THE TRI-STATE FORESTRY CONFERENCE 



October 22 and 23, 1919 

 WEDNESDAY MORNING SESSION OCT. 22, 1919. 



The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a. m., with Hon. W. A. 

 Guthrie presiding. 



HON. W. A. GUTHRIE : Fellow citizens, we welcome you here today. 

 It is quite fitting that the Tri-State Forestry Conference should be called 

 here in the center of what has been the finest hardwood forest of the 

 United States. 



We are now entering upon an era which will witness a great advance 

 in the reforestation which should produce and conserve our timber. The 

 shortage of timber is a source of concern to many wood working plants 

 and to plan for the future will give forth much for you gentlemen to work 

 out. Our States have produced some of the best and most valuable timber 

 of the nation. We have had such an abundance "of timber that we have 

 overlooked the rapidity with which we have been using it, and now we 

 are unable to supply the demand. 



Ohio, Illinois and Indiana are three of the seven states whose sup- 

 plies feed the world. We are in the lead in live stock, agriculture and 

 manufacturing. 



Many of our sister states are ahead of us in the reforestation and are 

 appropriating more money for this work. Pennsylvania appropriates 

 $315,000.00 each year and has a holding of over six or eight million dollars. 

 New York $288,000.00, Michigan $115,000.00 and many of the states from 

 $25,000.00 to $75,000.00. Indiana has only been appropriating $7,400.00 for 

 all purposes. Many foreign countries control their forests by handling 

 I* scientifically and they are able to pay a revenue of three or more per cent, 

 at the same time keep their forest intact. 



Statistics show before the war that Belgium had a population of 652 

 to the square mile and yet had 18% in timber. Switzerland 235 population 

 to the square mile with 23% in timber. France 190 to the square mile 

 with 23% in timber. Germany 25%, Austria 35%, yet in Indiana with 

 only 75 population we have less than 10% in timber. 



The future of the timber problems of the three states are similar and 



it is for this reason that the three states have met here for this conference. 



If the timber supply for the future is to be assured then the wood using 



industries of the states must understand better how to control the influ- 



\ ences which are now at work destroying the supply. 



The public must take an immediate interest in the timber lands and see 

 that legislation is enacted which will make for the use of permanent mill, 

 forest development, place timber on the market only as needed, give 

 adequate forest fire protection and assure renewal after logging. 



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