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PRI

State Reservations.

RIMARILY, forestry is a business proposition, whether considered from the standpoint of a private individual or from that of the State. If a lumberman cannot obtain his profit by putting into operation the methods of cutting, logging, etc., which are demanded in forestry management, no one blames him for not carrying out those demands. If he did business at a loss, he would be known as an impractical business man, and our lumbermen are anything else than impractical. If the smaller wood-lot owner does not get more service and value from his wood-lot, by regarding certain common-sense principles for the improvement and conservation of his woods, then it is foolish for him to consider them. It has been demonstrated, however, that under proper systems of forestry, conservative lumbering can be made more profitable than the old reckless and wasteful methods; also, that with a little care a wood-lot can be made to double or treble its former value.

When a State finds it necessary to practice forestry, it is usually for other purposes than a direct return in money from the forest, although this should never be lost sight of. In fact, even State forests should be managed from a business basis, and the other purposes must necessarily be accomplished.

wise.

Only in rare cases would it be other

The State must look after the prosperity and continuance of its industries, and there are many depending upon the forest for their raw material. The wealth of the State must be considered, in so far as it is possible, to have each acre of land yield its largest and most valuable crop, and in our State thousands of acres will become of value only after a crop of trees is started or maintained upon them.

The question of water-supply, too, must be gravely looked into. Drought and freshets are becoming more frequent and severe. The utilization of streams as a source of power and for navigation is becoming more expensive and uncertain. The supply of pure water for our cities and towns is imperative. The remedy is the proper protection of the forest cover and forest floor on the water-sheds and at the head-waters of our streams. The health of the citizens of the State is now considered a subject for legislation. Long since, our civilization has abandoned the ancient and barbaric customs of the Romans of exposing or destroying in some way the weak and helpless. Altruism, although still tempered with selfishness, has changed conditions, and the State spends millions annually for the care, assistance or cure of its many sick and unhealthy citizens, and in pro

tecting the healthy ones. Impure air is the cause of not a little of the trouble. There is nothing better for the production of pure air, or the purification of vitiated air, than a tree, and a forest increases the product many-fold.

In this age of hurry and bustle, it is becoming more and more necessary that those placed under the strain of office- and shop-work must take rest and recuperate. There is no better place for this than within a forest. Pure air and pure water are plentiful; the mind is entirely free from the rules and restraints of community life, and after a few days' touch with nature one can be himself again.

All of these objects the State reservations must fulfill. To-day, it is impossible to find within our State a tract large enough, or having timber large enough, to keep a medium-sized sawmill in stock for more than a few years. The lumber industry is declining, which means a lack of support to many families in the wooded districts, decrease in the value of property, and, perhaps, emigration to other States. Even mine-props are now being brought in large quantities from West Virginia, instead of being obtained in the neighborhood of our mines. In this way, money and labor are going away from our State. When the State owns and regulates two million acres of land, it will be able to counteract this condition to a very great extent. This land will give regular employment for thousands of men, who will be needed for the labor required in improving and harvesting the forest crop, making roads, etc. At least, an approximated amount of timber, pulp-wood, acidwood, ties, poles, etc., can be depended upon each year, and all this means an ultimate revenue to State and county.

It is still not sufficiently understood that the money spent for the purchase and improvement of State reservations is an investment and not an expense. Inside of twenty-five years, the State Treasury should receive an equivalent of 21⁄2 per cent. annual interest, to be derived from the sale of wood and other forest products, or from any proper utilization of the reserves. It is true that this income cannot be expected at present, for in many instances the reserves are in such a shape that nothing can be obtained from them. It will be necessary to increase the amount of the investment by making permanent improvements in the way of planting, thinning, building of roads, etc., as well as to afford sufficient protection, and then, instead of yielding no revenue, as at present, they will yield a high revenue on a larger investment. In the past year one reserve has yielded almost 10 per cent. on all the money expended for its purchase and for its improvement during the year.

In addition to this, very little of the land now

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