The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1909-07-01
FORESTER ASKS
HELP FROM ROAD
CLIFFORD PINCHOT WRITES RAIL
ROAD PRESIDENTS TO AID IN
CONSERVATION.
WOULD PROTECT THE TIMBER,
Government Official Says That Co.
operation of Wood Users Is
Necessary.
OFFERS SOME GOOD SUGGESTIONS

WASHINGTON, ID. c., June 2S.-The
presidents of the leading railroads of the
country have just received a letter from
Clifford Pinchot. United States forester,
calling upon them to practice forest con-
servation and better timber utilization
In his letter the forester says:
Il am writing to call your attention
again 10 some phases of Il subject to
which | 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 eXtravagantly: that the only way we
can get the timber we shall need in the
future is TO keep all our forest land con-
stantly growing trees; and that the long
er we delay action the greater will be
the pinch of a timber shortage later OF.
All Must Cooperate
"One-hfth of our remaining timber is
i'll public forests, and on these forests
the nation and the states are practicng
forestry. Four-ffths of our timber is
privately owned. and it is being cut al
most exclusively for present profit with
cut regard to the future. The problem of
providing 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 suf-
fer heavily from the much higher prices
and the actual scarcity of timber which
will occur if our forests are not con
served. Railroad companies can most
adyantageously undertake both the
growing of timber and the economical
utilization of the product. They have q
steady demand for timber, the extent of
which can be largely anticipated, aud
they need much small timber of kinds
which can be grown in a relatively short
time.
How Roads Can Help.
Each railroad has its own especial
timber problems which must be worked
out to meet the given conditions. At the
same time there are certain lines of gem
eral policy which can be prohtably
adopted by many roads. They are:
Il. The use of chemically treated ties
wherever possible.
- The use of so-called inferior
woods, as, for example, black gum and
loholly pine, for ties. which will reduce
the drain on white oak and which is en-
tirely practicable if the ties are treated
''3. The purchase and management of
and bearing mature timber which can he
used Immediately, and of second growth
timber which will meet the needs of the
future. Such lands if properly man
aged will insure IA perpetual supply of
ties and lumber at the cost of produc-
ton.
Il. 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 III
the adoption of standard specifications
for ties and timber ard for the treat
ment of them, Cooperation with tim
berland owners and the states in fire pre-
vention, and in bringing about conditions
which will make the practice of forestry
profitable.
Rail Heads Respond
These are in substance the recon
mendations of the subcommittee on for
est supplies Of the American Railway
Engineering and Maintenance of Way
association. The adoption of these rec
concentrations and the appointment OF
technical men to carry them out will. il
seems to me, be wise action for any rail
road. The influence of their genera
adoption would be far reaching and mos
beneficial.
Il should be very glad to discuss
the matter more in detail with you a
your convenience, or to be of use il
any other way
Re- ponSes which show much intereS
are beire received, and it is presumed
that definite action along the lines men
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