THE DESTRUCTION OF AMERICAN 



FORESTS 



By RICHARD H, DOUAI BOERKER 



IN TWENTY-FIVE years the tim- taxation taxes the timber as though it 



ber of the United States, on Gov- were a series of crops, whereas, it is 



eminent reserves and private really but one crop. The other tax 



holdings, at the present rate of cutting, which is helping to destroy our forests 



will be exhausted. It is utterly be- is the export tariff on wood pulp. This 



yond the possibility of the Forest Serv- tax encourages the American dealer to 



ice to meet the situation and prevent send his wood for pulp to the European 



trouble. One hope entertained is the market and there sell it, often at a 



Appalachian Forest." This is the start- greater profit than he could in America, 



ling statement recently made by our Thus we see that, in helping nations 



Chief Forester, Mr. Gifford Pinchot., who are in a worse predicament than 



and it strikes the key-note of the de- we, we are hastening our own ultimate 



plorable condition of affairs now exist- shortage. 



ing in this country. It is a situation, While these taxes doubtless cause 

 that, if not met soon, will cause un- the greater part of the slaughter, still, 

 heard-of desolation and misery. France the failure to use economic and con- 

 some years ago experienced a timber servative methods in dealing with the 

 famine, and to-day she is spending $34 forests results in the waste of enormous 

 an acre to reforest her watersheds. The quantities of valuable timber. Let us 

 same neglect is costing Italy $20 an see what some of these wasteful meth- 

 acre. Why can't we profit by the mis- ods are. When cutting timber, usually 

 takes of other nations, and meet the every available tree is used, regardless 

 situation at once? Unfortunately, the of its age, instead of cutting only the 

 majority of people in our country can- older ones and leaving the young ones 

 not reconcile themselves to the fact to mature. In trimming the branches 

 that, if this destruction continues, they from the logs, the brush is allowed to 

 will be the ones to suffer. Let us an- remain wherever it happens to be 

 alyze the situation more closely. thrown, instead of being piled up and 

 We lay the destruction of our for- burned, to make room for the- young 

 ests to two general causes : first, to the seedlings to grow. A great deal of 

 irrational policy now in vogue for the waste results in cutting the tree too far 

 conservation and use of our timber sup- from the ground. The stumps, when- 

 plies, and, second, to the wasteful ever it is convenient, should be as short 

 lumbering methods which are used as possible Often large logs fall in 

 throughout the country, and the poor disadvantageous positions, and since it 

 protection given the forests against is no loss to the party cutting the tim- 

 fires, insects, and animals. ber (he paying so much per thousand 

 Under the irrational policy now in feet drawn out) it is left to rot. By far 

 use we find two taxes that may be the greatest portion of the wooded area 

 called the greatest enemies of our for- of this country is without protection 

 ests. The one is the tax on standing from fires, insects and animals. In the 

 timber, which compels the holder of Government reserves, where such pro- 

 timber land to level his woodlands or tection is given much attention, we 

 lose on his investment. This system of find that only one one-thousandth of 

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