Large Private Holdings in the North 



261 



tion on defective materials is favored. 

 The company's forester estimates that 

 the program now under way will dou- 

 ble the yield of timber on lands to 

 which it applies. Land covered by old 

 leases remain unaffected. 



Other coal companies likewise have 

 forestry programs, some of which have 

 been under way for 5 years or more. 

 Some include good cutting practices. 

 Others have had desultory programs 

 with little net results to show for their 

 operations. The common picture is in- 

 difference toward surface values on the 

 part of both companies and miners. 

 Fires have been frequent and disas- 

 trous, and much of the land supports 

 meager growth. 



Copper- and iron-mining companies 

 in the Lake States have forestry pro- 

 grams. One, the Cleveland Cliffs Iron 

 Company, first became interested some 

 25 years ago and has gradually im- 

 proved its practice since. The Cop- 

 per Ranger Company in Michigan and 

 the Oliver Iron Mining Company in 

 Minnesota have adopted progressive 

 programs. 



Although they do not manage forest 

 land as such and are not strictly mining 

 companies, oil and natural gas com- 

 panies influence forest practice in re- 

 gions where they operate wells. Sub- 

 surface rights have been leased over 

 extensive forest areas. Those rights 

 permit the companies to enter the 

 land, erect equipment, drill wells, and 

 operate pumping stations and pipe 

 lines. Timber is cleared from the vicin- 

 ity of wells. In western Pennsylvania, 

 where wells have long been operated, 

 a system known as "five spotting" has 

 been in use. Four wells are drilled in a 

 square, with a fifth in the center. Water 

 is pumped down the corner wells to 

 help force oil from the center one. 

 In many fields a regular pattern of 

 wells occupies the land to the serious 

 detriment of forestry operations. Both 

 public and private forestry is impeded 

 by "five spotting" on forest land. 



WOOD-CHEMICAL COMPANIES have 

 had an unstable record. Started at the 



turn of the century primarily to manu- 

 facture charcoal, wood alcohol, and 

 acetic acid, they grew to substantial 

 importance during the First World 

 War. They operated in New York, 

 western Pennsylvania, the Lake States, 

 the Appalachians, and other regions. 

 New processes for making synthetic 

 methanol and acetic acid and a declin- 

 ing demand for charcoal brought on 

 hard times. During the late 1920's and 

 1930's, plant after plant dropped out. 

 The few that remained enjoyed a new 

 prosperity during the Second World 

 War, but now are again on the decline. 

 With such a background, it is small 

 wonder that wood-chemical companies 

 have shown little interest in forestry. 



Certain companies, however, have 

 been outstanding. One owns about 

 enough land to supply its needs. It cuts 

 over the property at about 30-year in- 

 tervals and removes all material of 

 chemical-wood size. Reproduction is 

 prompt, and operations are essentially 

 on a sustaining basis. The forest pro- 

 duces only chemical wood, most of it 

 from sprout growth. 



A second company, affiliated with a 

 large chemical concern, employs for- 

 esters and operates essentially on a 

 sustained-yield program. A vigorous 

 research program has uncovered a 

 number of derivatives from the crude 

 wood tar that remains after removing 

 wood alcohol and acetic acid. The out- 

 look for the company's future forestry 

 program is bright. Less promising is 

 the outlook for a group of companies 

 in western Pennsylvania, few of which 

 have ever had a forestry program. In 

 fact, the majority own no land and 

 purchase chemical wood from jobbers 

 and individual operators. 



The Gray Chemical Company oper- 

 ated on a different pattern. Land suf- 

 ficient to supply half the company's 

 needs was acquired. Additional wood 

 was purchased from local farmers and 

 other landowners; the company was 

 careful to provide them a steady mar- 

 ket for their wood. A permanent labor 

 force was built up of independent 

 farmers, company loggers, and others 



