Goldsboro semi-weekly argus., 1909-06-09
'PrEAL IN RIGHT DETECTION.

= FS4zZ+ t4E -
A-iroad Presidents Called Upon to
Practice Forest Conservation and
Better Wood Utilization.
Washington, ID. c., June 5.-The
residents of the leading railroads of
...e country have just received a let
ter from Clifford Pinchot, United States
forester, calling upon them to prac-
tice forest conservation and better
timber utilization. In his letter the
forester says:
81 am writing to call your attention
again to some phases of the subject to
which 1 know You must already have
given much thought-the conservation
of our forests. The report of the Ma
tional Conservation Commission shows
that we are cutting our forests three
times fater than they are brewing,
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 grow
ing trees; and that the longer we de-
lay action the greater will be the
pinch Of a timber shortage later on
"One-ifth of otr remaining timber
is In public forests, and on these for
ests the nation and the states are
practicing forestry. Four-fifths of our
timber is privately owned, and it is
being cut almost exclusively for pres
ent profit without regard to the fu-
ture: The problem of providing a
timber supply can not be solved by
the national government alone, by the
states alone; all must work together.
Since the railroads are among the
largest of wood, they will
prices m the actual scarcity OF TIM
Der which will occur if our forests
are not conserved. Railroad Compa-
! MES can most advantageously under
take both the growing of timber and
| the economical Utilization of the prod
uct. They hav a steady demand for
timber, 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.
Each railroad has it's own especia'
e out to meet the given conditions
AT the same time there are certain
lines of general policy which a De
probably adopted by many roads
They are:
81. The use of chemically treated
ties wherever possible.
"2. The 49, Of so-called inferior
woods. as, for example, black gum ano
loblolly pine, for ties, which will re
duce the drain on white oak, anC
which is entirely practicable if tnt
ties are treated.
81 The purchase and management
OF land bearing mature timber which
can he used Immediately, and of sec.
ond-growth timber which will NEE
the needs of the future. Such land.
if properly managed will nsure a per
petual supply of ties and lumber a
the cost of production.
a. The planting of trees upon non
agricultural land owned by the com
pany. which does not now contain suf
fiCient young growth to produce a tim
Der crop.
:. IS. Cooperation with other roads il
the adoption of standard specification
!, for ties and timber and for the treat
; ment of them. Cooperation with TIM
Der land owners and the states in fir
prevention, and in bringing abou
conditions which will make the prae
tice of forestry profitable.
These are in substance the rec
concentrations of the sub-committe
ON forest supplies of the American
Railway Engineering and Maintenance
4 of Way Association. The adoption O
these recommendations and the ap
, pointment of technical men to carr
them out will, it seems to me, be wis
action for any railroad. The influenC
: of their general adoption would b
: ~far-reaching and most beneficial.
Il Il should be very glad to discus
8 the matter NOR in detail with you a
your convenience, or to be OF use i
any other way"
Responses which show much In
terest are being received, and it
Presumed hat definite acti. alon
The lines menfiond will result.