The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-04-24
sAvE-THE-TIMBER WEEK

Alabama. Practically every other
week for the past thirty years has
| been forest destruction week. 1t is
very fitting to give conservation a
chance in the limelight. The only
trouble is that even during this week
of conservation there is more forest
destruction than forest saving going
on right in Alabama. Trees are be-
ing cut when too small. Valuable
portions of trunks are left in the
woods because CT difficulty of access,
small size or other reason which leads
to a great total timber loss. Very
often hardwood, fine oaks especially,
are cut down along the rivers, the
high water comes before they are re-
moved and there is great annual loss
as result. In lumbering-off there is
little care taken to prevent the de-
struction of young growth. Grass
fires are encouraged rather than pre-
vented by our customs and in part
by our laws. In some sections of the
West setting grass fires in timbered
localities is a criminal offense. 1t
should be made so in Alabama.
There are some sections of Ala
bama that are probably more valuable
for agriculture than for retimbering,
but there are hundreds Of thousands
of acres that are too broken for farm
ing and yet that afford fine opportu-
nifty for reforestation and forest pro-
lection. The :.ttention and intelli-
gence of the people of Alabama are
this week directed to the Importance
of the problem. Lumber and timber
have for long been among Alabama's
leading products. Each year they
are decreasing in value and guam
tity. The reserve also is decreasing.
There should be some such statewide
policy adopted as would make the re-
serve a continuous and even an in
creasing quantity.
1t is well to enlist public opinion
on the side of this undertaking, for
the cooperation of the public will
add to the success of any forest pre-
serving plan. There is no fear, how
ever, that in enlightened Alabama
there will be any pronounced antagon-
ism to the adoption of definite state
program of conservation and refores-
tation. The real remedy lies with the
administration and with the legisla-
ture. Until the legislature acts there
can be no state policy and no state
program looking to the conserving
and expanding of our timber supply.
1t is a question that cannot be de-
ferred, whether we shall hold on to
this important state asset and re-
source, or whether we shall blindly
sacrifice it.
There should be a survey Of our
forest situation, a survey including
the amount of standing timber yet
remaining, the area that has been
denuded and yet is fit for reforesta-
ton more profitably than for any
other use, the program needed to
bring the forests back, the probable
expense Of such part Of the program
as the state undertakes, the legisla-
ton that is best calculated to pre-
serve the forests and to stop such
destructive practices on the part of
numbering companies and private citi-
zens as now contribute needlessly to
forest depletion.
Such program would be worth
while, for forest conservation week
will be of small avail unless it is fol-
lowed by some such administrative
and legislative action as will make
conservation a state function and
duty.