The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-03-30

pine forests is rapidly increasing
the proportion of far western lum-
Der coming into the eastern mar
kets.
Between 1914 and 1920 the
average rail haul on lumber in
creased 81 per cent. The average
freight charge in 1920 per thous-
and feet of lumber consumed was
about $3.50. Rising transporta-
ton costs are the fundamental
cause of high lumber prices.
"In 1921 it took $50, to buy as
much lumber, and poorer lumber
in quality, in the average market as
500 bought in 1910. Twenty
eight States consumed more lumber
than they cut. The annual freight
bill on lumber amounts to about
$28,000,000 for Illinois, $22,500,-
600 for New York, $20,000,000 for
Pennsylvania, SIS, 100000 for Michi-
gan, and 100000 for New Eng
land
Exclusive of farm woodlots we
have 181 million acres of logged
and burned forest land which has
not been put into cultivation. Idle
land is one of the most acute
phases of the forest situation. Tim
Der is the only profitable crop that
most of this land will grow.
.The country is suffering today
from a shortage of timber. Our
unsatisfied demands will increase
as timber becomes higher in price
A national forestry policy should
aim to bring about continuous
growing on as much as possible OF
the land suited chiefly to- that pur-
pose.
A Suggested Program
| We are dealing with a tremend.
Gus land and economic problem
Nationwide protection Of all forest
lands in private ownership, cut-ovel
as we'll as timbered, is the most
urgent thing. The present coopera.
ton of the Federal Government
with the States in fire protection
should be increased. Adequate pro-
! lection on a basis of % per cent
by the Federal Government, 25 pei
cent by the States, and SO per cent
| by the landowners might ultimate.
| ly cost the Government So 100000
annually.
Adjustment of taxes to the long.
time nature of timber crops prob
ably ranks next to fire protection
viously of State jurisdiction. The
planting of forest trees should be
given special aid, and l believe the
Federal Government should offer
| financial cooperation to the. States
| in growing nursery stock to be dis
tributed at cost for this purpose
Public forest ownership should
be extended. The Federal Govern
ment should administer for forest
purposes all its present public lands
suitable for this, and should acquire
additional lands by purchase or ex-
change. State and municipal for.
ests should be encouraged. With
respect to private lands, it is my
| belief that the forest policy of the
United States should offer every
reasonable encouragement to timber
| growing by private land owners
| through the force of enlightened
aelf-interest and commercial gain
but that the policy will not De COM
plete or fully effective without
reasonable forms of public control
| over forest lands. Under our con-
| stitutional and other limitations
such public control must probably
be left to the exercise of the police
powers of the State, at least at the
present time. There are certain
definite advantages, as well as dis
advantages, in this course. This is
however, a question on which sin
cere advocates of forest conserva,
ton differ. 1t is an exceedingly
important phase of the entire sub.
iect, which the Committee should
fully investigate and weigh.
ga well-balanced national forest
ry program should provide for en-
larged research facilities in timber
growing and timber use. The ex-
listing Forest Experiment Stations
maintained by the Federal Govern
| ment should be extended and the
| facilities for studying the many
technical and industrial problems
| involved should also be enlarged.
sit is hoped that the Committee
may be able to give some study to
needed developments in this Field
of Federal effort.