Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1909-10-25

ed States Forest Service IN
cooperation with the state. The re-
port Ia now completed and has been
submitted to the governor for his con
siderstion- II 10 hoped that the leg
islature may be able to incorporate at
least some Of the recommendations
into Law In the near future.
f1orS&a occupies . prominent posi-
ton among the timber and turpentine
producing states OF the country. II
has. At present. . greater per cent. Of
its land In forest than any other state.
Some Of the finest stands Of longleaf
pine In the south are contained with
In lis borders. The development Of
the forest Industries during the past
few years has been phenomenal.
While the agricultural development
Ia certain parts OF the state will make
permanent use Of immense areas OF
cutover land. the bulk Of lands now
being cut over win not be needed for
agricultural purposes for many years
TO come. In the meantime the tim
Der producing possibilities Of such
lands are being destroyed by repeated
fires. turpentining. and reckless ium-
boring. The opportunity TO organize
and adopt plans of forest manage
ment should not be delayed until the
forest lands have all been cut over.
Many states have temporarily de-
veloped at the expense OF their for.
est interests and have realized too
late the disastrous effects OF wasting
their forest resources
The report OF the Forest Service
Examiner In Florida lays particular
stress on the Importance Of . strong
forest policy for the state. There
should be a commission Of forestry
60 have general supervision OF the
forestry interests OF the state and
TO appoint q state forester. II should
be the duty of the state forester. un-
der the direction OF the commission. |
60 advise private owners In reference
To forest management 10 bring TO pub
lie attention the damage done by for
est fires. to formulate and put into
execution a ~frewarden system I o pro-
tect the forests from fires. to encour-
age more conservative systems OF
numbering and turpentinine. to hives
tigate TAX and grazing problems. and
In general promote a healthy interest
In forest preservation IN the state.
The forest fire problem In Florida.
rs In other southern states. was found
TO be a most serious hindrance TO the
perpetuetion OF the forests. The
practice OF burning over the ground
annually destroys all possibility of
a young growth Of pine to take the
place Of the mature timber when n
IL cut Moreover. ares injure the
standing timber. especially where the
trees have been boxed. and destroy
the vegetable covering Of the soil. II
has been demonstrated that repeated
fires decrease the value OF the forest
for grazing purposes
In order 10 check the annual fire
evil. the report proposes a forest ire
for Florida which shall make n
unlawful and punishable by fine or
imprisonment. or both. for any indt.
vidual OF corporation TO start flres ON
land not their own. The proposed
Law also makes every owner liable for
damages resulting from the spread of
FIRE from his land to that OF an
other. There are many other impor.
features In the proposed law.
such as the appointment OF firewar
dens. the use OF spark arresters o N
and engines. and posting
Of IRE notice7
TIE resort furthermore recon-
mcnds the establishment, OF state for
from tax lands ami by purchase.
as has airedy been done By many
In the country.
The forests OF Florida have lasted
longer thar In many states. perhsps
because the state has been more een-
endowed with sn}uah,e
The need Of forest ,~ressrvs-