WHAT FOREST CONSERVATION MEANS 



By R. S. KELLOGG, Assistant Forester, Forest Service 



AT ITS meeting in Cleveland two The Conservation Commission esti- 

 years ago the National Associa- mates that the original forests of the 

 tion of Box Manufacturers took United States covered not less than 

 the initiative among all the great wood- 850,000,000 acres, or forty-five per 

 using industries in recognizing the im- cent, of the total land area of the 

 portance of having a timber census of United States, and that they contained 

 the United States. It was clearly seen not less than 5,200,000,000,000 feet of 

 that before the Nation and the states merchantable saw timber according to 

 could take the steps which are neces- present standards of utilization. Clear- 

 sary to an economical utilization and ing for agriculture, cutting, and fire 

 the maintenance of our timber supply, have reduced this acreage to about 

 we must know what kinds and how 550,000,000, with a stand of perhaps 

 much timber we have and under what 2,500,000,000,000 feet of saw timber, 

 conditions it is growing. A great deal Of this 550,000,000, acres of forest 

 of excellent work was done by the as- land which we now have, some 200,- 

 sociation in putting the necessity for a 000,000 acres are covered with mature 

 timber census before the public, and timber on which annual growth is bal- 

 in calling attention to the condition of anced by loss through death and decay, 

 our forest resources so far as shown Two hundred and fifty million acres are 

 by the facts then at hand. While the partially cut or burned over, but re- 

 association did not succeed in its at- stocking naturally with sufficient young 

 tempt to have Congress authorize a growth to produce a fair crop of tim- 

 timber census, the work which it did ber, while it is estimated that 100,000,- 

 was of great educational value. Need- ooo acres have been so severely cut and 

 less to say the need for a timber cen- burned over that the natural growth 

 sus still exists, and only upon the com- upon them is of little value. The an- 

 plete knowledge of our forest resources, nual cut of forest products is in round 

 secured by such a census, can adequate numbers about as follows: One hun- 

 and detailed plans for the perpetuation clred million cords of firewood ; 40,000,- 

 of our forest resources be based. In 000,000 feet of lumber; 1,000,000,000 

 the meantime, we are exceedingly for- posts, poles, and rails; 118,000,000 

 tunate in having the compilation made hewn ties ; one and one-half billion 

 by the National Conservation Commis- staves; 133,000,000 sets of heading; 

 sion. The report of the Commission 500,000,000 barrel hoops ; 3,000,000 

 brings out clearly the main facts as to cords of pulpwood ; 165,000,000 cubic 

 what forests we have, how fast they feet of round mine timbers, and one 

 are being used up, how fast they are and one-fourth million cords of wood 

 growing, and what must be done to used for distillation. This is equiva- 

 conserve them. The report of the lent to a total of 23,000,000,000 cubic 

 Commission is a broad platform of feet of wood, or 260 cubic feet per 

 facts and principles upon which we capita. Under present conditions of 

 must proceed to make further plans for mismanagement and neglect the annual 

 forest conservation. growth of our forests is probably less 



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