1902. 



FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION. 



217 



Our forests are also full of poplar tops 

 now worse than wasted, and the forests 

 would be better for their removal. Pro- 

 fessor Sargent says that Chestnut is 

 occasionally used in pulp-making. If 

 this can be done to advantage, it might 

 be worth while for the pulp manufact- 

 urers to look into this matter, as there 

 are certain sections of the state which 

 contain large amounts of overripe and 

 dying Chestnut which ought to be re- 

 moved, and which could be bought at a 

 very low price. 



Another use could also be found for 

 the wormy and wind-shaken Chestnut 

 which is unfit for good lumber. In the 

 brick-making sections of the north and 

 Canada, Chestnut is preferred for fuel, 

 as it burns with a clear flame, and 

 therefore makes a better quality of 

 brick. More good brick are needed in 

 this state, and there are locations w^here 

 a combination of choice clay, cheap 

 Chestnut, and railroad transportation 

 can be secured. 



But more important than any of the 

 matters above noted is the necessity for 

 the owners of forest lands to show more 

 confidence regarding the future, and to 

 either refuse to allow their best timber 

 lands to be skinned of the most valuable 

 White Oak by the stave and spoke man- 

 ufacturers and the remaining timber to 

 be seriously injured, or else to insist on 

 more careful lumbering by such parties. 



In the Southern L7cnibenna?i for July 

 15, 1 90 1, Mr. Baird predicts that the 

 local consumption of lumber products 

 in the southern states will probably in- 

 crease 100 percent within the next five 

 years. This is certainly a conser\^ative 

 prediction, and to meet the future de- 

 mands for good timber woods we ought 

 to take better care of our forests. On 

 December i, 1898, I was at High Point, 

 N. C. , and was much impressed by what 

 that new place was doing in the way of 

 manufacturing furniture for the general 

 markets, both of the South and the 

 North. Instead of shipping away their 

 oak lumber they were using it them- 

 selves and to their great advantage. 

 The whole place had an air of prosperity 

 and comfort that was most delightful. 



In answer to a recent letter of inquiry, 

 Mr. Richards, of the Southern Railway, 

 wrote me : 



' ' The furniture-making industry is 

 making a very rapid development along 

 the line of the Southern Railway. Dur- 

 ing the last fiscal j-ear 54 new plant* 

 were placed in operation and there are 

 a large number now in course of erec- 

 tion. This industr}' finds in the South 

 many favorable conditions and will be 

 increased to a great extent within the 

 next few years. 



" The forest areas of the South are 

 now the principal source of supplies for 

 plants in the North using hard- wood, 

 and quantities of lumber and timber are 

 now exported. 



"From High Point, N. C, the ship- 

 ments of furniture now aggregate some 

 12 to 25 car-loads daily." 



What is being done in High Point, 

 N. C, can be even better done in many 

 places in this state if the right men will 

 take hold of the problem. We need 

 more diversified industries in Tennessee, 

 and to that end should take care of our 

 natural resources and utilize them to 

 the fullest extent and do what we can 

 to bring the furniture plants of the 

 North to us rather then send our raw 

 material to them. The laws of the state 

 are probably liberal enough with regard 

 to manufacturing industries using home 

 products, and I am rather inclined ta 

 think that what is needed more than 

 anything else at this time is a little more 

 confidence and foresight on the part of 

 owniers of forest lands. 



In addition to the above suggestions, 

 many others could be given along some- 

 what similar lines, but each man for 

 himself, as interested, can ask what he 

 can do to make his own future better, 

 while at the same time not forgetting 

 that he is but part of a great conmion- 

 wealth. We have the advantage of the 

 economic history of other communities, 

 both here and abroad, and the sooner 

 we put ourselves in complete touch with 

 our progressive neighbors the sooner 

 we will get back into our former rela- 

 tive position with our sister common- 

 wealths. 



