284 CONSERVATION 



than 7,000,000,000 cubic feet. In other lumber manufacturer are primarily 

 words, we are producing less than one- business men. They are working for 

 third as much wood annually as we are a profit, and an immediate one, if pos- 

 using. We are like a get-rich-quick sible ; at any rate, a profit within corn- 

 concern which pays dividends out of paratively few years. They will not 

 its capital stock. If this continues, conserve their forests unless they are 

 some day all of us will be doing our convinced that forest conservation will 

 share in holding the sack. yield a profit. We cannot blame them 



Forests are essential for the protec- for this. It is a perfectly natural and 

 tion of watersheds, for their ainelio- necessary attitude from the standpoint 

 rating influences upon local climate, for of the individual. The National Con- 

 recreation grounds for the people, as servation Commission recognizes that 

 a habitation for birds and game, and, three main considerations arise in mak- 

 above all, for a timber supply. De- ing plans for the conservation of pri- 

 spite the introduction of many sub- vately owned forests. The first two of 

 stitutes, we cannot conceive of the prac- these are matters for state legislation, 

 ticability of doing without wood. The third is an economic one. They 

 Granting this, it follows that as a Na- are : 



tion and as individual citizens we must i. We must stop forest fires. Mil- 

 do our utmost to put our forests upon lions of acres of forest land are burned 

 a permanent producing basis. We must over every year. In many cases the 

 cut no more from them than they pro- damage to standing timber is great, 

 duce each year, and we must make but in almost every case, the damage 

 their yearly growth equal to our needs, to the soil and to the young-growth 

 Forest conservation means two things : timber is far greater. The cutting of 

 First, the fullest possible utilization of successive crops of timber from our 

 the present supply of timber, which will forest lands depends absolutely upon 

 make it last longer, and, second, the the keeping out of forest fires. Forest 

 handling of forest lands in such a way fires can be prevented, but to prevent 

 that succeeding crops of timber will be them requires constant vigilance during 

 secured. the clanger season. Proper state laws, 



At present only about one-fifth of with ample funds for their enforce- 

 our standing timber is in public forests, ment, and cooperation with timberland 

 This term is used to cover the National owners, will do it. Some splendid ex- 

 Forests, state forests, the timber on amples of this occurred during the past 

 Indian and military reservations, Na- season, in which forest fires were un- 

 tional parks, etc. These forests are be- usually widespread and destructive, 

 ing managed according to the princi- Four forest protective associations in 

 pies of scientific forestry so far as northern Idaho, for instance, organized 

 funds available for their administration in accordance with the laws of that 

 permit. In the main they are being state, protected a million and a quarter 

 conserved. While the extent of the acres of forest land, and kept the dam- 

 public forests will undoubtedly be in- age down to a comparatively small 

 creased in the future, it is not likely amount. They did so at a cost to them- 

 that for a very long time to come they selves of 4 cents per acre. The Wash- 

 will contain even as much as half our ington Forest Fire Association also did 

 timber supply. Four-fifths of our for- excellent work. When in comparison 

 ests are now owned by individuals, with this it is stated that, during the 

 companies or corporations. The man- last fiscal year, the Forest Service had 

 ner in which these forests are handled an equivalent of only i l / 2 cents per 

 is, therefore, of the utmost importance acre to spend upon the National For- 

 in forest conservation. So far but lit- ests for all kinds of work and admin- 

 tie attempt has been made to conserve istration, including fire fighting, it is 

 them. The timberland owner and the seen that the lumbermen cannot be 



