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prevail. Without doubt there will be money in such conservation. The advisability of moderated cuttings should be urged persistently, until it shall become fixed in the minds of timber owners and lumbermen, because it involves profit in the accumulating value of the stumpage and that of sawed product; for conservative cutting will prevent the overloading of the market for lumber.-American Lumberman.

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Correspondence.

N various occasions I have called attention to the practice of pasturing cattle on unseated lands, believing it be one of the chief incentives to forest burning. To convey a proper idea of the extent of this industry in Pennsylvania I would say that recently, while in southern Cambria County, I was informed by a reliable party that last summer one man, who may be styled a herder, had under his charge during the season more than 900 head of cattle, the property of many farmers who paid this herder a certain sum per head for caring for them during the grazing season. Although wood-pasture is, at the best, poor, cattle and sheep will live, and farmers find the enterprise profitable enough to warrant the undertaking. Observation will soon convince any reasonable person that a forest fire will cause a growth of wild grasses and tender shoots that otherwise would not exist; in a word, without the fires wild pasture would be practically out of the question. Now, as to the responsibility for this form of incendiarism, I will say this, the men who own these cattle, like others, are after the mighty dollar; some of them are honest, conscientious citizens and would not be guilty of, nor accessory to, any criminal act; others are different, or to use a common phrase they represent the several elements of society, good, bad and indifferent; and would it be unreasonable to suppose that some of the latter would be found in the ranks of our systematic forest burners? for, like the huckleberry man and dead wood merchant, they, too, are after the sheckles. In conclusion, I will say that my opportunities for gathering forest data have been exceptionally good, and I do not hesitate to say that it is my firm belief that, as above cited, a considerable percentage of our mountain fires are due to deliberate burnings by a class of people whose object is the creation of cattle pasture; and, further, I truly believe that the sooner the handful of our earnest workers in the cause of forestry will recognize this cattle industry as a serious menace to their work of reform, the sooner satisfactory solu

tion of the problem may be expected. The region is located along the borders of the Counties of Blair, Bedford and Cambria in the very heart of the Alleghenies; the country is badly burnt and offers average inducements for pasture. As a rule, the animals thus pastured are young stock taken back to the mountains in early May and returned to the farm in October; they are often branded in western style in order to establish the owner's claim. It is also customary to establish a salt lick; this once done, the herd is easily located. Lately, in looking up some wild land, correspondence and interviews with a number of owners of lands of this description convince me that public sentiment in many of the farming districts, after the timber is cut off, is to burn the land on account of its pasture possibilities and for huckleberries. Pasturing cattle on our mountains has become quite an industry, and is followed to a more or less extent in every section where unseated lands exist. J. G. DILLIN.

TH

The President on Forestry.

HE Annual Convention of the National Wholesale Lumber Dealers' Association was held at Washington, March 2, 1904. The members called at the White House, where they were received by the President who made a brief speech, as follows:

"I take a peculiar interest in the industry represented here to-day, not only because it is a great industry in itself, but because through its very nature it is of consequence to all our citizens. The lumber interest stands entirely apart from the mining interests—a gold mine, coal, iron, whatever it is; all you have got to do there is to take it out of the ground; once out, it is out; you are through with it. I hope more and more our people will grow, under the lead of this organization, to understand that that must not be so with our forests; that it is not a case of cutting a forest down and being through with it; that it is a case where, if we are to make our lumber interests permanent, as they should be made, that our object must be to conserve the forests by wise use. I have welcomed every opportunity to try to put the forestry experts of the government into closer touch with you gentlemen, because you are practically engaged in this great business, because I hope that from their association with you will come a little furthering of the indispensable process which is to result in making this industry a permanent industry in the country, instead of having it one which represents the skinning of a certain quantity of forest and then moving elsewhere."

The Illustrations.

N the earlier of Pennsylvania it was

IN

proportion of these entries were upon timbered land. The law was enacted to meet the demands miners and others for timber and stone

I practically covered by forests, and although for building, mining and other purposes. There

the great timbered areas of the State, which have been rapidly diminishing in size, are now usually found in the Allegheny and Blue Mountain Ranges, or the great Allegheny Upland, there are numerous instances of fine pieces of woodland still remaining in agricultural sections. Some of these are found in or near the large cities, being preserved for æsthetic or other purposes.

As indicative of the beauty of some of these detached bodies of timber, two illustrations are presented in this issue. The first shows a forest road, paralleling for a short distance and leading to Ridley Creek just below Media.

The second view was taken in Fairmount Park, on the East Bank of the Wissahickon Creek, in the city of Philadelphia, showing a beautiful walk below Indian Rock. The grove of pine trees with their dense shade making this a favorite resort for thousands during the heated term, where all can enjoy some of the beauties of nature.

Reform in Public Land Laws.

is much evidence, however, going to show that many entries have been made for purposes not contemplated by Congress. The Commission believes that Congress did not intend that this law should be used for the acquisition of large tracts of valuable timber land by individuals or corporations, but it has been used for such purposes. Carefulness and vigilance in its administration cannot prevent its being so used.

"Some means should be provided by which the matured timber upon the unreserved public lands may be sold, not only for the use of individuals, but also to supply the demands of commerce. There is now a provision of law for the free use of timber in limited quantities for domestic and mining purposes which meets the requirements of those needing small quantities, but there is no provision for the sale of timber except from forest reserves.

"The Commission is of the opinion that the Desert Land Law should, for the present, at least, be allowed to stand, with a few changes in detail. With the experience of the past for guidance, it is possible to enforce this law so that its essential

N October, President Roosevelt shall be complied with. When this is

I pointed a Commission to report upon the done, it is evident that the entryman will have

condition, operation and effect of the present land laws, and to recommend such changes as are needed to effect the largest practical disposition of the public lands to actual settlers who will build permanent houses on them, and to secure in permanence the fullest and most effective use of the resources of the public lands. This Commission consists of the Hon. W. A. Richards, Commissioner of the General Land Office, Chairman; Mr. F. H. Newell, Chief Engineer of the United States Reclamation Service; and Mr. Gifford Pinchot, Forester of the Department of Agriculture. From the preliminary report of the Commission the following excerpts have been collated for the information of readers of FOREST LEAVES:

"Most of the laws and the departmental practices which have grown up under them were framed to suit the lands of the humid region. The public lands which now remain are chiefly arid in character, hence these laws and practices are no longer well suited for the most economical and effective disposal of lands to actual settlers.

"Under the Timber and Stone Act, there has lately been an unusual increase in the number of entries, which cannot be accounted for by an increase in the demands of commerce or by any unusual settlement of the localities in which the greater part of the entries were made. A large

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earned a patent at an expense too great for speculative purposes.

"However carefully the boundaries of forest reserves may be selected, it is practically inevitable that more or less agricultural land should be included. Such land usually lies in the narrow valleys of the rivers. Its occupation for agricultural purposes is in the interest of the region in which it lies and of the settlers who would make homes upon it. The presence of the latter in the reserves would, under wise laws, operate distinctly for the protection and general advantage of the reserves. It is essential to the prosperity of the public land States both that the forest reserves should be maintained and that all of the land within their borders should be put to its best use.

"To open the reserves to homestead entry without restriction would be, in effect, to abolish them. It is therefore recommended that the agricultural character of the lands should be officially ascertained, as has been the habit hitherto in the case of agricultural and mineral lands.”

The Commission recommends methods of procedure to secure the best results to the Government and appear to be in the direction of sound forest protection. The Council of the Pennsylvania For estry Association has formally endorsed the repor to the members of Congress from Pennsylvania.

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