211 



Indiana as elsewhere the veneei'-mills, that are able, howe^■el•, to cover ui* 

 a multitude of sins. 



Following deforestation comes, sooner or later in this country, the 

 |)i"overhial forest fire whicli completes the destruction by killing the small 

 trees and destroying the possibility of the future f<n-est. It is not neces- 

 sary to discuss the results of such tires further than to state that locomo- 

 tives generally cause most of such coutlagrations, and consequently steps 

 are being taken to have the trains in some places, as in parts of Canada, 

 nni b.\' electricity. Spark arresters are a failure. In 1909 it was estimated 

 that in Indiana the annual lo.ss from forest fires was $175,000.-- and this 

 seems to be a very conservative estimate. For the prevention of fires in 

 Indiana some laws ha^e been enacted and in every possible way those in 

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

 able laws for foi'estry hnve been attempted in Indiana, such as exemption 

 from taxation, but this "failed because it could not l)e done constitution- 

 ally."'' It wouhl be well if the cutting away of the forests could be con- 

 trolled by law. F(»r instance it is a serious mistake to .Ulow anyone to buy 

 a stretch of forest, especially in hilly districts, then to move in a sawmill 

 and cut out all the available timber without regard to refin'estatiou or 

 results, and then finally to .sell the land for what it will bring or to allow 

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

 is controlled. In France, for example, even years ago an owner was not 

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

 advance. The forest service may forbid this clearing in case the main- 

 tenance of the forest is deemed necessary upon any of the following 

 grounds : 



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



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

 and torrents. 



'".}. To insure the existence of springs and water courses. 



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

 the encroachment of moving .sands. 



"5. For purposes of military <lefense. 



"6. For the i)ublic health."-^ 



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

 " Fifth Annual Report of the State Board of Forestry, 1905. 



" Pinchot, Gifford. Publications of the American Economic .Association, 1891, Vol.6, pp. 214 

 and 21.5. 



