The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-04-21
ADDRESS TO
OGDEN HIGH
SCHOOL
PROF. ENOS A. MILLS TALKS TO
INTERESTED AUDIENCE.
Value Of Forests and Their In
fluencc Upon Climate.

L. Il.
the meeting being held for and under
the auspices of the High school An
overture by the High school orches-
tray. under the leadership of Miss
Conroy, and the rendition of Loves
Old Sweet Song" by the Glee club,
added much to the occasion.
Mr.. Mills was introduced by Prof
J. o. Cross, principal OF the High
school. and said In part:
mo nation has ever fallen for hav-
ing too many trees, but scores OF
lands have been depopulated and
brought to ruin through forest des-
tfuction. Most OF the great nations
OF which history gives account have
been rich In natural resources, and
the one resource most useful TO and
most used by every nation that has
built itself TO greatness was the for
est 1t is probable that the forests
of the United States have been the
most important resource to those who
settled here When the first settlers
landed upon the Atlantic coast they
first of all cut down the trees and
used them to build themselves homes.
They used wood for fuel, furniture,
boats. bridges, churches, forts, and
etockades. Not only the first settlers
used wood freely, but pioneers in
every state and territory found wood
to be the most helpful to them. AS
the population Of the country in
creased, wood continued to be useful
in the development OF the various re-
sources OF the country 1t seems hard
ly possible that the mines could have
been worked without timbers for them
which were cut out Of the forest. 1t
seems unthinkable that there could
have been much early inland trans
portation without forests, which sup
we're built.
"Thus from the first settlement
down to the present time the forests
have constantly been called upon to
contribute to almost every construc-
tive work-all of which ultimately en-
abled our nation to become what
II is.
But the uses Of wood are not yet
ended 1t Is now being used more
freely than ever before. 1t is true that
many substitutes have been found for
1t; but on the other hand, so many
new uses have been found for 1t that
at the present time the annual per
capita use was never exceeded in
years of the past.
"At the present time approximately
10G,000.000 acres of forest are cut
down and used every twenty four
hours. Most of this timber is we'll
used, 1t is used to develop the coun-
try and sustain the industries. But
the unfortunate thing in connection
with the timber, or the forestry ques-
tlon at present is that at the present
rate Of usage the forests OF the Unit
ed States Will be exhausted in less
than 20 years. In other words. q
timber famine is near, and a timber
famine will have a stagnating effect
upon those industries that are depen-
dent upon regular supplies of wood.
and as wood is SO generally and so
largely used, this timber famine will
probably mean almost calamity for
the entire people OF the nation.
ITO meet this serious situation,
forestry ought to be at once exten-
siyely practiced upon the woodlands
of the United States. Forestry really
means to farm with trees Forestry
embraces tree planting. tree produc
Ing. and tree harvesting. The two
Important things OF the foreSty ques-
ton which seems to need immediate
and general attention are the fuller
utilization of all timber cut, and the
prevention of forest fires.
The practice OF forestry is not
new. 1t has been followed by Euro
pean nations for several generations
Each nation that has practiced for
estry has In many ways profited by do
ing So On the other hand, some ma
tions have endeavored TO get along
without practicing forestry. but these
nations have suffered severely for
their neglect Of this important ques-
tlon. China, Spain, and Syria are
countries that have neglected their
forests. Japan, Germany. and France
are nations that have long been Civ
iug forestry considerable attention.
In the United States a beginning
in forestry has been made, but only
a beginning. One hundred and eighty
million acres OF woodland are now in
charge of the United States Forest
Service. Fourteen of these woodlands
are receiving but Scant attention as
a result of meager appropriations. 1t
has been demonstrated through the
experience Of European countries, that
forestry is not only something that
can be profitably practlced but
incidentally that the indirect
help or influence of liv-
ing forests are so many and so I'M
frll h1t hnt
sidering for their own sake Wher.
ever forest is growing. 1t has the
characteristic Of heating and cooling.
1t thereby tends to prevent sudden
changes OF temperature. Sudden
changes of temperature are ANNOYING
TO the people and damaging to the
farmer, who is after all the only ne
coSsary man. Forests are also wind
breaks and wind breaks for house
barn or an orchard have a very high
value and incidentally they are worth
considerable in connection with the
growing crops OF the field
The forest shelters and helps 10
sustain many kinds of useful birds:
many species of birds which live main
ly upon weed seeds and Injurious
insects have their home In the for
est.
Probably the most important for.
est influence that is helpful To the
people of the west is its power to
check the evaporation of water. The
western winds are extra dry and the
western AIR is constantly absorbing
water. 1t is Unsuitable. In many west.
ern localities the air has the capacity