The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-11-23

WIS htAF'ffhftft
certainly started something when
she began her campaign TO do
away with the lavish use OF
Christmas trees. The Christmas
Tree editor az The Star Inns bcen
literally swsmped with letters on
the subject. ever since Mrs.
Lushington's plans were AN
nounced lnnt Tuesday. No far,
the debate seems to be about n
5000 proposition--Iust about hah
attack the campaign, tho other
half u for IL.
Here's n letter from Frank
Dunn, "A forestry student nj the
University OF Washingtoni
Are we going 20 give np one OF
the most precious traditions OF The
Yuletlde, handed down 90 US by our
forefathern7 what would Christmas
be without a trcc7 The young ones
would be lost without tree TO
gather around.
cir the cutting OF young frs near
tho city detrimental 20 our fores'Hf
No. The truth IN that approximately
% per cent OF tho trees which are
used for the holiday celebration come
from areas which VIII never be
logged of again. Fifty more years
OF growth would be the necessary
requirement for these trees before
they would be ready for the NJ. 80
fore that time those areas VIII be
used for agricultural purposes or
some other economical purposes.
'If some Of those efforts would be
stressed toward the prevention 81
forest fires tho results would be 100
per cent more beneficial"
on the other hand. Charles
W. Saunders sides with Mrs
Washington.
The article" he writes. has
been rad with great interes, be-
cause OF the fact that u II one
phase OF subject that should be
brought 20 tho attention Of the
people Of the state OF Washington
that they nigh, begin TO realize
the rcforrasation must be under.
taken, without delay. ~ tn" hahie
Industry OF this state h TO be 70
tanned and perpotuated and that
the steady dsnndatioa Of our forests
without Systematic replacement
must erase.
s-Ths cutting Of spruce and mr.
for Christmas trees N subject
Of considerable comment thruout
tho country. particularly with ref.
orcnco 20 tia effect upon the forests.
Many peuona arc oatnpokcn
against tho slaughter Of trees fos
thi. purpose and IN some sisies
like Vermont. for instance, there
has been legislation 20 prevent ~
Investigations BY tho forestry de
partmrnt OF tho state OF New
Hampshire havc b~on made from
tins TO time 10 Determine the sx.
tent OF nhlpmentin of Christmas
trees being mad. from that state.
In tho fall Of 1910 there were
$4,000 tree. shipped away and in
1919 tho number was 10000. Dur
Ing tho past fall Of 1871 there were
approximately 500. 900 trees shipped
from New Hampshire.
what has happened In the New
England states has been Fulng on
for some time In the state OF wash.
inston and unieer some restraining
law IL passed discouragsng this In.
discriminate waste. the effect upon
tho regrow,h Of timber win be sefi.
cur. II Ia tho careless cutting Of
young trees and the topping Of tho
larger ones that leaves a trail Of
slashlnFs which In time becomes
fir- menace to all tho surrounding
property.
This does not mean that We
must actually do away with the
Christmas trco and its use nj tho
yearly festival. but rather that
there must be intelligent super.
vision and discriminating iiernss
that we may stop wanton waste
and destruction.
As before stated. this Ia ono ~
tho phases Of the great subjec, Of
reforrstafion. subject that II al.
rectiy related 90 tho greater problem
Of taxation. which must be solved
thru laws 90 be enacted by tho In.
coming legislature that our tar bur.
dsns may be reduced.
The people Of the state Of Wash
ington do not seem 20 realize that
tho fimbered area Of the state Ia AZ
present being cut over by tho wood.
using industries AT the rate Of 100. 900
acres per year. A. least 40 per cent
Of the land cut over IL absolutely
on.agriculiura In character. and
therefore. for every acre 30 cut the
tax problem Of the state Ia increased
by changing an aRacsEable property
into a property with practically no
taxable value.
Not only may we under our
present policy expect this an.
nual exchange of 100000 acres
from taxable to non.taxable
property. but we can be ALSO
lutely assured that each year