211 



Indiana ns elsewhere the veneer-mills, that ai'e al)le. however, to cover ni> 

 a multitude of sins. 



FnlliiwiuLC deforestation comes, sooner <>v later in this country, the 

 proverbial forest lire whicli com|ilctcs the destriictioii li.v killing' the small 

 trees and destroying the possil)ilit.\' (if the future forest. It is not neces- 

 sary to discuss the results of sm-h tires further than to stat(> that locomo- 

 tives .generall.v cause most of such contlagrations, and consequently steps 

 are being taken to have the ti-ains in some places, as in parts of Canada, 

 run li.\ eh'ctricity. Spark arresters are a failure. In 1!»0!I it was estimated 

 that in Indiana the anuiial loss from forest tires was .^ITri.fXKI.-- and this 

 seems to be a very conser\ative estimate. For the prevention of fires in 

 Indiana some laws ha\e been enacted and in every possilile way tlmse in 

 charge have endeavored to lessen the danger. Efforts to pass more favor- 

 able laws for forestry have lieen attempted in Indiana, such as exeinption 

 fi-om taxation, lait this '•failed liecausc it could not lie done constitution- 

 ally."-' It would l)e well if the cutting away of the forests could be con- 

 ti-olled by law. For instance it is a serious mistake tit allow anyone to buy 

 a stretch of forest, especially in hill.\- districts, then to move in ;i s;iwmill 

 and cut out all the available timbei- without regard to reforestntiou or 

 results, and then tinally to sell the land for what it will liring or to allow 

 the soil to wash away. In some foreign countries the removal of forests 

 is controllecl. In France, for example, even .vears ago an owner was not 

 allowed to remove forests on his land without "four months" notice in 

 advaiice. i'he forest service may foi-liid this clearing in case the main- 

 tenance of the fiH'est is deemed necessary upon ;iny of the following 

 groumls : 



"1. To maintain the soil upon mountains or slojies. 



"!'. To defend the soil against erosion and Hooding by rivers, streams 

 and torrents. 



'•:;. To insni-e the existence of springs and water courses. 



"4. To protect the dunes and seashore against erosion of the sea and 

 the encroachment of moving san.ds. 



"5. Foi- purposes of militarv defense. 



"6. For the ])ublic health.''-^ 



"Tenth Annual Report of the State Board of Forestry, 1910. 

 " Fifth Annual Report of the State Board of Forestr.v, 1905. 



•'Pinchot, Gifford. Publications of the .\merifan Economic Association, 1891, ^■ol. 6, pp. 214 

 an<l 21.5. 



