REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE — COMMENTS 111 



trees, the future timber supply for this State would have been cared 

 for and a fine profit realized. 



It is plain that growing new forests at home is the remedy. 



The facts set forth in the fifth section of the report are true and well 

 stated. "No practical decrease in wood consumption can prevent a 

 timber shortage." Therefore, we must grow more timber. 



Section 6, "Dependence on imported timber supply is fatal." That 

 is true. 



Section 7, "Our stock of growing timber," etc., is truly stated. 



Section 8, "Our present forest cannot make good the deficit," is true. 



Section 9, "Shortage due to devastation," is historically true. Had 

 lumbering always been conducted on reasonable, conservative princi- 

 ples, much would have been saved. 



Section 10, "Adequate evidence is now available." This section well 

 enumerates the historical facts. 



Section 11, "Forests in continuous production are practical." Other 

 nations of people have proved it. We ought to know enough to do as 

 well as they. 



Section 12, "Location and condition of forest areas," states the facts, 

 and about them there will be no controversy. 



Section 13, "Policy of private holders." The committee undoubtedly 

 states the truth. 



Section 14, "Annual consumption." Here for the first time the true 

 amount of wood used has been stated. The statistics have never 

 shown more than half of the consumption. 



Section 15, "Present annual growth." I doubt if the annual growth 

 is 35 billion feet. My observation leads to the belief that the take off 

 by all cutting and loss by fire and other causes is six times the growth, 

 and much of the new growth is not of the best and the new growth by 

 self seeding of cone-bearing trees is very small ; otherwise of hard 

 woods. 



Section 1(5, "Maximum growth." The subject matter in this section 

 will be accepted as substantially correct. 



Section 17, "Action required." This is an important section, and 

 under it may arise the question as to the power of the National Gov- 

 ernment and of States to regulate and to some extent control the use 

 of private proi)crty for the public good. For one, I have no doubt but 

 that power exists in both State and nation. 



Section 18, "Forest devastation." The war made the truth set forth 

 in this section understood. 



