Evening star., 1926-10-03
ROAD TO FORESTRY
PROGRESS SHOWN
Tree Association Reviews
Development in Marking
"Semi- Centennial"

BY way of marking the "semi-cen
tennial' of forestry in the United
States, several developments in the
Fall will point the way toward
progress in the United States. accord
ing to the American Tree Association
From the day in 1876. when Frank
lin B. Hough was authorized by Con
gress TO investigate the forestry
situation, up to the present, according
to the association, much has beer
done for forestry. but much remains
to be done"
Reviewing the developments Of this
Fall which bear on the situation. the
association pointed TO statistics con
tanned in the Forestry Primer pub
liShed by it, to mark the semi-Centen
NAL. as showing the enormous in
crease in the use of wood i'm various
forms, and the burden thrown upon
the forestry industry of the country.
A cost of $3.50, ,000,0 900 in freight
each year is charged to American
business. the primer points out, be-
cause of the unbalanced economic
situation, where the great wood using
manufacturing centers are on one
side of the country and what Is lett
of the great forest resources are on
the other side.
A total of 81 900 900 acres of idle
land must he put to work growing
trees. the primer warns, reporting
the following:
I'm the United States newSprint
consumption has reached almost
5000, 600 tons A year. In one sheet
this would cover 10000 square miles.
During 1924 forest fires swept
5000, 900 acres and did damage esti-
mated at $38, 900 900. Tht. figures
apply to all private and public lands.
we use about $4,000, 900 cubic
feet of wood "A year. While forest fires
and insects destroy 1000, 900 600 feet
more.
Something like 5000. 900 trees have
to hP cut every year to maintain tele
graph and telephone wires.
Estimates show we use 500 .000, ,00(
fence posts in this country every year
"IndustrV uses 200, 900 900 cubic
feet OF wood every year in mining and
excavation operations.
The railroads of the United States
use about 25.O00,00O new wood ties
every wear. There are about 5000 tc
the mile
"The cooperage industry dema ands
$50, 600, 900 cubic feet of wood every
year.
ne annual consumption tI De1CHS
every year is placed at 1000 900 900
"In the neichborhood of A. 900 600
pounds of maple sugar products are
produced in this country every year.
THE value of turpentine, rosin and
Ike products Of the forest reaches
$40 600 000 every year
There are 81 100000 acres Of idle
land in this country that should he
put TO work growing trees.
Experts show that 6612 per cent
Of n tree is wasted and that only 33l2
per cont goes into production.
In the history Of thia country more
timber has boon destroyed by fire
than has been put to use.
''The last annual figures available
show that - 900 600 acres were Swept
by flames in 1924 It is estimated it
would cost 50 600 600 to reforeSt this
hurned-over land and that il would
take almost 800 years to accomplish
1t at the rate we are now doing it.
I'm tho year 1924 there were % 600
forest fires in the United States This
was at the rate of $50 every dav. 4
large percentage of these were caused
by Carelessness of TOURISTS and camp
erS"
Thousands Of feet of lumber will he
used. il was pointed out by the asSo
citation in rebuilding from the Florida
hurricane
Among events which the association
reports viii make this wear a big
one in forestry" are the following:
Minnesota. California and Washing
ton viii vote on forestry legislation
IN November. on October ! the ma.
tional quarantine TO prevent further
spread of the white pine blister
dissase went into effect. The strictest
regulations apply to PENNSYLVANIA
New York, New Jersey. Michigan
Minnesota. Wisconsin. Oregon, Wash
ingtOn and New England.
Al the SeSquiCentennial the eduCa
tional drive for 1926 To awaken the
American public To the need of put
ting Willions Of acres of idle land Ia
work growing trees got under way AT
the conservation week meetings in the
PENNSYLVANIA Building. in Penn ;
Woods.
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