Evening star., 1932-07-14

National interest has been aroused by
the suggestion from Gov. Roosevelt in
his speech of acceptance Of the Demo-
cratic nomination for President that
the Nation should employ bond issue
for reforestation as a means OF furnish
ing Jobs The criticism by Secretary
Hyde of the Department of Agriculture
that the extent OF such wotk would be
limited by present facilities and that 1t
would offer inadequate results in en-
ployment is made the basis of debate.
Some objections are made TO having
such scheme Federal, instead of a
State, project.
Pointing out that "out of our total
original forest area of some 100000 900
acres only about half remains even
r3minally forested and only 80 per cent
is still virgin" the Baltimore Evening
Sun independent Democratic) reminds
us that If the present situation is al
lowed to continue, some experts have
estimated. timber famine is inevitable
in about 25 years" The Sun observes
that ''reforestation has been practiced
in Europe for several centuries" and
declares that 1T is acknowledged in
many responsible quarters that this
country has been too slow to recognize
the economic value of reforestation."
The Columbia MO- Tribune Demo
cratic) likewise feels that 'rehabilitat-
ing the forests of the country is uni
versally regarded as one OF its prob
lens"
r Strongly supporting the plan of Gov.
Roosevelt is the Atlanta Journal
CDemocratic), which sees in it the
most timely and far-sighted economics" :"
The Journal argues: Here in Georgia
nf nf
and abar doned lands which yield their
owners no profit and the State no ap
preciable revenue. They are not suit
able for agriculture and not needed
therefor Yet. If put to producing tim
Der. they would become in the course
Of a few decades base Of supply for
important industries and source OF
new prosperity for the Commonwealth.
Just how this can be done en- a broad
scale is a question for progressive busi-
ness and practical craftsmanship. But
we have ample evidences both here and
elsewhere that timber growing pays
early as well as later dividends. 1t Is
the sensible solution to many problems
of farming, manufacturing. tax relief
and tax income"
On the other side of the fence is the
Des Moines Tribune independent Re
publican), with its assertion: Any IN
telligent person would know immediate
" that there is no chance of providing
! early Jobs for million men in any con-
| ceivable plan of tree planting. If over a
period of a dozen years a million men
, were given work it would have TO be
/ in short periods. And Secretary Hyde
| has the New York figures. In that
State, he says, the program OF reforest-
| ing 900, 900 acres in IS years at
cost of abeut 20 millions employs the
equivalent of 279 men on a permanent
basis. A national program would cost a
! hundred times as much-2 billions
/ and the number of men steadily en-
ployed would amount to 27,900, on the
basis Of New York experience, the Sec
retary says" :,
secretary Hyde, with his figures"
| thinks the Charleston (W. Va) Daily
Mail independent Republican,. seems
| to have shattered completely the Gov
ernors reforestation dream. He didn't
deal In generalities, but cold facts sus-
ceptible of proof" The Buffalo Eve
ming News independent Republican,
| also voices the criticism: The timber
grown would not be suitable for mar
keting in less than IS years. II the
| Government were to employ 100000
men at $3.50, ,OO0, 900 year for rs years,
the expense would run to slS,750, ,000,-
| 600 before a cent of revenue was re-
| turned. Moreover, there would not be
land enough on the continent TO keep
! I.00o, 900 men planting trees for Is years
even if they substituted hand work for
machines"
Among the journals approving the
reforestation plan Is the EScanaba Daily
Press (Republican), representing one
of the great timber belts, which asserts
| that the Roosevelt idea lis looked upon
with favor in the upper peninsula OF
Michigan" With the explanation that
the thousands of acres which have re-
verted to the State and upon which
no taxes were being paid, not only have