Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1910-09-08
STATES MUST ACT
IN FOREST WORK,
SAYS 4. s. GRAVES
U. S. Expert Urges Patrols for
Fire-Fighting at COnserya-
tion Congress.

ST. PAUL, Mimi, Sept S.--Henry S.
Graves, United States forester, spoke
this afternoon before the Conservation
Congress. Mr. Graves discussed at con-
siderable length the disastrous effects
of forest depletion, saying that it
amounted to an enormous amount
every year. He then continued:
THE forest problem is peculiarly
difficult on account of the length of
time required to produce timber of use
full dimensions. We are using today
trees which for the most part are over
$50 to 200 years of age. The time re-
quired to produce trees, suitable for
lumber varies from about forty years
with our most rapid growing species to
about 100 years in many mountain
regions. The production of timber re-
quires a long investment. Private
owners will not, as a rule, make this
investment unless there is return
clearly in sight. In view of the long
investment, risk from fire, a burden
some system of taxation and the pres
ent uncertainties of market, most lum-
bermen today are not practising a sys
tenn of forestry which takes into con-
sideration the production of new timber
supplies.
THE Federal and State forests alone
will be sufficient to produce the sup
plies of forest products needed by the
nation. The practise of forestry on
private lands is a public necessity. The
practise of forestry by private owners
r1ust be brought about through assist
ance and cooperation by the Federal
e. vernment and the States Direct as
sistance to private owners in the prac
tise of forestry must come chiefly from
the States The proper adjustment of
taxes is a State matter Assistance in
fire patrol and fire-fghting must come
from the States. If, on the other hand,
this aid is given by the States and
the government and the obstacles now
standing in the way of private forestry
are removed private owners must as
sumo their obligations in actually set
ting to work to practise forestry
"The first necessity is prompt and
effective action by the States. AS yet
most States have not assumed their re-
sponsibilities in forestry.
Criticism Denounced.
"The forest service has been subject
TO criticism because it has not sold Il
larger amount of timber than has been
it's practise and thus increase the re-
turn to The government. 1t would be
entirely possible for the government to
sell great deal more timber than at
present and to increase its income.
This could be done by reducing the
nrice of the timber below what it
charged by private lumbermen. The
effect of this would be to overstock
the present market, increase the waste
in logging and in the manufacture of
lumber. and unnecessarily deplete the
timber supply 1t would result in pri-
vate owners holding their timber for
higher prices, while cutting the public
forests and the timber would usually
bring to the government less than its
real value
II is possible that the congress, which
NV the prog1 am. should continue to-
morrow. will close tonight. President
Raker said that he would crowd the
program as much as possible to this
end and perhaps hold night session.
II has been a strenuous convention and
delegates and visitors want rest.
The presidency is expected to go to
J. b. White, of Kansas City. the pres