AMERICAN FOREST CONGRESS 325 



ticing the most rigid economy in the use of this 

 immature timber and by husbanding it and stimulating 

 its growth to insure a later abundant supply. 



Right here I would call attention to the possible 

 shortage of timber in certain reserves where the de- 

 mands of miners may be most urgent. I have in mind 

 the Black Hills Forest Reserve, in South Dakota. 

 Vast mining interests are at stake there; at present 

 there is an apparently sufficient supply of timber in 

 the reserve to satisfy the needs of the mines, but the 

 appearances are deceptive. The forests are badly in- 

 fested, the pine beetle is doing his deadly work; and 

 unless the ravages of the insect be stopped, the present 

 forests of that reserve within a relatively short time 

 will have been destroyed. Investigations made by 

 competent forestry officials have proven that a remedy 

 for the evil exists. The infested timber must be 

 promptly cut down and the breeding places of the 

 beetle sought out and the insects exposed to the ele- 

 ments and killed. This heroic treatment fills the minds 

 of Black Hills miners with apprehension. They 

 therefore object to it; they fear that if this now in- 

 fected timber be all cut and removed they will be left 

 without any available timber. Such a result would 

 indeed be disastrous ; but by opposing the cutting and 

 removal of the timber beyond the present needs of the 

 consumers, the evil will not be eradicated ; further de- 

 struction is a certainty so long as the insects are 

 allowed to harbor and propagate there. By thus pro- 

 crastinating, the suffering miners but increase their 

 difficulties; and if things be allowed to drift along as 

 they are now going, not only will all the timber, young 

 as well as old, be destroyed, but the possibility of a 

 future crop will disappear. Now it would appear that 

 if there is any chance for a supply of timber for present 



