Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-12-20
MILLION DOLLARS
FOR FORESTAT|ON
NEEDED IN j. 8.
Secretary of Agriculture
Meredith Wants Author
ity and Funds to Do
Cooperative Work.
Especial Correspondence to The Journat.I

Especial Correspondence to The JOurnai)
Washington, d. c., Dec. Ia
Legislation and an appropriation
of one million dollars to enable the
department of agriculture through
1.-The forest service, to cooperate
: with the states in forest-fire pro-
lection and other forestry work in
the next fiscal year has been asked
for by Secretary Meredith in a sup
Elemental estimate submitted to
congress through the treasury de-
partment, with the approval of the
president. This amount is needed,
Secretary Meredith feels, in order
to enter on a broad program for
conserving the forest resources of
the United States.
For some years the forest service
has had $125,000 annually for CO.
operation with states to protect the
watersheds of navigable3 streams
against forest fires. If the new rec
concentrations are adopted, the
work will aim at the protection of
forest lands generally with a view
to insuring their reforestation.
What the Legislation Carries.
me IeSlSltllOn dShtu lOl NOu4u
authorize and direct the secretary
of agriculture, through the forest
service, in cooperation with state
officials or other suitable agencies,
to recommend for each forest re-
gion of the United States the essen
tial and standard requirements in
protecting timbered and cut-oVer
lands from fire, in reforesting de-
nuded lands, and, where and to the
extent necessary, in the cutting ana
removal of timber crops by meth
DDS promotiVe of continuous pro-
duction. The secretary Of agrlcul-
ture would be authorized to CO.
operate with the states for putting
into actual effect such require
ments with view to furnishing
continuous supply of timber for
the use and necessities OF the peo-
pie of the United States. 1t is to
defray the cost of this cooperation
that the million dollar appropria-
ton is asked. Federal expenditures
an any state would have TO be
matched by at least equal eXpen-
diSures by the state, of its own or
contributed private funds.
The request, officials of the de-
partment of agriculture say. is in
line with the course advocated by
large associations representing the
lumber, paper, and allied indus
dustries. These industries have
been forced to recognize the de-
pleted condition of the country's
forests by increasing shortage and
cost of material, and are urging a
national policy of forestry which
will provide perpetual supplies of
timber and other forest products.
ITO provide an adequate future
supply of timber, states Secretary
Meredith in transmitting the re-
quest for legislation, lis one of our
most urgent economic problems. |
One forest region in the United |
o. States after another has been cut]
out until three-fourths of our prt-
meyal forests are gone. We are
cutting our remaining timber four
times as fast as it is being re-
placed by growth. This situation is |
reflected in the cost of forest prod |
ucts to the consumer, in the short
age of dwellings, in the inadequate |
supply of newsprint paper, and in |
the scarcity of certain kinds and |
GUS menace to many American |
manufacturers.
Cost of Transportation Heavy.
zone of the clearest indications |
of the using up of our forests is
the steadily rising cost OF trans
porting lumber and pulp wood
from the forest to the mill or con-
sumner. This is imposing a heavier
burden upon the consumer of for
est products every year, particular
ly with the approaching exhaustion
of the pine forests in the south
ern states, which will leave the ma
ton largely dependent on the sup
ply remaining in single region
the Pacific coast.
"Sixty-on per cent of the tim
Der left in the United States is west
of the Great Plains; and increas-
ing quantities of ordinary construc-
ton lumber are being hauled the
width of the continent subject to
difficulties of car shortage and
freight congestion and at cos. for
transportation alone exceeding the
value of common grades Of lumber
at the sawmill To exhaust our
western forests and become de-
pendent upon Siberia would SIM
ply carry one step further the
transportation situation now rap
idly coming about.
"This situation with it's serious
economic consequences is unnec
essary. We have thirty-one million
acres of forest land, more than all
the forests of continental Europe, {
except Russia, combined, which is !
now idle as far as the production
of economic timber crops is con-
cerned. There is enough forest land /
in the United States not required 1
for other purposes to provide an |
ample supply of wood for all cur {
industries, farms, and homes. if
this land is kept productive.
1.-THE problem is national In It's
scope because 1t has to do with enc
of our most essential and widely !
used raw materials. The situation, r
however, can be met by d con- 9
structive plan of federal co-opera- i,