Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-06-25
sfr. Pinchot Says II IS Necessary for
All TO Work Together, and Suggests
Some Lines of Policy.
lspeeiaI correspondence.,,

l. f. - e "a j y
Washington. June 21.-The presidents
of the lending railroads of the country
have Just received a letter from Clifford
Pinohot,sE United States forester, cali
ing upon them to practise forest con-
serratton and better timber. utilization.
in his letter the forester says.
nm writing to call your attention
again to some phases of a subject to
which 4 know you must already have
given much thonght--the conservation
Of our forests. The report of the ma
tilat we are cutting our forests three
times faster than they are growing;
that uiuch large timber and young
growth are destroyed yearly by fire..
that as a nation we have used wood
Wastefully and 5eXtravagantly; that the
on wa VI we can get the timber we
shall need in the future is to keep all
4 our forest land constantly growing
trees and that the longer we delay
action t!t the greater will be the pinch OF
q timber shortage later on.
M usT WORK TOGETHER.
fifth of our remaining timber is
in public forests, and OH these forests
the nation and the states are practising
forestry. $Four-tifths OF our timber is
privately owned, and it lis being cut
almost exclusively for present profit
without regard to the future. The prob
lem of providing a timber supply can
not be solved by the national govern
mont alone, by the states alone, nor by
individuals alone; all must work to-
gethor! -
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 companies
can most advantag eously undertake
both the growing of timber and the
economical utilization of the product.
They have a stead demand for timber,
tcipated, and they need much small
timber of kinds which can be grown
in a relatively short time.
soMI LINES OF POLICY.
Each railroad has its own especial
timber problems which must, be work ed
out TO meet the given conditions. At
me same time there are certain lines OF 4
general policy which can be profitabIy
adopted by many roads. They are.
& Il. The use of chemically treated
The use OF so-called inferior
woods, as. for example. black gum and
lobloll pine \ for ties, which will re.4
duce the drain on white oak; and
which Is entirely practicable IL the ties
are treated.
The purchase and management
of land bearing mature timber which
can he used inlmedi lately, and of second
growth timber which will meet the
needs OF the future. Such lands n
properly managed will insure a per-
petual supply of ties and lumber at
the cost of production.
Z Tho planting of trees upon non
agricultural land owned by the COM
pnny, which does not now contain SUI.
flcient young growth to produce a tim
Der crop. z
8 Cooperation with other roads in
ttc adoption Of standard specifications
tor tles and timber and for the treat
tnent Of them. Cooperation with tim
berland owners and the states in fire
and in bringing about con
ditions which will make the practise OF
forestry profitable. n
These are In substance the reconl-
mendations of the subcommittee on
forest suppliesiof the American Railway
and Maint enance of WAY
aSssoclat Ion. The adoption OF these 70
coii OH en- atoms and the appointment OF
technical men to carry them out will,
It seems to me, be wise action for any
railroad. The influence OF their general
adoption would be far reaching and
.uost beneficial
Il 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 interest
are being received, and tt IS presumed
that definite action along the lines mem
toned will result q b