Evening star., 1924-04-21

fires. but still so per cent of forest
fires are caused by the acts of care
less men-campers, brush burners and
incendfarfeS. One out of every 800
tourists I'm California set fire to
national forest last year by leaving
a campfire unqnenchcd or by tossing
cigar or match among dry leaves
He was foo!-that's why" Twice
as much timber is ineXcuSably burned
up than is used for lumber.
Forest Protection week was first OBJ
served on the Pacific coast years ago.
In 1927 President Harding proclaimed
1t as a national movement, and again
in 1922 and 1923. 1t is aimed to bring
home to the public generally, and
especially to tourists and farmers, the
Importance of greater efforts to check
forest destruction. 1t is movement
apart from Arbor day, which aims to
encourage tree planting-a movement
which was originated by Gov. j. Ster-
ling Morton of Nebraska, later Secre-
tary of Ag. iculture.
In Europe the Importance OF con-
serving forests and even Individual
trees is so fully recognized that In
some countries it is unlawful Tor an
nWner of trees to cut one down Win
put license, and he is required TO re-
place all so destroyed.
What is the practical solution OF
the situation. since mere scoldIng al
the destruction is not constructive?
The following paragraph, taken from
a recent publication of the Department
of Agriculture, answers that demand
for constructive suggestion:
"All the data available on the
growth of American trees and forest
types, checked by European expert
ence, lead to the conclusion that, uh-
der intensive forestry, our entire area
of 40 million acres could ultimately
produce an average OF SO cubic feet
per year to the acre, or total tor
the country of 27 billion cubic feet.
Included in this would be 20 billion
board feet, or Is cubic feet, of saw
growth of such material The total
of 81 billion cubic feet would exceed
our present consumption by az Dill
lion cubic feet, but it would exceed
the relatively narrow margin OF ap-
proximately 2 billion cubic feet"
It does not follow that our present
rate of consumption of timber must
be uniformly maintained. Better
ire-prevention methods will save a
great percentage, and, in addition,
there are substitutes for lumber
which will be used-nore brick and
concrete in building, more iron and
steel in furniture and vehicles. Wall
board is now made sometimes of
sugarcane stalks; it can be made of
cornstalks and other fiber. The prob
lem of all such substitutes is the cost
of bringing the crude material to the
Il l.
so comforting from commercial
standpoint as they are theoretically
Canada is about to put an embargo on
the export of pulp wood and Cana
dian pulp makes one-fifth of our print
paper in the United States.
Probably next Wednesday the
House will begin the consideration of
the McNary-Clarke bill ITO provide
for the protection of forest lands. for
the reforestation of denuded areas.
for the extension of national forests.
and for other purposes, in order TO
promote the continuous production of
timber on lands chiefly suitable
there efor''
This measure will empower the
Secretary of Agriculture to cooper
ate with state authorities in develop
ing n forest policy.
The fede raj government will ap-
propriate sums equal TO what the re-
Spective states invest in forestry,
both for state and municipal forest
tracts, in addition TO giving greater
attention to the care and planting of
federal forests. The aid of states
will take into considerat tion what pri-
vate owners do in caring for their
own woodlots. The measure carries
an appropriation of S2,500.000 to for
ward the projects.
An editorial in the current number
of American Forests and Forest
Life, published by the American For
estry Association, says:
Leaving oil to the Democrats.
whose rejected platform contained no
conservation plank which, a faithless
donkey might have to walk, our eye
becomes fascinated by the Republi-
can declaration of 1920: Our most
pressing conservation question re-
lates to our forests.
-Four years of a Republican gov
ernment. Four years of opportu-
nifty, Four years of inaction with
respect 10 forest legislationi
What will the Republican platform of
1924 say about forest conservation"
Copyright. 1924. by Paul V. Collins,