188 The Dawn of a New Constructive Era 



Stumps and Their Practical 

 Removal 



By Carl D. Livingston 



University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis. 



I had prepared a talk before this Conference on the sub- 

 ject of "Stumps and Their Practical Removal," but after listen- 

 ing to every word that has been said here at this Conference for 

 the last two and a half days I have decided to change it, and 

 instead of talking in technicalities to tell you, first — or rather to 

 analyze the land clearing situation roughly from an engineering 

 point of view ; second, to show just how we tackled this problem 

 in Wisconsin and the good results we got from it; and third, to 

 suggest, if I may, how the Southern states can profit by our ex- 

 periences and our mistakes. 



The modern engineering methods and modern engineering 

 tools have not been given as much importance in the subject of 

 clearing lands as they should be. Modern engineering practices 

 will play a very important part in the development of our cut- 

 over land regions; but I would like to make a statement right 

 Experiments ^^^ ^j^^^ ^^ forestall some criticism. What I will say in re- 

 the South May , , , • , • , ... 



Profit Bu S^^'^ t*' cut-over lands is due entirely to an experience in the 



Lake states and on the Pacific Coast. I don't say that the novel 

 methods that we have worked out in Wisconsin can be wholly 

 adopted by the South ; but I do believe the methods of investiga- 

 tion and demonstration that we have been using are of interest 

 to you. 



Now, stump lands — I believe it will be generally admitted 

 by those, especially, who own them, that they are not generally 

 sought after by those people who desire new homes in cut-over 

 lands. .Now, why is this the case? The answer is easy — it is the 

 stumps. It is the fear of the stumps that keeps people from the 

 cut-over lands. If there were no stumps the Lake states or the 

 Pacific Coast or the South would have no more of a development 

 problem than do Illinois or Iowa. 



