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

ST have sought to emphasize tie thought of re-
forestation because think it is highly essential
for the United States of America 20 ever be think
ing Of selfrelance. 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 commital to conservation
and cultivation will leave US Independent of the
resources or the activities of the remainder of the
world
Virgin forests of the United States covered 822
million acres, the American Forestry association
points out They are now shrunk to One-sixth
of that area All classes of forest land, including
culled burned and cut-over areas, aggregate
463 million acres, or little moe than one-haf
of our original forests. OF the forest land
naming and not utilized for farming or any other
purpose, approximately 81 million acres have been
so severely cut and burned as to become an un--
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, So
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 are growing less than one-fOurth
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 more rapidly than it is being
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 a conference in New York attended by
the following:
Gilbert H. Baker and S. p Weston. representing
the American Newspaper Publishers association
George w. Sisson, Jr. D. A. Crocker, w Z. Has
kell r.. S. Kellogg and c. II. Worcester, represent
ing the American>Paper and Pulp association; e.
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; Z. L.
Allen, Western Forestry and Conservation asso-
citation; John Foley Association of Wood Using
Industries: Col William B. Greeley, .. s. for
ester: Charles Lathrop Pack and z. 5. Ridsdaie
of the American Forestry association.
Charles Lathrop Pack, president Of the Amer
lean 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 tmbered and re-
stocking lands. reforestaton of denuded lands
and where and to the extent necessary, the cut
ting and removing of timber crops so as to pro
mote continuous production OF timber on lands
chiefly suitable therefor. and authorizing his co
operation in the work required. provided there
is also satisfactory local compliance in state leg
islation administrative practice. Chief al