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wood as a source of raw material. The various functions of forests are 

 so vita! to the welfare of a state that their depletion cannot be permitted 

 to longer escape the attention of the public. 



Private ownership in the main has failed to provide for the renewal 

 of the forest after cutting. The timbers of commerce have continued to 

 come largely from the original forest growth. The second growth available 

 for use is meagre, and results from a let alone policy rather than any 

 effort on the part of woodland owners to produce a second crop to succeed 

 the virgin growth. The total available saw timber in the state does not 

 exceed 1,100,000,000 feet, and this is by no means first quality material. 

 The wood using industries dependent upon hardwoods are rapidly absorb- 

 ing the limited stumpage, and they will soon be compelled to shut down 

 or go elsewhere. The consumers of hardwoods are finding good grades 

 increasingly difficult to obtain and at higher prices. The hardwood timber 

 supply is limited in this country as compared with that of softwoods, and 

 the sources of first growth material from the states that now have a reserve 

 will soon cease to exist. 



The effect of forest depletion upon communities within the inherent 

 timber section of the state is also serious enough in consequence to engage 

 the attention of the public. Small centers of population which within the 

 last few decades were dependent to a considerable degree upon a liveli- 

 hood derived from the various factors of the lumbering industry are no 

 longer able to enjoy the modest prosperity which was theirs. Since the 

 passing of the merchantable timber many small towns and villages have 

 lost an important source of income, and the reaction is reflected in depopu- 

 lation, vacant houses and abandoned wood working plants. Nor is this 

 alone the only loss to communities and the commonwealth. The depleted 

 forest lands of no practicable utility aside from timber production, after 

 having been stripped of all merchantable growth are permitted to become 

 devastated by fire, thus further reducing their usefulness by destroying 

 even their potentiality. Such lands, and there are several hundred thousand 

 acres in Ohio, can hope for little development by virtue of private ownership 

 under present existing conditions, and there must be a material change 

 in economic conditions and in governmental regulations before private 

 capital will undertake forest renewal. 



Those who have been in close touch with the forestry situation in Ohio 

 are of the opinion that the state must adopt a policy in which positive steps 

 are taken to maintain and perpetuate the forests now existing on inherent 

 forest soils and to provide for reforestation where needed on non-agricul- 

 tural or idle lands, and that this must be done in a manner that will 

 accomplish the purpose with the least possible delay. The program pro- 

 posed for Ohio is believed to embrace the greatest needs at the present time 

 and it may be modified or supplemented as future conditions warrant. 



Publicly owned forests are undoubtedly a basic factor in a program for 

 increased timber production. The public through state, county and munic- 

 ipal government, is the agency that can best take over cut-over and wild 

 lands and provide the necessary protection and maintenance for the pro- 

 duction of successive crops of timber. Nor is this a problem of the produc- 

 tion of timber only. It is economy for the state to utilize all land to its 



