Evening star., 1923-12-23
McNARY YBILLPRIMARYS STEP
in FORESTS PRESERVATION
Measure Is First Fruit of Nine Months:
Survey by Senate on Vital
Problem Before u. S.

5000. 100000. 1t is easy to see where
/ such procedure will land us.
The forester recommends that steps
be taken to assure annual production
of wood equal to that required and
used. If all the forests were given
and elementary practices Of foestry
were introduced, he says, the annual
growth could be increased to about
II, ,000.000,000 cubic feet, or little
over half of the present requirements.
But by intensive forest management,
similar to that in the best European
forests. the total area of forest land
could be made to grow 100000 900
cubic feet annually. or enough to care
for present day needs and afford
little surplus.
Fl Per Cent Publicly Owned.
It is estimated that 21 per cent Of
the forests of the country today are
publicly owned-by the federal gov
ernment and the states. The rest is in
private ownership. There is a move
ment on foot in many Of the states
and in the national government to
add to these public holdings of forest
lands. Nineteen states have estab-
lished state forests, totaling about
5,500,000, of which New York has
! nearly 100000 and Pennsylvania
slightly over 100000 acres. Pennsyl-
vanfa has authorized a bond issue Of
$25,000,000 to purchase state forest
land. and New York an issue of
| $500. 900.
But the federal government, on the
other hand has done little in the way
| Of extending it's forests. The pur-
chase of 81 900 acres under the Weeks
| act already referred to during the
| last year marks the lowest ebb in
federal acquisition of lands. the for
ester points out since the policy was
/ initiated in 1911.
The budget bureau has recon-
mended an increased appropriation
for the purchase of lands, under the
Weeks act. for the coming year, and
| be provided by Congress.
! Public sentiment" said the for
ester, lis urging more and more that
the national government assume a
| larger direct part in reforestation
by the acquisition Of land where re-
forestation is difficult or costly or
where timber production can be COM
bfned with the protection of valua BILE
| sources of water"
Private owners Of timber, both in
the south and in the northeast, are
giving more and more attention to
| the growing of timber, forced to
| such action by the economic demands
and the high prices of timber brought
< from q distance. Ihey are begin
ming to see the possibilities for sat
isfactory returns from their second
| growth, if it is given a chance to
develop. Lumber companies Is other
| sections of the country, also, are
| turning more and more to the prac-
| tice of forestry to save their forests.
| Twelve states maintain forest tree
| nurseries and distribute young trees
| for forest planting. In addition to
the stock grown for use on the
state forests. these nurseries produce
about 100000 trees annually for
distribution to private owners. New
York's nursery is the largest in the
| United States.
Forest fires are responsible for
| tremendous losses to the timber sup
ply and the forests each year. For
example, in 1922, IL is estimated,
| there were $1,000 forest fires and
| that these fires resulted in $16,67S,-
4S5 damages. and the area burned
over was s,1s4,1S9 acres.
To get back to the McNary bill:
That measure proposes there shall be
expended s2,500.000, with the UNDER
standing the states will spend a like
amount. Ito study the effects of tax
laws, methods and practices upon
forest perpetuation, to cooperate
with appropriate state officials to
encourage conservation and growing
of timber" and to promote protection
of the forests against fire.
Other sums are proposed to be ex-
pended, as follows: One hundred
thousand dollars for the distribution
OF forest seeds and plants for the
purpose of establishing forests upon
denuded or non-forested areas, and
100000 to assist farmers in improy-
ling and renewing their wood lots, etc.