ii6 Conservation Reader 



The waste of the lumberman is not so great, but it is 

 enough to open our eyes to one of the 'reasons for the rapid 

 disappearance of our forests. On the average only about 

 one third of the wood of every tree cut is actually used. 

 The rest is lost in the logging operations and during the 

 various processes through which it passes before it reaches 

 our hands. 



In addition to thfe waste of the trees actually cut, there 

 is the loss of the young trees due to careless logging. Too 

 often the lumbermen do not care in what condition the logs 

 leave the forest. They want only the trees now fit for 

 lumber, and they want to get them in the easiest waypos-. 

 sible. 



Instead of going through the forest and picking out only 

 the ripe or mature trees and leaving the rest for a later 

 cutting, the lumbermen usually take everything that has 

 any present worth. Trees that are less valuable for lumber, 

 such as the firs, are used for skidways and bridges, and when 

 no longer needed for these purposes are left on the ground. 

 No care is taken to see that the great trees fall with the 

 least possible damage to the young growth. Upon the 

 preservation of the young trees, which almost everjrwhere ' 

 occupy the open spaces between the large ones, rests our 

 hope of a future forest. 



When the work of lumbering in any particular region is 

 finished, the sight is such as must make Nature weep, for 

 it almost brings tears to our eyes. The young trees are 

 broken and crushed to the ground, branches and fragments 

 of the trunks lie scattered about, while above the ruin rise 

 those trees not considered worth cutting. The once beau- 

 tiful and majestic forest is now ready for fire. Some 



