Conservation Commission 67 



merchantable material in a forest is contained in a few of the 

 larger trees. The larger trees are but a small proportion of the 

 whole stand, therefore, their removal does not injure the forest 

 cover. 



The purpose could be best accomplished by classifying the 

 Preserve into areas which should be maintained as protective 

 forests and into other areas which could be used for wood pro- 

 duction. The former would include mountain tops, steep slopes, 

 or other places where it might be difficult to maintain the forest 

 cover, and which should not, therefore, be lumbered. The latter 

 would include the lower and more level sections where operations 

 could be profitably conducted without injuring the forest cover, 

 leaving, however, belts around lakes and other places where the 

 aesthetic or camping interest was more important than the com- 

 mercial. The purpose of the lumbering operation would be not 

 only to secure wood materials but also to leave a growing forest 

 of suitable composition. The cutting would vary with different 

 conditions of soil, slope and species; in certain cases trees larger 

 than the diameter limit will be left for seed or other purposes, 

 while trees of smaller size will he cut for silvicultural reasons. In 

 no case should trees be cut except those that are marked and 

 stamped by a forester. The timber to be removed should be ad- 

 vertised and sold by competitive bidding, after the manner of 

 timber sales now conducted by the United States Forest Service. 

 The cutting of any trees not so marked would necessarily be con- 

 strued as a trespass. 



The question of revenue is important. If we assume that the 

 annual production of 250,000,000 feet per year, already referred 

 to, is worth on the average of $4 per thousand stumpage, the 

 annual forest crop now going to waste would be worth one million 

 dollars. This would not be an inconsiderable source of revenue to 

 the State. In addition to the direct revenue, it would inaugurate 

 increased business in the forest sections and furnish employment 

 to labor. The importance of the lumber business is shown by the 

 fact that statistics indicate that for every thousand feet of lumber 

 manufactured $16 is paid for labor. The removal of the ripe 

 and overmature trees would ffive the remaining stand a lar j~e 

 amount of light, and the production of timber would thereby 

 eventually be largely increased. 



