Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-10-27
FORESTRY IN MAINE.
Importance of Forest Protection to
Fish and Game.


[B. T. Harvey, OF Yale Forest School, In Ban
gor Comnserci0t.
We are to-day wisely considering and
discussing the vital subject Of forest pre-
servation in our State. On the present
attitude Of cumberland holders towards
forestry depends, not only the future well
fare and financial prosperity of our State,
but also the future welfare OF ourselves.
Over and over again history repeats it
self, and we have only to refer to the early
history OF France and Germany and to
some Of our western and middle western
states to learn what dire results follow in
the path of unrestained deforestation.
The greatest natural wealth q country
can possess is an abundant source OF water
power and land we'll timbered with for
ests, because almost every industry is
directly and vitality dependent upon these
vast resources for its prosperity.
With unrestrained and reckless cutting
comes an enormous waste OF material.
And then this, followed by fire, the great
est enemy Of the North woods, brings
enormous loss beside effecting perma-
nent injury to the forest which requires
nature many years to again restore.
Inc natural history OF all deforested
anu oenuoeo areas IL practicaiiy the same
Owing to existing economic conditions
the most valuable species are lumber first,
thus giving the poorer species a better
cnance 70 develop; ana THESE IN turn are
numbered, again giving the advant-
age OF natural regeneration TO still
poorer species. ana thus u continues
each generation OF TIMBER oeing poorer
IN quaity ana smaller IN size, until
true Forest conoltions no longer exist. ~
IL at TINS stage' usually, tnat nre comes IN
10 compiete the devastation, leaving notn-
ing OF the once well timpered LAND put
q useless ana desolate barron waste quite
subject 10 MOODS ana denudation.
fortunate inoeed Ior the state OF Maine
- II 1nat sne mas snch tremendous naturai
resources as lie ID her water power ana
Iorests. Inc pecuiiar topography Oh Inc
state also renoers II particularly favorable
ior the conservation OF water. But the
topography alone Is not the true secret OF
49, r. $3.50
hes IN the TACT tnat the state Is remark
ably well covered with very dense CROWNS
OF forests whicn hoio Dack the water sup
ply OF rams and melting SHOWS ana aliow
only SLOW seepage 10 take place. thus act-
ing as great reservoirs ana proVloing .
STEADY annual now IN our streams.
NOW let the forest De cleared away ana
the present condition continue, ana IL
seems ineVitaoie tnat future generations
must suner greatly. ana, II extreme con-
ditions should prevail even permanent
reservoirs might become essential IN ofoer
10 provide tne necessary water supply ior
the operation OF our great industries.
Lumpermeh usually 90 not CONSIDER the
future OF the forest. rms consideration
appears TO them 10 De nnanciai impossi-
pihty. Ihey only ngure on tne present
stand ana the most economical methoo OF
logging II.
But OF ia'e' since the question OF for
estry has been brought before them, many
OF the foremost lumoermen OF the state
are accepting more favorable views OF the
question and are even willing to consider