The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-08-13
RAILROAD PRESIDENTS CALLED
UPON TO PRACTICE FOREST
CONSERVATION

Washington, June s.--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. In his letter the
Forester says:
"I am writing to call your atten-
ton again to some phases of a sub
iect to which I know you must al
ready have given much thought--thc
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
nation we have used wood wastefully
and extravagantly; that the only way
we can get timber we shall need In
the future is to keep all our forest
lands constantly growing trees; and
that the longer we delay action the
greater will be the pinch of timber
! shortage later on.
"One-ffth of our remaining timber
| is in public forests, and on these for
| practicing forestry Four-vibths of
our timber is privately owned, and
! IL is being cut almost exclusively for
present profit without regard to the
, future. The problem of providing a
timber supply can not be solved by
the National Government alone. by
the States alone, nor by individuals
/ alone; all must work together.
1 do no
largest consumers of wood, they will
suffer heavily from much higher
prices and the actual scarcity of tim
Der which will occur IL our forests
are not conserved. Railroad COM
panies can most advantageously un-
dertake both the growing of timber
and the economical utilization of the
product. They have 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
4 time.
Each railroad has its own espec-
ial 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
|
roads. They are:
81. 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-
ducc the drain on white oak, and
J ties are treated.
| ~ a !, n NJ
, of land bearing mature timber which
can be used Immediately, and of sec
ond d-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.
-. The planting of trees upon non
agricultural land owned by the COM
pany, which does not now contain
sufficient young growth to produce
u timber crop.
'5. Cooperation with other roads
in the adoption of standard specifi-
cations for ties and timber and for
the treatment of them. Cooperation
with the timberland owners and the
States i'm fire prevention. and i'm bring
= ing about conditions which will make
lnt DIdCllCS VI Biolltdpit'
"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 recommendation and the ap.
pointment of technical men to cf
them out will, it seems TO me, be WI
action for any railroad. The irSflu-
uence of their general adoption would
be far reaching and most beneficial
81 should be very glad to discuss
the matter more in detail with you
: at your convience, or to be of use
in any other way"
Responses which show much inter-
est are being received, and 1t Is pre-
3umed that definite action along the
, lines mentioned will result.