The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-01-17
FORESTS WILL
BE EXHAUSTED
Rate of Depletion Probably is
Three Times Annual
Growth

The rate of depletion Of the forests
of this country is more than twice.
probably three times. what is actually
being produced by growth in form
serviceable for products other than
drewood Consequently. high prices
of lumber are not wholly due 10 IN
i creased costs of production. An I'M
portant factor is. the evcrretreatms
sources of timber supply. Already
the supplies Of all the great eastern
centers of production are approaching
exhaustion. with the exception OF the
South, and even there most Of the
mills have not over 10 to 10 years,
supply OF virgin timber Already the
southern pine is being wlthdrawn
from many points as competltlVe
factor and its place taken by western
timbers This inevitably results in
added freight charges which the con-
sumer must pay.
| These facts are called to public at
tention in the annual report OF the
forester Of the United States Depart
ment Of Agriculture, recently pub
lished. Their presentation is accom-
panied by plea that the nation
adopt an enlarged program OF pubic
acquisition of forests by the govern
ment, the States. and municipalities,
and protection and perpet1ation OF
Forest growths on all privately own
ed lands which may not better be
used for agriculture and settlements
In the carly years Of the present
century it looked rs though the man
,gement OF forests as permanent. pro-
iuctive properties might be voluntar-
;ly undertaken by private owners or
1 large scale, but since then the Sit
nation ha; materially change T1f
iced for the adoption Of an ei.:arged
program Of acquisition. the ta!1ed
;tates Department of Agriculture
points out. haa become increasingl!
wgent More than % years ago the
Division OF Forestry. as it was thor
,allcd. offered to give advice and as
,stance 70 private timber owners who,
might wish to consider applying FOR
ast Management to their properties. BY
he middle Of 1905 requests had been
eceived for the examination Of pri-
;ate holdings. large and small, COM
orising in all 10,900.000 acres Of lana
Many of these requests were from
large lumber companies and other
owners of extensive timber tracts. On
he strength of the showing made by
he preliminary examinations, a num-
Der of these large owners entered into
cooperative agreements for the prepa
alton of working plans.
But private forest interests failed t.
'ollow up the beginning. and the fed
,ral government and the States. in the
opinion Of the department OF asricu!,
ure, must join hands to work out q
program that will correlate public and
private efforts looking to the protec
ion and proper administration Of for
,sts The function Of the federal gov
,rnment, in addition to handling the
rational forests. it is suggested, woulc
simulate, guide. and coordinate
State action and conduct necessary in
.estigations regarding the best meth
IDS of forestry, to assist the States IN
he classification of land. and TO har-
nonize action between the different
States. The States would also handle
public property owned by them anG
hey would have a further direct re-
,ponsibiiity in connection with The
protection and perpetuation of pri,
,ate forest lands.
With regard to the federal attitud'
oward private forestry, it is suggested
hat the government would work pri-
narily through State agencies. To IN
tiate the proposed policy. federal
aw would be necessary authorizin=
he government to cooperate with the
states in bringing about the protec-
ton and right handling of forest lands
within their borders and providing
means for such cooperation.