The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1912-04-13
THE INTERESTS OF LOUISIANA
FORESTRY.

the Nashville meeting of the South
ern Commercial Congress was open
ed on the afternoon of April 9Th.
The presiding officer was Henry S.
Graves, Chief Forester of the U. S.
Department of Agriculture. In OPP
ening the conference Mr. Graves
spoke as follows:
''In any consideration of the in
dustrial development of. the South,
the problems which stand out as
most important are those connected
with agriculture and forestry. The
South is favored with climate and
soil especially advantf ,rOuS both
for agriculture and for the preduc-
ton of forests. It's cut of lumber ag-
gregates some "a billion feet year,
or over half of that used in the en-
tire nation. Other industries bring
the value of the products of the for
ests to-day to- upwards of $50 mil
lion dollars.
Louisiana now stands second on
ly to the State of Washington in the
production of lumber, while Missis-
sippi, North Carolina, Arkansas, Viz
ginia and Texas are all ahead Of any
other State. The lumber industry
Of the South employs some $4,000
persons, and the allied industries re-
qujre over 100000 more. We are
dealing with problem of gigantic
proportions and one which touches
:ha welfare of the entire nation.
ct is of vital Importance to the
South that the land suitable to ag-
riculture be devoted to that purpose
and just aus rapidly as possible be
actually used for the growing of
cropsI There is, however, a vast
area of land, some of it in great
blocks in the mountains and which
is suited only to the growth of
trees. Many persons point to great
floods like those we are now hay
ing and insist that forests have moth
ing whatever to do with the control
Of water. This is as absurd as would
be statement that forests absolute
ly prevent large floods. They are,
however, only one factor and may
be entirely overbalanced by other
factors like long-cOntinued rainfall
or sudden thaWing of snow in the
mountains. The Geological Survey
is developing some very important
and interesting facts regarding the!
influence of forests ON erosion in thel
South.
"Ou,,Ti problem touches the method
Of handling the forests in a way to
benefit the South permanently. The
bulk of what is put on the market
is from timber $50 years old and up
wards. The cutting takes place with
out reference to- a new crop of trees
and we still have that greatest en-
envy of the forest, fire, which pre-
vents the establishment of new
growth. Moreover, the forest fires
are primarily responsible for the
damage resulting from erosion and
of streamflow in the
Unless there is a cor
rection of the existing conditions
the supply of forest products will
not be- maintained, local industries
will decline or vanish, land values
will be permanently reduced, and
the benefits arising from the mere
existence Of we'll managed forests
will be lost, with unfortunate re-
suits.
There is no region except the
Far Northwest where forestry is so
simple and the results so sure as in
the South. 1t is entirely practical to
secure from the area which should be
permanently in forest from 20 to 30
billion feet in the long run, by an
nual growth, if the forest ia proper
~ handled. Much of this area is in
The mountains and the very man
agement for timber production will
secure the indirect benefits of the
'orest.
"The desired end can not be &C.
,omplished at once. Our efforts
must be organized. We must with
LII our forces, National, State, and
private, endeavor to overcome the
lire menace. The public must aid
n the matter of uniform, consist
ent, and sane system of taxation,
while private owners must accept
heir responsibilities and handel