New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-01-14

emphasize the fact that wood is a vital factor IN
our national life.
Presldent-elect Harding, not long after his nom'
nation, made a statement of his views on the SIT
uatlon for the American Forestry association. lie
said:
There is a notable hating in the construction
Of homes, because of the almost prohibitiye cost.
Lumber plays its very conspicuous part therein.
Much of this, of course, relates to the increased
cost Of production which dates from the changed
conditions since our entrance into the World war,
but there is a permanent inclination to advance In
cost because of the very manifest diminution 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 on our
natural timber supply without a thought Of the
future. The American Forestry association has
given us figures to show that three-ffths 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 n 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 salvagingI the
stumpage of a certain hardwood which had been
cut over years before. With a new realization OF
the diminishing supply, this lumber enterprise was
laboriously taking the stumpage from the ground
and turning what was at one time considered use
less into a very valuable product In lumber com
merce. 1t was possible, of course, to have prac.
tlced such a program Of conservation In the early
days of abundance, when no one could readily
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 n national
policy OF preservation and reforestation.
"No one disputes that lumber prices are in large
I responsible for the hating In the house
building 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 and
Increased cost of production are linked together.
It is not surprising that these unfortunate condl.
lions are confronting us.
"The one thing which the government may do Is
TO adopt that policy which will assure to future
generations the timber which is necessary to our
lumber needs. In our section of the country the
supply is almost entirely exhausted. The
dimunition I'm the soft-wood forests of New Eng
land and of the lake states, and even of the South,
has been steady and continuous. Many watchful
students Of the situation think that another de-
cade is going to put the South in a condition where
If can do more than meet its own demands. There
remains a large supply on the Pacitic Coast. but
the problem Of transportation makes this supply
unavailable to the East and middle West, unless
We contemplate Il We VI
continue 10 discourage building enterprise.
"It is a common knowledge that there is ample
land In this country of ours, not adapted to other
uses. to produce a sufficient supply of timber for
all our needs, If it is only stocked with trees ana
nature is allowed TO contribute toward our neces-
stiles. We must begin to think OF TIMBER crops
ne we do other cultivation in this land of Ours
and VIC must nut an end to that carelessness and
neglect 70 which We trace our destructive forest
fires. With timber growing on the one hand, and
forest preservation and protection on the other
hand. there isn't any reason why the United States
should not be self reliant in the great essential OF
lumber for construction purposes. IL Is perfectly
practicable and feasible 10 provide for n new
yrovrtb Of timber, and it is an Imperative duty to
Improve our forest protection. | can think Of no
forward look. in relation to the good fortunes OF
America which does not contemplate a forest pot
ley which will assure US the essential In the lum-
Der Zine for all our constructive activlties.