
commission representing all political factions
SNOW the trend OF public opinion toward col
lectivism Free Traders. who would opnosa
strenuously any proposals for making sbaaD
farming or agriculture more profitable Nv, =
tarln' are not repealed by system for arti
hcially enlarging forest areas and Creating an
enormous timber supply at home They acca,.
state ownership as hopeful method OF deaIir,,
with a troublesome social question-worLIess
ness.
Socialists Ike MIR. Keir Hardie approve Of hi.
forestry measure because they perceive =, :, o.
approach TO land naturalization. They cons,da.
that there is a distinction only in desraa b.
tween state ownership OF nine milton a, :.