Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-16
SAVING THE FORESTS.

Forest conservation" once merely a
| phrase has come to stand for vital
branch of government de-
A New velopment. No longer are
our forests regarded solely
0clenCe' as source of timber sup
NV. to be cut down without thought Of
consequence. The forests are today the
objects of scientific study. their care
being made the object of men who are
devoting their lives to this cause.
While hundreds of years have elapsed
since the dark ages of a country are
| reached. but fifteen need be clipped from
| time to reach the period when forestry
as a science was still in it's infancy. True.
| the subject had been discussed in the
halls Of Congress, and measures had
| been passed, but the vital phase OF the
subject was still to be considered.
In 1891 Congress authorized the Presi-
| dent of the United States to establish
| forest reserves. This step was taken for
the reason that the forests of this coun-
try were being rapidly destroyed by fire
and reckless cutting. That same year
President Harrison created the first re-
serve. the Yellowstone.
Much opposition was eXerted against
the action of Congress. and it was claimed
| that no practical good was to be accom-
plished. Instead Of taking preventive
| measures. the government was only maxi
| ing 1t possible to shut up f1reswept tim
| Der lands and let them burn. What was
| really needed. came the cry, was protec-
| tive measures.
| Statistics showed, indeed. that protec-
tive measures were needed. They proved,
for instance. that we take three and one
| half times as much wood from our for
| ests each year as Is added by new
| growth: also. that less than one-third Of
| the growing tree felled by the lumber
man is ever used, two-thirds of all tim
! Der cut, therefore. being absolute waste.
! Then, too, figures showed that one
| eleventh of all the forests in this coun-
| try were swept by fire each year, the
| average damage since 1870 being fifty
| lives and $JO,OO0.O0O annually.
| That was the condition of the forests
| when the subject Of their protection and
care became a matter Of i'm
| Original pOrtance, when forestry as
p.. science stepped out from the
dark ages into the light.
Prior to 1898 there existed division Of
forestry in the Department of Agricul-
| ture, composed of thirteen persons of
| whom five were clerks and one was
messenger 1t was In reality merely
bureau Of information and advice, having
no field equipment whatever. and being
supported by an annual appropriation of
slightly more than sos, 800. The regard
in which it was held can be judged
from the fact that in 1899 Congress, when
making the appropriation. attached the
provision that the Secretary of Agricul
ture should make a special and detailed
report upon the forestry Investigations.
showing the results and nYQcffcal utility
of the investigations"
Early in the present fiscal year the
forest service roll showed a total of
nearly 400 persons. The appropriation
for single year is more than $o,OOO.O 600.
Its field Of work is the entire United
States. It's administrative and protective
duties are discharged I'm thirty-four
states and Alaska. The printed results
Of its Investigations are among the pub
locations sold in largest numbers at the
government printing Office.
The link between these two extremes
is law passed in 1897 making it possible
to use and protect the forest resources
Of this country. Later. in 1907. the name
reserves" was changed to national
forests" Since President Harrison cre-
ated the first reserve there have been
added timber lands in all parts Of the
United States as well as Alaska and
Porto Rico the total acreage being more
than 165,OOO.OO0, which comprises about
$50 forests.
Today approximately $5OOO.OOO is spent
each year by the forest service as against
S2S,50O spent sixteen
C0mpenSating years ago. Against this
aJA. can be set the fact that
AAu'"A'"6eS' last year the loss by
fire in the national forests cost little
Sc, OOO, 600 The last named total repre-
sents the loss to all forests in this coun-
try, four-fifths Of which are private tim
Der lands, but even multiplying the fig
ures representing the loss in the national
forests by five. to give the total for the
country. brings the annual loss greatly
below the old figure. On this same side
'of the account must be set down $2,O01 600,
which represents the receipts Of the gov
eminent from the national forests from
timber, grazing and special uses.
The forest service stands for the pro-
lection Of our forests from fire primarily,
and reckless cutting secondarily. In
Guided in that work. however, is such
utilization of the forests as will yield all
their resources to the fullest extent, with
out exhausting them, principally for the
benefit of the home builder. AS the cry
Of gold in the west in 40 brought its
horde of humanity, SO the cry of agricul-
tural lands by the forest service is bring
ing it's thousands Of home seekers.
The uses to which the national forests
are put are numerous. All timber which
can be safely cut, and for which there is
actual need. is for sale. Amy one except
a trespasser may purchase timber, and
no limit is set upon the amount Of the
purchase but the capacity Of the forest
itself, with the single exception of the
prevention of monopoly. Permits grant
ing twenty dollars worth of timber can
be obtained. by persons who may not
reasonably be expected to purchase. Only
one permit is granted in any one year,
but the amount may be increased in
cases of unusual need or to assist enter
prises of a public or benevolent character.
In one year the number of such permits
was 30. TOO and included timber for use
as fuel fencing. building material re-
quired by settlers, for mining purposes.
and the construction of schools, churches
and bridges.
Grazing is another use to which the
forests are put. Permits for grazing
privileges are usually
Forest sold to stockmen. and
the principal objects are