CHAPTER XXIV 

 A HIT FROM THE SHOULDER 



The Other Side of the Question — ^Why Forests Were 

 Destroyed 



(By an Old Forester) 



WRITTEN for Altoona Tribune by C. W. Dickin- 

 son, veteran woodsman and hunter, with Foot 

 Notes by John C. French. 



"Why are our forests disappearing so fast'" The 

 writer had heard this question asked many times, ard 

 as many theories advanced as to what ought to be done 

 to save some of Pennsylvania's fine forests. All the 

 theories we ever heard advanced in this matter are sim- 

 ply foolish rot. We are going to give you some facts 

 and figures to show^ why this land is being denuded 

 of the trees growing thereon. 



In 1888, F. H. and C. W. Goodyear purchased a 

 tract of land of about 29,000 acres ; 2,000 acres were in 

 the northeast corner of Cameron county, 3,000 acres 

 in the northeast corner of Elk county, and 24,000 acres 

 in McKean county, in the townships of Norwich and 

 Sergeant. This is the forest land that our statement 

 refers to. The assessors of the two townships have 

 kept increasing the value of those lands for years until 

 about twelve years ago, when they had gotten the 

 valuation so high that they dare not put it any higher. 



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