Conservation Commission 101 



able information indicates that the entire stumpage is somewhat 

 less than forty billion feet board measure. The annual cut is ap- 

 proximately one billion feet per year. The annual wood growth, 

 exclusive of the forest preserve, is probably not more than three 

 hundred million feet, while the consumption by our citizens of 

 wood for various purposes is conservatively estimated at five bil- 

 lion feet or fifteen times such growth. 



Statistics in regard to the lumber cut have been published from 

 year to year. While they are of much value to persons engaged 

 in the industry, the people in general have not appreciated their 

 full meaning. It is impossible to remove from our forests year 

 after year several times as much material as is grown without 

 seriously reducing our timber resources, and eventually resulting 

 in their exhaustion. 



The resources of this State are so great and of such a character 

 that the prevailing opinion is they are inexhaustible. Not less 

 than two million three hundred thousand acres, or 10 per cent of 

 the area of this State, is idle. If this area were reforested and 

 the twelve million acres of woodlands placed under proper forest 

 management, we would not only be able to produce all of the wood 

 material which we now need, or what a greatly increased popula- 

 tion will require, but, furthermore, instead of sending to Canada 

 and many states several million dollars every year for wood ma- 

 terial, this vast sum of money would be secured by our own land 

 owners. Such a sum would represent almost a clear gain, because 

 the lands upon which this material would be produced are to-day 

 largely held at a loss, for the reason that there are necessary carry- 

 ing expenses with almost no income. 



The people must look at our forests in a different light. The 

 great heritage which our forefathers found has been practically 

 exploited. Nature cannot, unaided, longer be given the manage- 

 ment and control of such a large proportion of our State or be 

 depended upon to supply us with the necessary wood materials 

 which we demand. Forestry means growing wood crops. It is 

 similar to agriculture, in that lands are used for production; the 

 agriculturist raises food crops, while the forester produces wood 

 crops. It is just as essential that the forces of nature be 

 directed, in one case as in the other. The principles are almost 

 identical and the ordinarv land owners can master them in their 



