Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1923-09-22
NEED TREES
MORE THAN CROPS
Lumber Imported While Large Tracts
Remain Unused. Not Requir-
ed for Agriculture

Wisconsin has more cutover and
idle land-13,OO 900 acres-than
there are improved farm lands in the
state, according to government sta
tistics.
Wisconsin is now a lumber import
ing state, not producing enough lum-
Der to supply its own Industrial needs.
\ state reforestation program
would be regarded as internal i'm
provements, and therefore illegal I'M
der our constitution, according to a
decision of the supreme court.
These three fundamental facts
must always be kept in mind when
we are considering any phase Of Wis
consin's agricultural and reforesta-
ton problem. The two are interlock-
ed, and must be considered together.
We hear lot about keeping them d.
vorced; that timber should be grown
only on land unfit for agriculture,
and timber lands with fine agricul-
tural soil should be cleared as rapidly
as possible, so that the farmer may
take possession.
But, Wisconsin now has more cut
over and idle land than she has acres
which are growing crops. It will
take many years before even the cut
over lands, which are not growing
any kind Of crop, are cleared and IN
der cultivation. There surely is no
cali at all for putting forest tracts
into cultivation, and some idle tracts
which might be suitable for farming,
if cleared could be replanted to for
ests without detriment to the agricul-
ture Of the state
Wisconsin is unfortunate because
its constitution will not permit Of
state reforestation as an internal i'm
provement. Private capital cannot
well undertake this task. as the re-
turns on the money invested are too
long delayed. Besides, the building
up Of the forests Of a state will be
profitable to every member Of society,
either directly or indirectly. So, IN
til our constitution can be amended
to permit a better system Of reforest-
alton, we must pursue the other
means at our command.
1t is too bad that there are some
farmers in Wisconsin as well as else
where who still look upon q forest as
something to be mined" rather
than EARNED" They do not want
a tree upon even one acre Of ground
which can raise good crops Of corn or
wheat when cleared. 1t is equally
unfortunate that some foresters can
not see the farmers side Of the ques-
ton, and would retard genuine agri-
cultural development by ill-consider-
ed schemes Of reforestation. Only,
so far, the farmer has had all the best
of the argument, and we have no ade-
quate forestry program either in this
state or in the nation as q whole.
The problem is, after all, nation
al one. The land area Of the United
States today is 1908, 00O,0 600 acres.
The present forest area Is 100000,
GOO acres. There are only Dos, 000,-
600 acres Of improved farm lands
The continuous use Of forest lands is
necessary for permanent prosperity,
and also to provide wealth by taxa
ton. Many states are not encour-
aging timber farming by individuals,
because Of ruinous taxation systems.
The best system would tax only the
land, and the timber only when cut,
instead Of being taxed year after
year.
Anyone who travels through north
ern Wisconsin can see one effect Of
the lumber industry Of our reckless
cutting policy. Sawmills have been
dismantled, and places where labor
was once insured of continuous en-
plovment are now deserted. Depopu-
iation has followed. with the result
that those who remain have q double
burden to bear.
There are three outstanding meas
ures necessary TO bring about the
growing Of timber crops OF forest
lands:
!. Stop uurestrained forest eT-
ploitation, the denudation which IS
the direct result Of timber mining
2. Reduce waste in the use Of tim
Der.
3. Increase timber production to
the full capacity Of the land.
This is 8 program in which all
classes may well cooperate, and nc
one more earnestly than the agricul-
tural. In it are involved countless
4 economic problems, as well as social
4 system Of public parks IS by no
nesrz outside Of the scope Of this
work MiIeaukee Journal
+ 81. percent for local purposes and 3 !
percent for schools.