Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-11-21

conditions may overcome this pres
emit handicap to forest planting. but
that Is for the future to decide. This
condition does not pertain to the
southern section of the state, where
many waste areas may we'll be plant
ed, both with satisfactory financial
returns and. improved scenic condi-
tons.
Maine is, and always has been.
primarily a forest State. Today 15,-
100000 acres, or three quarters of
her area, is covered by forest growth
These forests are composed of trees
well suited to our needs, and to the
use of our Nation, and always have.
and are now,-contributing in a
great measure to the welfare of the
people Of the land. They support our
leading industries, protect our water
powers, and make beautiful this most
wondrous playground of the Nation
I'VE hear now, and have for many
years been told, that our forests Were
being depleted and that sooner or
later the State of Maine would be-
come barren, desolate land, without
trees, with our great lumber and pulp
industries ruined, our water powers
seriously crippled, and our recrea-
tional advantages destroyed. Now
this, If true, is an alarming situation
and one that should be rectified be-
fore it is too late, for there is at
stake our very existence as a State.
But is it true? No, my friends, it
is false prophecy, and / will tell you
why. Come with me, if you will, to
the plant of the Augusta Lumber
Company, in our own city, and you
will find that during the past season
they have manufactured a mark of
logs the equal in size and quality Of
any that have entered their mill dur
ing the long life of this organization.
But this is only one instance, and
possibly may be an exception to the
rule. We will grant this, and we viii
also admit the fact-which is un-
doubtedly true-that the logs in the
drives in the rivers of Maine are
smaller than those of years ago. But
let us bring in reliable data on the
subject of forest depletion.
There is standing today in the
woods Of Maine approximately so
million cords of spruce and fir pulp
wood. The annual cut of pulpwood
is roughly one million cords. The
annual growth of these SO million
cords is from one million to a million
and a half cords. So il fire and in
sect destruction could be eliminated.
we are not only holding our own, but
making gain in our resources
maine has the very best forest fire
protection system in existence; prac-
teal, efficient. and free from political
influence. We have an entomologisr
who is constantly working on the in
sect problem and accomplishing very
favorable results. To be sure, fires
will occur, insect destruction will
come, and winds similar to those
which have recently prevailed will
cause damage of moment; but we
may safely say that along the lines
of present consumption, our forests
will continue to furnish pulpwood for
many generations. This is primarily
because of the wonderful natural re-
production which takes place after
cuttings.
"Pulpwood may be taken as a fair
barometer of the softwood situation;
and now let us consider the hard
woods. The utilization of these has
never developed in the State to any
where near the annual growth, and
all through Maine we find hardwoods
going to decay for want of market.
II 10 dlOliS tic iiilcS VI NdIuWOOQ uc-
velopment that we are all working at
the present time, and it is in this di-
rection that the next great develop
ment in forest utilization will come.
The supply is immense, probably
some II to Is billion feet, and it is to
this great body of timber that the
hardwood users Of the country must
come for supply. These old growth
hardwoods today are not only value
less in many sections, but they are
retarding softwood reproduction and
growth.
THUS. with our softwood supply
well guarded and our hardwoods
practically untouched. we can look
confidently toward the future so far
as our timber resources are con-
cerned."