The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1915-10-01
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TIMBER
OWNERS
Stale FOrester's Office Offers to HIM
prove Local Woodlands and Aid
i'm DiSpOsing of Timber.

i'm DiSpOsing of Timber.
The State Forester at Johns Hop
kins University, Baltimore, has an
nounced the intention or the Mary
land State Board OF Forestry to ex-
tend the cooperative work with local
timber owners which was first IN
dertaken by them some time ago
Since then it has proven of such
substantial benefit where undertaken,
that the recent announcement that
more attention will hereafter be Civ
en- to this branch OF State Forest
activities, il of interest.
The improvement Of forests and
smaller woodlots In which years or
negligent treatment have brought
about deterioration Of the stand and
marked lessening IN Its production
is something that few landowners,
sistance, can take up and carry
through with entire success Ap-
preciating this, the Board, through
the State Forester, has recently, I'm
numbers of cases, made possible
general improvement In the forest
conditions OF woodland owned local
ly, and aided in the profitable dis
posal or merchantable material real
lied by judicious cutting.
Skill is necessary In laying out this
work, for to those inexperienced In
forestry the difference ~ not readily
apparent between valuable trees
which are still growing and those
which are already mature; between
the trees which are valuable for their
high-quality timber, and the others
which are only taking UP room which
should be given over to more profit
able specimens In indicating q cut
ting for improvement or revenue this
is all considered by the forester, and
such trees marked for removal as
will best guarantee valuable and
even-aged future forest When this
is done the merchantable contents OF
the trees Ia also measured, 80 that a
complete estimate OF the wood for
Bale is made. Some relatively small
owners of forest land prefer to work
out their improvement work them
selves after 1t has once been laid out,
making the cuttings extend over a
period OF several years. and utilizing
the material removed on their own
| places For larger operations this Is
neither feasible nor practicable, and
| 1t ia here that the State Forester's
cooperation also proves Of value
\ The Forester's ONCE has q thor
ough acquaintance with the local
lumber trade, SO that they are in a
position To take UP market studies
and otherwise assist the timber own
or to a profitable disposition or the
trees marked for removal on hie
place This work in done at a very
nominal charge, and instances are
cited where 1t has netted several
thousands Of dollars in cash, as much
more through prospective values In
the woodlot, to owners who have had
their forest lands improved.
During the coming season the State
\ Forester at Johns Hopkins Univer-
sity will be in position to under
take more or this work, and 1t II
hoped to make 1t OF particular value
to timber owners Of the State.
I Not only LIZ 1t true that real estate
does reflect the services Of govern
ment while improvements and per-
sonal property do not, but the value
of real estate is actually impaired by
the taxation ef other classes Of
property. TO tax furniture and 9TH
err labor products as well, tends tc
check the production and sale OF
such articles which In turn checks
the demand for land and depresses
real estate values. On the other
hand the removal OF such taxes tends
to make real estate more valuable
Scientific taxation, therefore, would
encourage the best and freest use oil
land by exempting all sorts of labor
products-in fact everything else but
real estate itself-from taxation, and
levying for the costs Of government
upon the higher site values thereby
created.
The exemption Of household furni.
ture is a step In the right direction
and has the endorsement OF all stu.
dents of taxation. What is needed tc
supply any deficiency is a more accu.
rate assessment OF real estate.
n CHARLES J OEf,E