Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1909-06-18
RAILROAD PRESIDENTS ASKED
To Practice Forest Conservation and
Better Wood Utilization.

The presidents of the leading rail-
roads Of the country have just re-
ceived a letter from Clifford Pinchot,
United States Forester, calling upon
them to practice forest conservation
and better timber utilization. In his
letter the Forester says:
81 am writing to call your atten-
ton again to some phases of a SUBJ
ject to which | know you must al
ready have given mdch thOught-the
conservation of our forests. The re-
port of the National Conservation
Commission shows that we are cut
ting our forests three times faster
than they are growing; that much
large timber and young growth are
destroyed yearly by fire; that as a
nation we have used wood wastefully
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 a timber
shortage later on.
"0ne-ffth of our remaining timber
is in public forests, and on these for
ests the nation and the states are
prac.;c;ng forestry. Foa2-fff..hs CT
our timber is privately owned, and it
is being cut almost exclusively for
present profit without regard to the
future. The problem of providing a
timber supply cannot be solved by the
National Government alone, by the
States alone, nor 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
can most advantageousIy undertake
both the growing of timber and tile
economical utilization of the product.
They have a steady demand for tim
Der, the extent of which can be large
ly anticipated, and they need much
small timber of kinds which can be
grown In relatively short time.
each railroad has its own espec-
ial timber problems which must he
worked out to meet the given condi-
lions. At the same time there are
certain lines of general policy which
can be proftably adopted by many
roads. They are:
81. The use of chemically treated
ties wherever possible.
so. The use of so-called inferior
woods, as for example, black gum
and loblolly pine, for ties, which will
reduce the drain on white oak, and
which is entirely practicable if the
ties are treated.
80. The. purchase and manage
ment 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 perpetual supply of ties and lumber
at the cost Of production.
80. The planting of trees upon
non-agricultural land owned BY the
company, which does not now contain
sufficient young growth to produce a
timber crop.
%. Cooperation with other roads
in the adoption Of standard specifca-
tons for ties and timber, and for the
treatment Of them Cooperation
with cumberland owners and the
States in fire prevention, and in bring
ing ABOUT conditions which viii make
the Practice Of forestry profitable.
These are N substance the rec
'nmepdetiop' The subcommittee