The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1924-04-10
Forestry Week
(By K. L. W.


President Coolidge has issued
proclamation appointing the week of
April 21st as national forestry week.
The importance of the observance of
such a week cannot be over-estimat-
ed, yet it is treated as something tri-
vial by most of us. Unquestion-
ably, we as a nation, have not, even
yet. come to the realization of just
how vital a factor in our economic
life the existence and continued prod
uctiyeness of our forests is. Thus
far we have regarded our once limit
less timberlands as source of wealth
to be realized upon at once, without
thought of the future. AT least that,
it seems, was the attitude of the pass
ing generation. But the future is in
exorable, it must not be disregarded.
it is vital factor in the one great
problem which faces us all-the con-
tinued existence of the human race.
Because of the utter disregard, by
our forefathers, of the future of our
forests, we of the present generation.
are beginning to feel the influence of
a shortage of timber, of pulpwood
and OF paper. A shortage which
will undoubtedly become much more
acute and. far-reaching.
Our present, critical forest situation
: is due, however, not to the utilization
of our forests but to the reckless
waste of them. We have cut, unres-
trainedly. our timber and have ne
elected to plant, to provide for forest
reproduction. In addition we have
carelessly and needlessly allowed fire
to take heavy toll of our once vast
timber-tracts. AS a result the virgin
forests of the country have shrunk
from an area of 1922 million acres, to
an area of less than one-siXth of that
amount. Oft the devastated lands once
covered by invaluable timber so mil
lion acres, an area equal to the com
bined forests of Germany, Denmark,
Holland. France, Belgium, Spain and
Portugal have been so cut over and
burned as to be utterly unprOductive
and worthless for any purpose. On
top of this we are now growing only
about one-fourth of the amount of
lumber consumed per annum in this
country.
Few of us have realized that the
facts were so serious and far-reaching
as this. Perhaps you had never
stopped the problem. Here are two
more facts which should bring the
situation even more clearly before
YOU. Half of the remaining timber
supply of the continental United
States Is in the three states bordering
On the Pacific. In addition experts
Of bn nj fpxr
have carefully estimated that, at the
present rate of consumption, in 1910,
only sixteen wears hence, the entire
forests of the New England States and
Of New York will have disappeared.
Some of these facts seem incredible
vet they are absolutely true. state
them with the hope of bringing be-
'ore you as graphicly as possible the
tragedy of our wasted and vanished,
0r fast vanishing. forests. A more
drastic national forest policy is i'm
perative. But even this would be
practically worthless without the co
operation of the great lumber con-
Germs throughout the country Only
through UNIVERSAL adoption and
PRACTICE of a scientific and conser-
VatlVe forest pollcy can our present
Forests be perpetuated and much Of
our barren and depleted land rend-
cred once more productive
You must agree with me. then, that
The seriousness of the situation is ex-
cuse enough for the appointing of
national forestry week. Yet of what
avail will such week be unless it
~eally accomplishes something? What
are YOU going to do? Sooner or
'ater the colossal Indifference of the
American people, in regard to matters
which do not actually or visibly touch
their everyday lives. will be over
come; but will it not, then, be too
late? Is it too late now? Let us
all do what we can toward the better
nent of our, yes, OUR forestry prob
lem.