Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1925-02-28
FORTY MILLIONS
ASKED FOR FORESTS
New Bill Sets Forth Pro-
gram for Ten Years.

Washington.-A ten-year program
under which $4O,OOOOOO would be au-
thorized for the purchase Of national
forest lands in the eastern half Of the
United States is contained in bill
just introduced by Senator Charles L.
McNary (Rep, Ore.) as S. 1916, and
by Congressman Roy o. Woodruff
(Rep., Mich.), as H. R. 1904. Accord
ing to the American Forestry associ-
alton which is sponsoring the bill the
fiscal program outlined is the next es-
sentfal step In forestry legislation. 1t
would make possible the completion
OF forest land purchases in the White
and Appalachian mountains author
lied by the Weeks law of 1911 and
the acquiring of 100000 acres in the
southern pine regions and similar
area IN the lake states The Dur
cnases In the lake states and in the
south are made possible by the Clarke
McNary law, passed in June. 1924.
which authorizes the acquiring of land
TOT the purpose Of timber production
on the watersheds Of navigable
streams, as well as for protection of
stream flow. Much Of the land NAV
be secured at prices consistent with
the government policy Of national for
est purchases.
Purchase Of Forests.
Officials Of the American Forestry
association point out that 100000
acres additional should be purchased
IN the White and Appalachian noun
talns In order to extend and consoli-
Gate present government holdings in
practicable administrative units and
to complete the group Of national for
ests planned under the Weeks law.
During the past Is years only a lit
tie over 100000 acres have been pur-
chased. The idle lands available for
national forest purposes in the South
are especially suited to the production
OF timber. A similar condition exists
In the lake states. This region has
contributed most Of the timber for
the development Of the great agricul.
tural belt Of the Middle West, and It
Is stated by friends Of the new bill
that this region, under wise manage
ment, can be made to do its part In
forest restoration. A system of ma
tional forests encircling the larger CEN
tiers Of population and utilizing areas
adapted only for the production Of tim
Der should be effective as demonstra-
lions in the practice of forestry. This
would result eventually in putting un-
der forest management through private
ownership much larger acreage than
that purchased by the government.
Furthermore, this group of forests
could be made to furnish recreation
spaces for three-fourths of the ma
TONS population, besides producing
timber and pulpwood and protecting
stream flow.
Cigarettes and Forest Fires.
The increasing use of cigarettes and
the increasing number of forest fires
chargeable to the cigarette butt
should suggest to the manufacturer Of
flags" a responsibility on their part
to keep before their customers the
public menace attached to careless
ness in the use of their products.
According to figures issued by the
United States Treasury department,
the total number Of cigarettes con-
sumed annually in the country is now
approaching the astounding figure of
$1,000, 100000. In the last two years
the consumption Of cigarettes in the
United States increased so per cent.
This year the manufacturers are said
to be turning them out at the rate
of three a day for each man and
woman In the country over twenty
one years Of age.
Eighty per cent Of the forest fires
in the United States are man-caused.
During the last season smokers were
responsible for 40 per cent of man.
caused fires in the woods.