Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1921-01-13

emphasize the fact that wood is a vital factor III
national life
President-elect Harding not long after his NOM
ination, made statement of his views on the slt-
uatiOn for the American Forestry association he
said:
"There is a notable hating in the construction
of homes because of the almost prohibitive cost.
Lumber plays its very conspicuous part thereln'
Much of this of course, relates to the increased
cost of production which dates from the changeu
conditions since entrance into the Worlu war;
but there is a permanent inclination to advance IN
cost because of the very manifest dimnutlon OF
supply. ,
mo one can be blind to the fact that during
the tremendous growth of the republic, during the
past half century, we have been drawing Oh oui
natural timber supply without a thought OF the
future The American Forestry association mas
given us figures to show that tilree-nfths Oh lhe
original timber of the country has been consumed
IT Is of little value to recall the waste Win
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
+erested to find very considerable lumber enter
prise there which engaged in salVaglhg the
stumpage of a certain hardwood which had been
ont over wears before With realization OF
the diminishing supply, this lumber enterprise was
laboriousy taking the stumpage from the grouhu
and turning what was at one time considered use
less into very valuable product in lumber COM
merce It was possible, of course, to nave prac-
ticed such program of conservation in the early
dovs of abundance when no one could readily
raolize the exhaustbility of our supply, but we
have learned the lesson now, and we nave not
on,, to conserve but we ought to have a national
DoIicy of preservation and reforestation
"No one disputes that lumber prices are in large
mart responsible for the hating in the house
Vrirn hnX n
very sharply since the war, and prices III many
instances have gone up 300 per cent above the pre-
war period When diminished forest supply ana
increased cost of production are linked together'
II Is not surprising that these unfortunate condi'
lions are confronting u.s.
"tThe one thing which the government may do Is
to adopt that policy which Will assure TO future
conventions the timber which Is necessary 10 our
lumber needs. In our section OF the country tne
Supnlv IS almost entirely exhausted. The
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 watchlu
students of the situation think that another de-
code IS going to put the South in cohditon Where
n can do more than meet its own demands 4here
remains n large supply the Pacific Coast, out
tho nroblem of transportation makes this supply
unavoidable to the East and middle west unless
90 contemnIate n cost of transportation which VIII
continue to discourage building enterprise
SIT is common knowledge that there Is alnpio
land in this country of ours, not adapted 10 other
uses, to produce n sufficient supply OF timber 10,
oil orr needs if it Is only stocked with trees anu
noture is allowed to contribute toward our hects
sites We must begin to think OF timer cr"pS
nc we do other cultivation In TINS iahd Oh oi's
"a ve must nut an end to that carelessness ana
neglect 10 which we trace our destructive tores,
eros with timber growing on the one hahd' ana
forest preservation and protection on the o.ner
hond there isn't any reason why the united States
shoud not be self-reliant in the great esseh'l oi
lumber for construction purposes II Is pes'ee o,s
Noticeable and feasible TO provide for new
pn",,th Of timber and 1t is an imperative duty 10
s,,nroye our foreS protection. can think OF n"
Inward look In relation to the good fortunes Vi
,a,or,co which does not contemplate tores' po''
=. which will assure us the essential IN the 'u''''
nor lInc FOR all our constructive actlN''es