The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-03-31
WORK OF GERMAN AND United
STATES IN CONSERVATION
OF FORESTS.

Germany faced the same great
timber supply problem early in the
nineteenth century that the Unit
ed States faces today and in solving
! It developed heavy producing and
well administered forests which are
models for the rest OF the world
A study OF the systems CT forest
mama cement and wood utilization IN
the two countries offers many in
Iteresting comparisons. The United
States takes 260 cubic feet per cap
ita annually from the forests; Ger
many uses but 81. In other words
this country Is already using seven
times at much timber per capita as
/ is Germany. American forests are
now producing not more than 13
cubic feet per acre; German forests
are producing 4S cubic feet per acre
annually. Germany has reduced
waste and consumption and in
creased production.
The United States has as rapidly
growing trees and as good soil u
Germany, and foresters say It Is
reasonable TO think that this coun-
try will be just as successful as the
| Eur-rean country in high per acre
production when every owner OF
cumberland gets down to proper
conservation and development Of
his forest property. 1t is known
that the United states must con-
tinue in the future, as i'm the past,
to rely upon its own forests for the
great bulk of wood which Is used.
] II, g,4. NJ,
substitutes, Il Is not possible to con
leeive the time when II will be
Iprasticeble TO do without wood
FOR many uses. rantlng this, for
esters say, It follows that as a ma
tion and as individual citizens ev.'
erything possible NUT be done TO
put the forest land OF this country
,uron a permanent productive basis.
The ultimate aim must be to cut
no more from forests than they
lprcduce each year, and to make
thSr yearly growth equal to the
needs of the people AS in Germany
forest conservation in this countrS
means Just two things. first, the
fullest possible utilization of the
Ipresent surply Of timber, which
will make It last longer; and lsecJ
ond. the handing of forest lands
in such a way that succeeding crops
OF timber will be secured.
AT present only about one-fifth OF
our standing timber is in public
forests. This term is used TO cover
the National Forests, State forests
the timf er on Ind an and Military
reservations, and National Parks
These forests are being managed
according to the principles on scien-
tific forestry so far as funds avail
able for their administration permit
While the extent of the public for
ests will undoubtedly be increased
in the future, 1t Is not likely thai
for very long time to come they
will contain even as much as half
OF the timber supply. Four-hfths OF
our forests are now owned by in
dividuals, companies or corporations
The manner in which these forests
are handled Is, therefore. of the Ut
most Importance In conservation.
If the lumber industry in the
United States Is TO live, IL means
that large manufacturers will have
to protect and develop their forest
Iproperty. The land must be luni-
bered with care, fire must he kepi
out, young growth protected, and
every principle of forestry applied
to the management OF the land SO
that 1t will continue permanently
productive instead Of becoming a
burned over and barren waste, as
has been the case of the forest re-
Igons which have passed throu gh
periods of excessive destruction as
the result OF careless numbering
methods.