LUMBERMEN AND FORESTRY 



THE KEPORT OF THE FORESTRY COMMITTEE AT THE NATIONAL WHOLESALE LUMBER 

 DEALERS' ASSOCIATION MEETING IN LOUISVILLE, MARCH G AND 7 



BEAD BY W. C. SYKES. 



E year has been one full of interest with conservation still the key- 

 note of all discussions, lectures, or proposed legislation with reference 

 to forestry. The term conservation in its true sense, i. e., to use wisely 

 and not tie up what we already possess, is being better understood and all 

 are working toward this end in so far as conservation does not conflict with 

 commerce and increase cost of production. Conservation methods in the 

 larger sense are something which cover perhaps a period of time much longer 

 than the life cycle of a human being and for this reason they must often be 

 taken up by the Government either Federal or State or both. Eight in this 

 connection we wish to call your attention to some proposed legislation in the 

 Empire State. 



The proposed legislation in New York is probably the most drastic of 

 any law that has yet been suggested. Although the proposed law will effect 

 directly but a part of the State of New York should it become a law, it is 

 of great significance to all lumbermen, for if it passes it will establish a 

 principle which might affect the lumber and timber interests all over our 

 country. This principle is that a state may control and regulate the cutting 

 of all timber on private lands and prohibit the cutting by a diameter limit 

 without compensation to the owner of the land for the timber which he may 

 not cut. This, it is maintained, can be done under the police power of 

 the state. 



THE PROPOSED LAW 



The proposed New York law reads thus : "To the end that the water 

 supply of the state may be conserved, the forests protected, and the public 

 interests safeguarded, it is herein provided: 



"That no soft wood timber, less than eight inches in diameter, breast 

 high, growing upon any wild, forest lands within the towns specified in 

 section ninety-seven of this chapter shall be cut without the written consent 

 of the Conservation Commission, first obtained." 



Eight here I might say the towns referred to include the Adirondack 

 Mountains, the Catskills, and some land beside these sections being the 

 timber sections of the state, "which consent shall be evidenced by a resolution 

 duly adopted by said Commission, and entered at length in its book of minutes ; 

 and such Commission may make rules and regulations to control the cutting 

 and removal both of the timber and trees prohibited, and the timber and trees 

 permitted, to be cut under this section." 



Another section of the proposed law provides: 



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