Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-06-16
Floods, Forests and Crots

north and south over an area of some
two hundred square miles is trace
able ultimately to the deforestation OF
mountains, hills and watersheds. Four de-
cades ago the annual loss from floods was
about forty-fve million dollars. From sea-
son to season the damage increased until in
1908 it was two hundred and thirty-seven
million. Since then it has multiplied more
rapidly still, and SO will it continue to do
as long as the reckless stripping away OF
forests, which are natures own shield
against destructive floods, goes on.
For want Of adequate conservation In this
great and vital realm of natural resources
every field Of economic interest is menaced.
With three-fifths of the countrys original
timber supply gone anu witt tie remainder
growth appears, 1t l. not to be wondered
that the cost of every article into which
wood enters, from building material to print
paper, has advanced. Present costs. burden
some as in many instances they are, will
double and treble and at last grow virtually
prohibitive II depletion OF the wood supply,
with no thought to it's replenishment, con-
tinues. More ominous than these immediate
effects a. the wasting OF soil treasure and
the consequent losses to agriculture. Re-
gions now fertile and productive will be-
come deserts unless there is better conserva-
ton of the forests, which regulate stream
flow and guard against erosion.
Thus the great problems of flood proven
their millionfold import, all are bound up
in the problem Of saving and restoring for
ests. Just how can this be done? Partly
by adequate measures for the prevention and
control Of forest fires, which annually d.
stroy millions OF trees. Partly by adequate
regulations to protect the timber supply
against indiscrtminate and inefficient cut
ting; this calls, of course, for thorough CO.
operation between the national Government
and the states, and between both these and
private owners of forest lands. There will
be an abundance of timber for use II only
abuse and waste are stopped; and it is graft
flying that private owners and operators are
proceeding, more and more in accord with
this principle.
But the stoppage c waste will not in it.
self meet all the needs Of situation which
after decades of drifting from bad to worse
has at length become critical. There must
be positive restitution as well. New for
ests must be brought forth. Trees must be
grown as Systematically as crops are grown.
Lands not suitable for agriculture or graz-
kernel of the problem says the federal for
est service, Lies L the enormous areas OF
forest lands which are not yielding the tim
Der crops that they should There are three
hundred and twenty-six million &C. es of cut
over timber lands bearing no saw timber
Their condition ranges from complete de-
vastation through various stages of partial
restocking with trees Of inferior quality, to
relatively limited areas which are producing
timber at or near their full capacity. On
eighty-one million acres there is practically
no forest growth" six lines Of constructive
activity are suggested: "(1) Cooperation
with States Con the part of the national Gov
ernment) in fire prevention and forest re-
newal e the extension and consolidation
of Federal forest holdings, (3) the reforesta-
ton of denuded Federal lands. az study
of forest taxation and insurance, (5) the sur
vey and classification of forest resources, and
CO. appropriations of forest research" At
the next regular session of Congress, it is
hoped, law embodying these wise sugges-
tions will be enacted.
The expense of such program will be
inconsiderable compared with the vast and
vital economies to which it will lead. The
prevention of one such flood as recently
swept with ruin and death through the Ar
kansas valley would far overbalance the cost;
and besides averting mary such disasters.
the proposed policies will work invaluable
results for industry, agriculture and the peo>
pies every material interest.