WEST VIRGINIA EXPERIMENT STATION 



pears to be if not a necessary evil, an unavoidable one. Capi- 

 tal represented by corporations, companies and private individu- 

 als has been invested with a view of realizing early profits 



on a greater part 

 of the land covered by 

 forests in this area. 

 Numerous large manu- 

 facturing plants have 

 been located at differ- 

 ent points within the 

 area, which together, 

 with others at a distance 

 in this and other States 

 are dependent upon 

 the forests here for 

 their raw materials. 

 The capital invested 

 in land and timber 

 manufacturing plants, 

 working force and 

 transportation facilities 

 is enormous, and as a 

 necessary consequence 

 these investments must 

 be kept actively em- 

 ployed in order to yield 

 an interest and protit 

 on the investments. 



Fig, XVI1L Spruce timber, skidway and log slide Thus, tho demand upon 

 near Cheat Bridge, Randolph county. 



the forest resources is 



correspondingly great, and under present conditions must be 

 supplied regardless of future consequences to the land or 

 the State. 



This is the existing conditions which, I believe is not fully 

 realized by persons who are considering the subject of how the 

 destruction of our forests may be prevented. It appears to me 

 to resolve itself into questions of how long the timber will last, 



