The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1921-01-21

81 have sought to emphasize the thought of re-
forestation, because l think 1t is highly essential
for the United States of America to ever be think
Ing of selfreance. We are so blessed with Gods
bounty, so varied in productivity and so bound
less in our resources that the combination Of
American genius and a commital to conservation
and cultivation will leave independent of the
resources or the activities Of the remainder of the
world"
Virgin forests of the United States covered 800
million acres the American Forestry association
points out They are shrunk to one-sIxth
of that area. All classes Of forest land, including
cued, burned, and cut-Over areas now aggregate
463 million acres or a little more than one-half
of our original forests. OF the forest land re-
naming and not utilized for farming any other
purpose approximately 81 million acres have been
so severely cut and burned as to become an I'M
productive waste. This area is equivalent to the
combined forests of Germany, Holland, Denmark
Belgium, France, Switzerland Spain and Portugal
There is consumed or destroyed every year. Sc
billion board feet of material of timber size
The total yearly consumption of all classes of
timber is about % billion cubic feet Our de-
pleted forests growing less than onefourth
of this amount The United States is not only
cutting heavily into its remaining virgin forests
every year, but Is also using up the smaller ma
terial upon which the future supply OF saw tim
Der depends. much rapidly than 1T Is being
replaced. The problem is one Of the present as
well as the future
The American Forestry association is making
a vigorous campaign for congressional legislation
establishing national forest policy 1t has an
nounced an outline of features to be embodied in
this legislation. This announcement was made
following conference in New York attended by
the following:
Ebert H. Baker and S. P. Weston representing
the American Newspaper Publishers association;
George w. Sisson Jr., ID. A. Croker w. e. Has
kelI r. s. Kellogg and c. II. Worcester represent
ing the American Paper and Pulp association; Q.
W. Mccullough chamber of commerce of the Unit
ed States George S. Long National Lumber Manu-
facturers' association; e. F. Perry, National
Wholesale Lumber Dealers association; Il. T.
Allen Western Forestry and Conservation asso-
citation John Foley, Association of Wood Using
Industries; Col. William B. Greeley, U. S. for
ester; Charles Lathrop Pack and p. s. Ridsdale
of the American Forestry association
Charles Lathrop Pack. president Of the Amer
ican Forestry association thus OUTLINES the pro-
posed legislation:
Authorizing the secretary Of agriculture. after
consulting appropriate local agencies, to approve
an adequate policy for each state, covering the
essentials of fire protection on timbered and re-
stocking lands reforestatlOn of denuded lands,
and where and to the extent necessary, the cut
ting and removing of timber crops so to pro-
mote continuous production Of timber lands
chiefly suitable therefor, and authorizing his
operation in the work required, provided there
is also satisfactory local compliance In state leg
isIation or administrative practice. Chief al