The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1921-01-15

emphasize the fact that wood is vital factor IN
our national life. .
Presidentelect Harding. not long after his nom-
nation made statement of his views on the SIT
uation for the American Forestry association he
said:
"There is a notable haltng in the construction
of homes because of the almost prohibitive cost.
Lumber plays its very conspicuous part therein.
Much of this of course. relates to the lncreaseoe
cost of production which dates from the changed
conditions since entrance into the World war;
but there is permanent inclination to advance in
cost because of the very manifest giminuuon OF
supply
aNo one can be blind to the fact that during
the tremendous growth of the republic during the
past half century we have been drawing on our
natural timber supply without thought of the
future. The American Forestry association mas
given us figures to show that three-hfths OF the
original timber of the country has been consumed
1t is of little value to recall the waste with
which we have cut our timber, except that we
ought to have learned lessons which will enable
us to avoid so much waste in the future
| 81 remember making visit to the Hawaiian
! Islands some FIVE years ago, and was greatly in
terested to find a very considerable lumber enter
| prise there, which was engaged in salvaging the
stumpage of a certain hardwood which had been
cut over years before. With new realization Oh
the diminishing supply this lumber enterprise was
laborio1,sly taking the stumpage from the ground
i and turning what was at one time considered use
/ less into very valuable product in lumber COM
fmerce 1t was possible, of course, to have prac-
ticed such program Of conservation in the early
| DAVIS of abundance. when no one could readhy
| realize the exhaustibility of our supply, but we
/ have learned the lesson now, and we have not
only TO conserve. but we ought to have nationai
nolicv of preservation and reforestation.
mo one disputes that lumber PRICES are in large
i mart responsible for the hating in the house
| briIding movement. Lumber prices have increased
very sharply since the war, and prices in many
instances have gone up 800 per cent above the pre-
war period When diminished forest supply ana
increased cost of production are linked together,
it is not surprising that these unfortunate eohul-
lions are confronting us.
.sTbe one thing which the government may do is
70 adopt that policy which win assure to future
generations the timber which is necessary to our
lnpher needs In our section of the country the
sunply is almost entirely exhausted The
3 Ammunition in the sOft-wood forests of New Eng
land and of the lake states and even of the South
has been steady and continuous Many watchfu
students of the situation think that another de
cade is going to put the Soutli condition where
j a. car,Sdo more than meet its own demands. There
: | remains a large supply on the Pacific Coast bat
the nrebem of transportation makes this supply
unavailable to the East and middle West, unless
we contemplate cost of transportation which will
continue to discourage building enterprise.
at Is a common knowledge that there 10 ample
land in this country of ours, not adapted to othel
:, uses. to produce a sufficient supply of timber To-
ali onr needs if II is only stocked with trees ant
. -,ature Is allowed to contribute toward our nects
sities we must begin to think OF timber crop
|, ne we do other cultivation in this land of ours
, and we must put an end TO that earelessness am
, negiect "a which we trace our destructive fores
, Ares With timber growing on the one hand ant
, forest preservation and protection on the othe
hand there isn't any reason why the united state
s,,d not he selfreliant in the great essential
,r,nbar for construction purposes. 1t is perfect
practicable apd feasible TO provide for neN
qrowth Of timber. and it is an imperative duty
,mproye our forest protection can think OF n
| forward look in relation to the good fortunes
| America which does not contemplate forest pc
icy which viii assure us the essential IN the Jun
| Der line fot all our constructive aeuVilies.