Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-04-05
GERMANY SOLVES
TIMBER PROBLEM
HEAVY PRODUCTION OF TREES
NECESSARY
Study of Methods Used in kaiser's
Land May Be Of Benefit to
People of the United
States

WASHINGTON, April 4.-Germany
lem early in the nineteenth century
that the United States faces today, and
in solving it developed heavy produce
ing and we'll administered forests which
are models for the rest of the world.
A study of the systems of forest
management and wood utilization in
the two countries offers many interest
ing comparisons. The United States
takes 260 cubic feet per capita annually
from the forests; Germany uses but 81.
In other words, this country is already
using seven times as much timber per
capita as is Germany. American for
eSts are now producing not more than
twelve cubic feet per acre; German
forests are producing forty eight cubic
feet per acre annually. Germany has
reduced waste and consumption and
increased production.
The United States has as rapidly
growing trees and as good soil as Ger
many, and foresters say it is reasonable
to think that this country will be just
as successful as the European country
in high per acre production when every
owner of timberland gets down to
proper conservation and development
of his forest property. 1t is known that
the United States must continue in the
future, as in che past, to rely upon its
own forests for the great bulk of wood
which is used. Despite the introduction
of many substitutes, it is not possible
to conceive the time when it will be
practicable to do without wood for
many uses. Granting this, foresters
say, it follows that as a nation and
as individual citizens everything pos
sible must be done TO put the forest
land of this country upon permanent
productive basis.
Must Limit Cutting
The ultimate aim must be to cut no
more from forests than they produce
each year, and to make their yearly
growth equal to the needs of the people.
AS in Germany conservation in this
country means just two things, first,
the fullest possible utilization of the
present supply of timber, which VIII
make it last longer and second, the
handling 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 timber on In
dian and military reservations and ma
tional parks. These forests are being
managed according 10 Jlle plllClpltS VI
scientific forestry, so far as funds avail
able for their administration permit.
While the extent of the public forests
will undoubtedly be increased in the
future, it is not likely that for very
long time to come they will contain
even as much as half of the timber
supply. Four-fifths of our forests are
now owned by individuals. companies
or corporations. The manner in which
these forests are handled is, therefore,
of the utmost Importance in conserva-
ton.
If the lumber industry in the United
States is to live, it means that large
manufacturers will have to protect and
develop their forest property. The land
must be numbered with care, fire must
be kept out, young growth protected
and every principle os forestry applied
to the management of the land so
that it will continue permanently pro-
ductive instead of becoming a burned
over and barren waste, as has been the
case of the forest regions which
have passed through periods of eX-
cessive destruction as the result of
careless numbering methods,