Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-08

inhospitable, game would disappear,
and inland fish would decrease great
ly in number. Moreover, who would
care to so hunting or fishing. even
if he could do so. where there were
no trees: and who would plan a
camping or motoring trip to a state
without forests? To the variety and
abundance of Names forest re-
sources is due the charm that ap-
peas to those in search of outdoor
recreation.
Present and Future
Names present and future pros
perity is ineXtricably bound up with
the protection ard perpetuation of
its forests. If these are so cared for
that their productivity is not only
maintained but increased, the State
can look forward to the future with
confidence. On the other hand, If
the most valuable of it's natural re-
sources is allowed to disappear or to
become seriously impoverished. its
industries. it's agriculture, and its
recreational possibilities are sure to
suffer correspondingly. RESPONSE
bility rests upon every citizen to see
that this does not happen, and that
the forests are so handled as to con-
tribute most effectively to the con-
tinued development and prosperity
of the State.
Really accurate information is not
available on many important points,
such as the total stand of timber. its
rate of growth, the area of denuded
forest land, the total wood conSump-
ton, and the amount and source of
wood brought in from out of the
State. In general way, however,
1t is known that the forests as n
whole are not holding their own.
Forest devastation of the kind that
has turned large parts of Pennsyl-
Nania and the Lake States into vir-
tual deserts has not been common.
Maine is fortunate in being SO well
suited to forest production by its
climate, soil, and character of tree
growth that nature ordinarily clothes
the land with some kind of forest, in
spite of even continued abuse. There
is nevertheless Il continual drain on
the forests caused by fire, insects.
disease, and cutting, which is result
ing in their steady deterioration.
The forest fire evil is not yet un-
der control. Encouraging progress
ticuarly in the Forestry District, but
much still remains to be done. In
sects and disease continue to exact
each year u still heavier toll than
fire. The methods of cutting used
are frequently not such as to secure
new stands of desirable species,
which are more often the result of
accident than design. Each year the
amount of wood removed from the
forests by cutting is several times
the amount replaced by growth.
Already speculation is beginning to
be heard as to how long this con-
Germ or that industry will be able to
continue in business.
All of this means that the State Is
steadily approaching. n point where
the forests cannot continue to play
the part that they now do in the
support of it's industries, it's agricul-
ture, and its general prosperity. 1t
also means that the forests and their
dependent industries will no longer
contribute through taxes to the ex-
tent which they can and should to
the maintenance OF schools, the de-
Nelopmcnt of roads, and the conduct
Of other essential state activities.
The present situation can be rem
edied only by adopting a comprehen-
siVe and adequate forest policy, and
by providing ways and means to
make that policy effective. If Maine
is to live up to it's motto of "Dirigo"
in q field in which it should be pre-
eminently a leader, it must attack it's
forest problem more vigorously than
it is now doing.