HYDROLOGY OP NEW YORK 



871 



its officers realized that the investment in the plants was so 

 large that one of the first steps was to guarantee their perma- 

 nency by providing for a future supply of raw materials. This 

 led to an extensive acquisition of timber lands by this company, 

 as well as by a number of independent companies. At the 

 present time, in 1904, the most of the large companies operating 

 in this State own their timber lands, from which by a rational 

 system of forestry they produce their own timber. 



The company has given attention to forest fires and has made 

 considerable outlays for preventing and extinguishing the same. 

 It has also supported such legislation in this State as will provide 

 for a patrol system, and has in various ways tried to interest 

 the public in this subject in Maine and other states. Thus far 

 its work in this connection has been largely missionary, but prac- 

 tical good will undoubtedly follow. 



The first great benefit, therefore, which has resulted from the 

 formation of the International Paper Company is its effect upon 

 forestry. 



This company has also advocated a rational system of water 

 storage in New York and other states where water storage is 

 applicable. Indeed, the whole subject has been quickened by 

 this company, as has forestry. The powerful influence of the 

 International Paper Company has made water storage a live 

 subject in New York, and the attention of the paper industry 

 generally has been specially directed to this consideration. One 

 value of such an aggregation of capital is the amount of in- 

 fluence it may bring to bear upon subjects like this, where indi- 

 viduals acting independently could accomplish little or nothing 

 because of their inability to act together. The second work 

 accomplished by this company, therefore, is of very material 

 assistance in the inauguration of water storage. 



The company has also spent large sums of money improving 

 its plants, balancing its pulp and paper producing capacity, and 

 bringing its mills to a higher state of efficiency, the fundamental 

 idea being to give stability and permanency to the industry. 

 Not only have foreign markets been sought, but it has intro- 

 duced improvements in organization and administration of its 

 mills and affairs. It has also introduced scientific methods, as 



