Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-06-02
REQUESTS RAILROADS
TO CONSERVE TIMBER
FORESTER PINCH0T APPEALS
TO CORPORATION HEADS
Asks Presidents to Cooperate with
States and Federal Government
to Devise Method to
Protect Forests
Especial to The Herald


WASHINGTON, June 1.-The presi-
dents of the leading railroads of the
country have Just received letter from
Clifford Pinchot, United States forester,
calling on them to practice forest con-
serVation and better timber utilization
In his letter the chief forester says:
IT am writing to call your attention
again to some phases of q subject TO
which l know you already must nave
given much thought-the conservation
of our forests. The report of the ma
tionaI conservation commission shows
we are cutting our forests three times
faster than they are growing; that
much large timber and young growth
are demolished yearly by fire; that as
a nation we have used wood waste
fully and eXtravagantly; that the only
way we can get the timber we shall
need in the future is to keep all our
forest land constantly growing trees,
and that the longer we delay action
the greater will be the pinch of tim
Der shortage later on.
"One-fifth of our remaining timber
is in public forests, and on these for
ests the nation and the states are prac-
ticing forestry. Four-fifths of our tim
Der is privately owned, and 1t is cut
almost exclusively for present profit
without regard to the future. The
problem of providing a timber supply
cannot be solved by the national gov
eminent alone, by the states alone, or
by individuals alone; all must work
together.
"Since the railroads are among the
largest consumers of wood, they will
suffer heavily from the much higher
prices and the actual scarcity of tim
Der which will occur if our forests are
not conserved. Railroad companies
most advantageously can undertake
both the growing Of timber and the
economical utilization of the product
They have q steady demand for tim
Der, the extent of which can be largely
anticipated, and they need much small
timber of kinds which can be grown
in a relatively short time.
Must Work own Problems
Each railroad has it's own especial
timber problems which must be worked
out to meet the given conditions. At
the same time there are certain lines
of general policy which can be profit
ably adopted by many roads. They
are:
IT. The use of chemically treated ties
wherever possible.
"2. The use of so-called inferior
woods, as, for example, black gum and
loblolly pine, for ties, which will re-
duCe the drain on WHITE OAK, anu WHICH
is entirely practicable if the ties are
treated.
"3. The purchase and management of
land bearing mature timber which can
be used Immediately, and of second
growth timber which will meet the
needs of the future. Such lands, If
properly managed, will insure a per-
petual supply of ties and lumber at
the cost of production.
~. The planting of trees on non-agri-
cultural land owned by the company,
which does not now contain sufficient
young growth to produce a timber
crop.
IS. Cooperation with other roads in
the adoption of standard specifications
for ties and timber and for the treat
ment of them. Cooperation with tim
berland owners and the states in fire
prevention, and in bringing about con-
ditions which will make the practice
of forestry profitable.
"These are in substance the recon-
mendations of the subcommittee on
forest supplies of the American Rail-
way Engineering and Maintenance of
Way association. The adoption of these
and the appointment
of technical men to carry them out, 1t
seems to me, will be wise action for
general adoption would be far reach
ing and most beneficial.
az should be very glad to discuss the
matter more in detail with you at your
convenience or to be of use in any
other way
Responses which show much interest
have been received and it is presumed
definite action along the lines mem
toned will result.