The Glenwood post. (Glenwood Springs, Colo.) 1897-current, 1920-01-17

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Fo&1D4 1NvAs1AxIoA
Philadelphia, Penn. Dpe. -, 1914
Morris Emmerpou, Editor Courier,
Fl. Collins Colo.
Dear SIRE
When the prise Of nsvsprint doubl-
ed it brought forest devastation Asms
to every Newspaper ofies in America,
II we had kept the lands that are
most useful for growing pulpwood at
work producing it, instead Of allow
ing their productive power to be de-
stroyed, the publishing industry would
have escaped its present excessive bur.
den. 1n-t
More than 100000 acres Of for.
est lands which ought to be growing
wood have been devastated, aud ars
now mere idle wastes. If We had COZ.
served their vast power to produce
instead Of recklessly destroying it, the
price of lumber would not have doubl-
ed, and the consumer would have been
spared the corresponding rise in the
cost Of living.
The facts As to forest devastation
and the remedy for it are discussed in
report released for January S by
the COMMITTEES for the application Of
Forestry Of the Society Of American
Foresters. This report is the most in.
forming and conclusive statement yet
made about our forests. I take pleas
ure in enclosing it herewith, and I
ask for your cooperation as matter
of public service in bringing this ma
tional danger to the attention Of your
readerA
The report shows that the United
States is the greatest timber eonsum-
er in the world; that we cut two aud
one-half times as much as we grew,
that We have less than half as many
trees now standing a. would be re-
CURED to produce timber. at the rate
we are using it; that our needs are
increasing; that there are NO forests
in the world from which we can i'm.
port lumber enough Of suitable kinds
at suitable prices to meet our needs;
and that on most Of our forests w
practice no forestry but forest devas.
tation. Under these conditions tim
Der shortage was inevitable. As the
prices Of paper and lumber show, il il
already here, and is growing steadily
worse.
II cut-over lands, valuable mainly
for forest growth, but now barren and
idle, in the East, the Lake states, and
the South had been wisely handled,
they would be growing, each year, q
much timber ~ they produced in the
year Of their greatest yield, and that
would be available At half the present
prices. The difference Is what We pay
for forest devastation.
Most of our timber producing states
can NO longer supply even their own
demands. Lumber must be hauled
from constantly increasing distances.
Within ten years the Pacific Coast will
be furnishing the bulk Of tho nation Z
lumber. Already our yearly freight
bill on lumber amounts to $175, O00, 600
and even at present rates, will reach
1850, 100000 within twenty years. The
consumer pays the freight. fta
Excluding land and timber values,
<hree thousand millions Of dollars are
invested in the forest industries Of
the United States and thoss whose raw
materials the forest supplies. Tho an.
nual product d thsss Industries Is
three and . half billions. Wage earn
ers and their families dependent upon
them make mp ons-tsath Of our total
population. Our forest industries
would seem to bs worth Aving.
Destructive numbering destroys IL.
self and the industries which depsad
upon it. Forestry Is . permanent In.
dustry, bringing steady and profitable