414 



ARBORICULTURE 



The Timberman's Problems. 



The ownership of a tract of timber 

 land carries with it many questions be- 

 sides the one usually attributed; viz., 

 to clear away the trees, convert them 

 into lumber, and that into cash in the 

 briefest possible time. 



There are many owners of timber 

 lands who must have the money which 

 the property represents, and on which 

 they are paying interest. And these 

 men will place their lumber upon the 

 market as quickly as possible, without 

 regard to future results. But the capi- 

 talist who has purchased forest prop- 

 erty for the purpose of an investment, 

 and who wishes to realize the greatest 

 interest upon the capital involved for a 

 long period of time, finds other prob- 

 lems to wrestle with; and these are of 

 greater importance than the one first 

 named. 



The long-headed financier asks him- 

 self, "In what manner can I increase my 

 capital more rapidly if I withdrew it 

 from its present employment?" 



That is, if the timber is converted into 

 money, to what service can this cash be 

 placed so that it will bring a greater 

 return than in young, growing timber? 



Speculation has a fascination for men, 

 and occa.sionally one gains by some 

 lucky stroke, just as the lottery brings 

 an occasional prize while the va.st major- 

 ity of tickets are blanks. 



There is no investment which is so 

 sure of producing a regular and legiti- 

 mate income as that of well-situated 

 lands. Yet, when to this is added the in- 

 crement of growing timber trees of prop- 

 er kind, one need not look for a more 

 profitable or safe means of employing 



one's capital. IIow to realize a safe in- 

 come and yet not kill the golden-egged 

 goose is an important ccnsideration, and 

 this we purpose discussing. 



There are elements of uncertainty in 

 every huijian calculation. Fire may de- 

 stroy the entire body of inflammable 

 timber and the land may be left with 

 greatly depreciated valuation ; hence, 

 every effort should be made to protect 

 the property from such disaster. This 

 is a duty of the State and National gov- 

 ernment in return for taxes demanded 

 of the owner, as much so as that a fire 

 department should be maintained in a 

 city. 



It is an act of dishonesty for any 

 community to "hold up" the owner of 

 a forest tract for heavy taxes each year 

 and render no equivalent in the protec- 

 tion of such property. Laws should be 

 enacted and officers instructed to en- 

 force such laws as will adequately pro- 

 tect timber from malicious and careless 

 trespassers who leave camp fires burn- 

 ing which the wind may fan into a great 

 conflagration. Severe penalties should 

 be provided by law for causing fires, and 

 carelessness under the guise of accident 

 should be no excuse. 



Fire wardens and patrols in large for- 

 est districts should be greatly increased. 

 A woolen mill, with oil-saturated rags, 

 may at times cause spontaneous combus- 

 tion, but there never was an instance 

 of such in a forest. The burning end of 

 a match, cigar or cigarette often causes 

 destructive fires. Fire guards properly 

 arranged will check the advance of a 

 fire, but they must be closely watched 

 during the summer and autumn, as dry 



