98 



Paxt III. Proposed State Forest Policy 



A proposed forest policy for Illinois has been outlined in two previ- 

 ous bulletins (Hall and Ingall '11, and Chapman and Miller '24). Three 

 measures were recommended by Hall and Ingall : 



(1) The adoption of an adequate state fire protection system, pro- 

 viding for forest fire wardens in those counties where this seems desirable. 



(2) The inauguration of an educational campaign with the object 

 of spreading scientific and practical forest management. 



(3) Further investigation of the problems involved in developing 

 and extending Illinois woodlands. 



The measures recommended by Chapman and Miller are: 

 (1) Formulation and dissemination of information on wood-lot 

 management. 



(3) The teaching of farm-wood-lot management at the State Uni- 

 versity and the establishment of experimental areas. 



(3) Establishment of an adequate system of fire prevention. 



(4) Purchase of a considerable area in southwestern Illinois for 

 State forests. 



The information contained in this bulletin on forested areas and aver- 

 age rates of growth, and in the bulletin by Chapman and Miller '24, on 

 the total amount of wood cut from the forests of Illinois, enables us to 

 measure the forces of production and of destruction, to measure also, 

 to a limited extent, the benefits possible from reasonable wood-lot man- 

 agement, and to distinguish the areas where state aid is necessary to fire 

 protection. 



The total timbered area of Illinois is 3,021,650 acres, as shown in 

 table, pp. 58-63. The average annual volume produced per acre for 

 each of the general forest types is shown in Tables 4-8, pp. 95-97. By 

 multiplying the average annual growth per acre for a given type by the 

 forested acreage of this type we may find the total yield for that type if 

 all the timbered area were fully stocked, and a summation of these total 

 yields for all types gives the total yields for the state which will be se- 

 cured if the forests are kept fully stocked. This total is 124,333,235 

 cubic feet. 



The total production of wood from the forests of Illinois, as given 

 by Chapman and Miller ('24), is 115,651,960 cubic feet. This total is 

 for the cubic contents of that part of the tree which goes into the product. 

 In order that a proper comparison might be made between the amounts 

 which the fully stocked forests can produce continuously, and the amounts 

 which are now being harvested, this drain of 115,651,960 cubic feet was 

 converted to the corresponding amount in the total peeled stems, and after 

 slightly raising the forested acreage and consequently the production as 

 shown in the above bulletin, the total cut from the forests of Illinois be- 

 comes 135,014,335 cubic feet. About 59 per cent of this cut is utilized 

 as cordwood. In the computations it is assumed that but one product — 

 either cordwood, sawlogs, ties, mine props, piling, or veneer logs — is made 



