New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-07-23

times as fast rs we are growing it,"
T.. L. Meredith, secretary of agricul-
ture. thus epitomized the situation In
the United States with respect to for
est depletion In a report submitted to
The onate just before the recent nd
1ournnent was taken. The remedy.
according to the secretary. lies In en-
actment Of legislation establishing an
effective national policy for insurins
a permanent and adequate supply Of
timber. n congress will be urged 20
consider such Legislation when II re-
m its sessions.
The report was prepared by the for
est service Of the department of agri-
culture In response to a senate resO-
luton calling for information as 10
the depletion OF timber In the United
States; the effects of timber depletion
upon the high cost of materials; the
effects of lumber exports upon domes-
tic industries, and the effects of de
pietion upon the concentration Of TIM
Der ownership and manufacture and
the relation Of such concentration 10
the public welfare.
Secretary Meredith set forth that
the depletion of timber Is not the sole
cause of the recent high prices Of for
est products, but an important on
tributing cause whose effects will In
crease steadily as delpetion continues.
The fundamental problem. he said. Is
to increase the production Of timber by
stopping forest devastation.
Reduced ons.Half.
The virgin forests Of the United
States covered 500 million acres" said
the secretary. "They are now shrunk
to one-sixth Of that area. All classes
Of forest land, including culled, burned,
and cut-Over areas. now aggregate 463
million acres, or a little more than one
half of our original forests. The mer-
charitable saw timber remaining in
the United States is estimated rough
ly at 2,2l5 billion board feet, ONE
thing less than three-fourths of which
is virgin stumpage."
Discussing the high prices on lum-
Der. the secretary says while the costs
OF production have at least doubled
as compared with 1916, lumber prices
have much more than doubled and
have become wholly disproportionate
to operating costs.
THE export trade In lumber does
not have a serious bearing upon timber
depletion from the standpoint OF guam.
tity," says the secretary, but does
have an important bearing upon the
duration Of our limited supply OF high.
grade timber, particularly OF hard.
woods. The effects of u export
trade In lumber should he considered
from the standpoint Of the specific
timber grades or products whose de.
pletion is most imminent and threat
ening to American industries.
Solution Of the Problem.
1.-THE concentration Of timber own
ership has not changed materially
since the exhaustive report made up
on this subject by the bureau Of cor.
porations In 1910. One-half OF the
prlvstely-owned timber in the United
States is held by approximately $50
large owners, the ownership OF the
remaining timber being very widely
distributed. The tendency toward
the acquisition and speculative hold.
ing OF timber beyond operating re.
Qulrements has been checked, and the
present tendency is toward the
ufacture Of large timber holdings.
"The solution OF the problem pre-
sented by forest depletion In the Unit
ed States Is q national policy OF re-
f~orestation. Increased and widely dis
trlbuted production OF wood Is the
most effective attack upon excessive
prices and mOnopollstic tendencies.
Depletion has not resulted from the
use of forests. but from their drvas.
tation, from our failure, while draw
Ing upon our reservoirs Of virgin tim
her, to also use u timber land. II
our enormous areas OF f~orcst-growing
land. now idle or largely Idle, which
are not required for any other eco
nomic use. can be restored to timber
growth, a future supply Of forest prod
ucts adequate In the main 10 the
needs OF the country will he assured.
II would emphasize especially the
Immediate urgency OF Legislation which
will permit effective cooperation he
tween the federal government and the
several states in preventing forest
fires. and growing timber on cut-over
lands. and which will greatly extend
the national forests. Enlargement of
the national forests offers immediate
relief"
PARKS and Posies Attract.
Horticultural and agricultural ex-
perts who recently spent u week
In the national capital voted
unanimously before leaving the city
that IL could well lay claim. with lts
three hundred parks and parkway sys-
ten. to being the most beautiful city
in the world.
Seven hundred thousand plants are
required 10 MI the beds and they ars
grown In 80 greenhouses In n corner
of the Washington monument grounds.
The greenhouses are operated under
the supervision Of Charles Henlock
the chief gardener. Mr.. Henlock ais,
has supervision over the White House
greenhouses. and he has been activei,
engaged In the work OF producing
plants for the White House and ths
parks since 1896.
The extent OF the work that IL done
by those employed In the greenhouse