The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-07-05

The following grafton on "The
Conservation of the American For
ests" was delivered by Ray Dibble
at the High school commencement
exercises:
Conservation is one of the most
significant words in the English
language. Behind it lies a broad,
interesting field, ready for the stu
dent. He will find it to be a prob
lem confronting everyone in daily
life. To some II may mean protec-
ton; to others, preservation; while
to all it means economization. In
connection with the forests, conser-
walton is a worldwide question.
Practically every civilized country on
earth is doing something toward the
frugality OF it's lumber supply.
Though conservation has been argu-
ed in America for the last ten or tif-
teen years, it is only lately that the
people of the United States have
come to the full realization of its
vital significance. At a recent Gov
ernors' meeting at Washington,
James j. Hill said: I'VE are yearly
consuming from three to four times
as much timber as the forest
growth can restore" The conserv-
ing of our forests implies three re-
quisites-the protection and preser-
vation of the living trees, the saving
and using of those left to decay,
and the economical use of all lum-
Der.
In the protection and preservation
OF human interests, trees are of the
most vital Importance. The devas-
tating spring floods at Pittsburg are
due to an inadequate number of
trees upon the Appalachian slopes.
Again because of the lack of forests,
the Mississippi river is estimated to
be yearly transporting twice as
much sediment as is being excavated
from the Panama Canal. Although
it is needless to enumerate the many
important uses of lumber and bark,
we fail to comprehend the ultimate
fatality of this stupendous consump-
tion. From Clifford Pinchot we learn
that II the present rate of consump-
tion continues, "a single generation"
VIII suf1ce to completely exhaust
our vast lumber resources. Two of
the worst enemies with which the
iOl Pl uctS 10 are
the wasteful lumber corporations,
and the ruinous forest-fires. Some
OF the opponents to forest conserya-
tion have the idea that the reserva-
tion of National Forest constitutes
their exclusion from public use.
On the contrary they are open to
prospective miners, settlers, cattle
and sheep herders, who will obey the
fnrnSfrU 1aWc A1cn N
counties derive ten per cent. of the
total receipts from these several
uses.
"At the present time the govern
ment is the most extensive forest
conserver in the United States. A
recent report from the Bureau of
Forestry showed one hundred fifty
million acres of forest lands under
governmental supervision. The pro-
lection and regulation of these i'm
mense tracts necessitates the en-
ployment of experimental forest
rangers. These men receive a practi-
cal training in scientific forestry,
either in state universities, or in
special forestry schools. Upon grad
uation they are Immediately assigned
to a district in which to commence
their duties. The latter are almost
innumerable, but their principal
tasks are the periodic burning of the
brush after a light snowfall, the
scientific cutting of the older trees,
and the discovery and prevention
OF forest fires. To accomplish the
latter, they perform sentinel duty
from the highest point in their re-
spective domains. AS an aid in
summoning the assistance of other
rangers, telephone communication
has been provided in all the reser-
vations. Another governmental
method of conservation is the tree
nurseries, where the seeds are plant
ed and the sprouts raised until
ready for transplantation. The rail-
roads practice still other forms,
which are a great help. They find
1t necessary to buy enormous quanti-
ties of timber In the shape of cross
ties. During the years nineteen
hundred five and six, they expert
.Aas1