10 FORESTRY 



From the public standpoint, the interests are several. 

 The product, wood, is almost indispensable in many impor- 

 tant lines of industry. Substitutes are being continually 

 forced into service by the increasing scarcity of wood, but 

 for many uses they are not so satisfactory. New uses are 

 appearing for wood, and the demand along established 

 lines shows constant increase. The growing of wood will 

 not only secure a continuance of the supply of a multitude 

 of essential articles which enter into our everyday life and 

 comfort, but the industries which are now engaged in the 

 manufacture of wood products, and the logging and market- 

 ing of wood will continue to employ men and distribute 

 wages. Then comes the public interest in the protection 

 of soil and waterways. Private owners can and do ignore 

 the possible effects of forest removal on the flow of streams, 

 the erosion of soil and the welfare of their neighbors fur- 

 ther down. Just to the extent that these results are inju- 

 rious, is the government called upon to prevent them in the 

 interests of common justice. 



The relation of the government to forestry is greatly 

 strengthened and the ability of private owners to grow 

 timber crops much lessened by the long periods of time 

 which must elapse before trees reach sizes large enough 

 to furnish profitable crops of timber. Fence posts may be 

 grown on rich agricultural land in 10 to 15 years, but 

 timber grown on true forest soils, takes 40 to 100 

 years to mature. During the time the crop is growing the 

 owner gets very small returns if any, and his expenditures 

 for planting, protection and taxes roll up at compound 

 interest to a large sum. If to this certain expense, is added 

 the uncertainty that he will live long enough to receive 

 any benefit from his exertions, beyond the satisfaction of 

 leaving his estate to relatives or descendants, we can un- 

 derstand the chief barriers to private forestry on a large 

 scale. Even corporations, which are looked upon as fairly 

 permanent, cannot plan too far into the future, since they 



