Evening star., 1923-04-14
TIMBER SHORTAGE
MENACES AMERICA
Government Official Calls At
tention to Rapidly Dwindling
Forest Reserves.
MAY BE FORCED TO IMPORT
Much Clearing, Drainage and Irri-
cation Are Necessary, He
Declares.
MAY BE FORCED TO IMPORT

America faces the prospect OF I'M
porting timber IL our dwindling forest
reserves are not replenished, accord
ing to S. II. McCrory. chief OF the
division of Agricultural engineering
of the United States Department of
Agriculture, who urges a national
program of land utilization.
Chief McCrory's view are conIalned
in a statement by the Federated
American Engineering Societies,
which is carrying on a reforestation
campaign in which the United States
Forest Service is cooperating. bound
up in the reforestation work OF the
federation directed by President Nor
timer f. Cooley, who is dean or the
engineering schools of the CnlVerslty
OF Michigan, are other agricultural
and industrial problems. lncluuln
soil conservation, flood control any
power development capaple, II - saw
OF vast expansion.
Timber supply Decreasing.
"The easily developed tillable land
of the United States has nearly all
heen brought into use," declared
Chief McCrory, who is the representa-
tive of the American Society OF Asri
cultural Engineers on the AHieileatni II u
engineering councll. eAecu.rr, .r, nd :
of the federated societies. me lano
that remain to be made avaliap!e loi
cultivation require considerapie
penditure for clearing, drainage OF
rigation before they can De inaue
available. . ,,d
an the past land development anu
utilization has depended largely upon
local initiative. Apparently inc TN.
is approaching-if indeed 1t mas nol
already arrived-when conslderatlo3tl y Il !.
n,ust be given TO the probable needs
~ In, United States for crop lahus'
Sa.ture lands and forest iahds. az az
Tho present time we are harNe9.ins
the stored timber which has peeh oee-
AIDES in growing. ~ -hen
mis- supply will have been larsely eN-
hausted and We must either import or
grow timber to supply our HeeuS; AP .
parently there is no large supply
nearby timber aVallapIe lot III
.:if We are to grow our timber a
considerable acreage must be perna-
nently devoted to this purpose. n,
what rate should our swamp, atlu
and cut-over land be reSlTimsa toin dI? !?
What area of land can most pront..
ably be devoted to the growing Oh
Crous. Of live stock and OF TIMBER!
careful consideration should pc
given TO the utilization or our unoe-
y.loped lands in order that they may
he nut to the most efficient use. mere
j. no advantage in bringing uhuer
cultivation land that is suited only
for growing timber. and then, a1ter
II has been found unprontaple TOT
cultiyation, allowing il to go back
to timber again. Neither is 1t de-
strahle to reclaim lands much IN ad-
vance of their settlement.
"If the present American standard
OF living is TO he maintained careful
considera ton must be given to the
most effective utilization of our un-
1.yaIoped lands in order that the
large amount Of waste which has oc-
Cured in the past. due TO poorly
planncd attempts to utilize lands.
may be avoided"
1t is essential. according TO the en-
gtneers, that the mountainous re-
gions, such as the Appalachian area,
he kept timbered in order to mini
lnize erosion. The watersheds OF the
rivers. it was stated, must not be
dtvesxd of timber else erosion Will
lie raStd and power development re-
tarded.