Bisbee daily review., 1909-06-06
.iPPeAL $ MADE N
 BEHALF OF FORESTS
United States Forester De- ciares Consumation Is Three
 Times That of Production

WASHINGTON. June 5.-The presi- dents of the leading railroads of the country have just received a letter from Clifford Pinchot, United States Forester, calling upon them to prac. tice forest conservation and better timber utilization. h his letter the forester says:
 T am writing to call your attention again to some phases of a subject to which I 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 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 exsravagantly; 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 dStltAl Nht VIII bt Nilt pinch of timber shortage later on.
 'One-fifth of our 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 tim her Gttnnly hn GnlNal the National government alone. by the state 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 compan- fes can most advantageously under take both the growing of timber and the economical utilization of the pro duct. They have 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 especial timber problems which must be worked out to meet the given condi- tions. At the same time there are certain lines of general policy which can be profitably adopted by many roads. They are:
 "1. The use of chemically treated ties wherever possible.
 "2 The use of so-callcd inferior woods, as, for example. black gum and lobinlly pine. for ties, which will reduce the drain on white oak. and which is entirely practicable if the ties are treated
 8. The purchase and management of land bearing mature timber which can be used immediately, and of sec ond 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 most of production.
 A. The planting of trees upon non agricultural land owned by the com pany, which does not now contain sufficient young growth to produce q timber crop.
 "5. Cooperation with other roads in the adoption of standard specifica- tions for ties and timber and for the treatment of them. Cooperation with timbeTland owners and the states in fire prevention. and in bringing about conditions which will make the practice of forestry profitable.
 These are in substance the recom- mendations of the subcommittee on Forest Supplies of the American Rail way Engineering and Maintenance of Way association. The adoption of these recommendations and the ap- pointment of technical men to cary them out will it seems to me, be wise action for any railroad. The influ- ence of their general adoption would be far reaching and most beneficial.
 T 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 inter est are being received, and it is pre- stunned that definite action along the lines mentioned will result.