The Washington times., 1915-12-05

their lands Funtil the timber could be
harvested profitably That was MADE
Impossible by the necessity of paying
oiVidends, interest on bonds, taxes. and
inahagement charges. Conservation OF
'iie umDer resources, in such circum-
s,ahces' was worse than Impossible;
lhe whole arrangement was calculated
10 compel the sacrifice of the timber.
regardless of the future or of the pub
lie concern for II.
The history OF the Eastern forest
areas, and of the great white pine
forest that surrounded the Great Lakes,
shows what will happen in such condI-
tlohs. In Michigan and Wisconsin the
original pine standings we're cut over
and turned into money. Nobody thought
OF trying to care for the lands and gime
them a chance to grow new stands.
| as worthless barrens: and indeed, with
out proper care and attention, they
were just that
Give Up Barren Tracts.
What private ownership could be ex-
pected to pay taxes on such areas and
to bear the expense OF scientific care
forestry methods, and fire protection.
for half a century in order that at the
end of such period the land might
be cut over again? Certainly. Ameri
can foresight has not yet seen SO far
ahead in the processes of business.
80 these pine barrens of the lake
States, unable to pay taxes, gradually
were permitted to revert to the States
for non-payment. These have become
the basis on which the States have been
establishing state forest reserves. Mich
igan and Wisconsin have made very
important progress in State forest
work New York has about 1,JW,0j
in ppnnHvlylnla
has about 100000 acres. These arc al
most without exception non-agricultu-
raj lands: that is, lands that would
have no value for agricultural pur-
poses even If completely cleared. Cnoer
State control, there Is no worry about
tax burdens. or paying dividends; the
State can wait for time to produce a
new crop of trees, and can even AFFORD
to encourage nature.
States Make a Start.
Half a score of States have slreaGr
made substantial starts toward recov-
ering and reclaiming their timber areas.
In all sections the tendency Is toward
State control. 1t Is stated that unless
conditions III the lumber industry change
very soon-and there Is no indication
that they will-immensely greater areas
OF cut-over timber lands will inevitably
revert to State ownership, in default of
taxes all over the South, Southwest,
West and Northwest The states Will
have to take them: 1t becomes mere
" q question whether they will apply
the right methods of care, so that new
forests may replace those destroyed.
The awakening interest in the SUD
jes justifies expectation that TINS
will be the case.
Along with this tendency to bring
the tree-growing lands to state own
crship gees the move for establish
ment of Federal forest reserves, I'm
der the Appalachian Forest ReserN"
law passed few years ago, the Gov
ernment has bought over 1,50o,OOo
acres in the .Appalachin States. and
what is regarded as more important,
it has bought at as reasonable prices
as could have been secured by private
enterprise. The average paid has
, been a trif.c over IS per acre.
Program to Go Forward.
The commission in charge of these
+ forests has still about 100000 of
! the appropriation to its credit, and
! has asked that ii be given authority,
after this is used. to draw still fur
thcr on the public treasury for car
+ rying on it's work. There is now no
| doubt OF the success of both the State
| and the Federal policies of creating
| public forests and caring for them at
public expense. The beginning IL
substantial and the program will be
| carried along on a rapidly expand
! ing scale. as the cut-over lands in in =
creasing areas are cast back upon the
States.