The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-08-26
FORESTRY AND THE LUMBER
INDUSTRY

was the topic CHOSEN by Mr.. >. b.
Elliott, of the Pennsylvania Forestry
Reservation Commission, who spoke
as the guest of the Lumbermen's
Exchange of the City of Philadelphia
The address excepted below was
embellished by numerous lantern
slides:
While growing trees for econo-
mic purposes is a widely separated
undertaking from that of harvesting
and converting them into the various
and well-known forest products"
there is still such a relation between
them that the line of demarcation is
dim and uncertain; hence it seems
necessary that not only those engag-
ed in each of these undertakings, but
the general public also, should have
an accurate understanding of the
aims and labors o2 each.
" The most important feature of
economic forestry is to produce suit
able trees which, when properly pre-
pared by the lumberman, will furnish
such necessary commodities as tim
ber, boards, planks, etc. But fores-
try has other significant features,
such as beautifying the landscape,
furnishing places for rest, recreation
and health, providing homes for
birds and other harmless wild ami
mails, preventing erosion Of the soil,
and bringing about an equable flow
of springs and streams-all import
ant features but all subordinate in
Importance to the primal one of pro-
ducing forest products so absolutely
necessary for our civilization and
national prosperity.
d" Although the forester may not
dispose of his product he still may
be able to carry on such work as will
bring forth the lesser benefits nam
ed, but the lumbermen cannot do
anything unless the forester provides
him with trees; and this is true
whether nature or man is the fores-
ter. He must have trees as the
basis of his business or he will find
his Occupation gone" Hence, in
these features, there is a close asso-
citation in fact and there should be in
sympathy and effort. The lumber
man can have no better friend than
the forester should be, and the
forester no more worthy ally than
the lumberman. Each should know
and appreciate the others needs.
When it is known that all but one
tenth of l per cent. of the lumber
manufactured in the sawmills of the
United States was cut from thirty
one species of trees, and that S6.9
per cent. of the total was from ten
species only-of which the various
species of pine furnished 50.2 per
cent.-it is clear that the forester
should not go after strange gods"
and endeavor tosproduce species not
demanded, but give the lumberman
and consumer such as they most
need.
" In all this, and more, there
should be a close and intimate un-
derstanding and cooperation, and
it is gratifying to know that such un-
derstanding and cooperation is on
rapid increase. The illogical view
held by some in the early history of
the forestry movement, that the trees
of the forest are too sacred to have
the "profane hands" of the lum-
herman laid upon them no longer
prevails, and all intelligent advo-
Gates of forestry must see that as
soon as the trees are mature they
should be cut down and used and
new ones planted in their places.
The forests should be for use and the
lumDerndn SnOulQ use tnem, DuC ne
should use them wisely.
Thus it will be seen that the
forester and the lumberman should
be, and l trust are, in accord; and if
so the future is full of promise; and
this alliance is more gratifying from
the fact that we are fast approaching
timber famine in this country, and
the price of lumber in the market
will, ere long, be the cost of produc-
tion from seed planted, plus rea-
sonable profit, just as prevails with
wheat, oats, corn, or any other crop
of the soil. That day is inevitable,
and not far distant, and the alliance
of the forester and lumberman will
do much to lessen the famine's sew
Gritty. Our virgin forests will soon be
exhausted and we can go to no other
country for a supply, and we must
depend upon such forests as we may
be able to produce, just as Germany,
France, Switzerland and some other
European countries now do in part,
and must fully do when their for
eign supply is gone.
While I do not approve of all