FOREST POLICY. 



77 



the Appalachian mountains, the forest area is ample, provided 

 that it be kept stocked with trees, and that the litter be left on 

 the ground. In all other sections, the forest area is more than 

 sufficient for the people's welfare, the vicinity of the cities 

 excepted. 



"For each million acres of forests in the United States found in 

 public ownership, over four (?) millions are owned privately. The 

 number of private owners of forests in the United States is 

 3,000,000." (Forest Service circular 171.) 



Herbert Knox Smith reports on Febr. 13th, 1911, to President 

 Taft, that 88,579,000 acres of timberland in the U. S. are owned 

 by only 1,802 parties; and that 195 "holders" are in possession 

 of 48o/o of all timber privately owned in the Pacific North West 

 (including Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California), in 

 the Southern pine region and in the Lake states. 



In the South, 67 "holders" own 39o/o of the long leaf pine, 

 29o/o of the cypress, 19o/o of the shortleaf pine and llo/o of 

 the hardwoods. 



In the Lake States, 215 "holders" have control of 65o/o of 

 all the timber. 



Mr. Smith "discovers" in his report: 



"1. The concentration of a dominating control of our stand- 

 ing timber in a comparatively few enormous holdings, steadily 

 tending toward a central control of the lumber industry. 



2. Vast speculative purchase and holding of timberland far 

 in advance of any use thereof. 



3. An enormous increase in the value of this diminishing natural 

 resource, with great profits to its owners. This value, by the very 

 nature of standing timber, the holder neither created nor sub- 

 stantially enhances." 



Let us hope, in the interest of American forest conservation, 

 that Herbert Knox Smith is correct! 



ad 1 : Conservative forestry has never been practised b}' the 

 small owners, neither in America nor in Europe. A dominating 

 control is required of farsighted financiers, public or private, 

 over the timber left standing. This control must fix the price 

 of the timber so high that it will pay to reproduce the timber. 

 [Compare page 25, under (7).] 



