.466 



to clear a section that timber was given away for the work of its 

 removal. Practices in clearing have often been very wasteful. I men- 

 tion this with the very contrasting idea in mind of how governments 

 and foresters are taking every precaution to conserve the rapidly dimin- 

 ishing forests by preventing and contiolling fires, insect and fungous 

 pests. Man seems to enter as the most destructive agent of all, not 

 alone by being merely uneconomical but by lacking judgment in making 

 cause for erosion, or perhaps denuding, a place entirely unfit for any 

 other purpose. Forest management and care of trees generally is almost 

 entirely unknown in White County, as it doubtless is in many other 

 counties of the State. Further than that, any admonition to take care 

 of the forests would seem absurd to most citizens. And yet some have 

 seen fit to set out little groves of the much heralded but rather over- 

 rated catalpa. White County is an integral part of the hardwood area 

 of the country and as such merits its share of attention. 



Below is given a summary covering some interesting features taken 

 from a report of the Department of Labor and Commerce, Bureau of 

 Corporations (The Lumber Industry, Part I, gtanding Timber, Jan. 20, 

 1913). Figures for White County in comparison with the following 

 data are not available. Those acquainted with the area or any other 

 part of the State may draw their own conclusions. 



The total amount of standing timber in the continental United 

 States, suitable for the manufacture of lumber under present standards 

 in the industry, is about 2,800 billion board feet, of which 2,200 billion, 

 or 78' V, is privately owned. (Unit is the board foot, which is 1 foot 

 square and 1 inch thick.) 



The present (1913) commercial value of the privately owned stand- 

 ing timber is about .$6,000,000,000, and is becoming more and more val- 

 uable. The yearly drain on saw timber is about fifty billion board feet. 

 Only fifty-six years' supply remains. 



