University of Southern Mississippi - Southerner Yearbook (Hattiesburg, MS)

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Qlnmieruatinn nf Elinrwta---An Appml HE forests of Mississippi constitute one of her richest assets. Today the manufacture' of lumber and other timber products ranks first among the industries of our state. The future of this valuable enterprise is wholly dependent upon our attitude in the consumption and the conservation of our resources at hand. The United States Forest Ser- vice estimates that under the present system of cutting and wasting the timber, our supply for commercial purposes will be practically exhausted within the short time of thirty-five years. In the light of this fact it behooves our people to study carefully the agents of de- struction and the possible means of effective conservation. The forest fire, which is oftentimes looked upon as being beneficial, is one of our greatest enemies. Fire not only injures and kills the more mature trees, but also destroys the undergrowths and seedlings, which contain the only hope of future replacement. With the fire comes the destruction of soil humus followed by surface erosion. Conservative figures show that Mississippi is sustaining an annual loss of two dollars per acre on all areas swept by the flames. To this estimate must be added the loss from fire spreading to buildings and fences, which frequently occurs. ' Another destructive agent to our forests is the unlimited stock range. Cattle destroy the younger trees that escape the fire, and hogs search for the seeds and roots that lie be-A neath the ground. While these forces are cutting off future possibilities, the present supply of timberise being rapidly and indiscriminately exhausted. We are cutting over our lands, sparing only those trees that are too small for the mills to receive. Many of these are broken down and destroyed in the clearing. In this connection we should like to recommend the forestry sys- tem of Germany. In that country where timber is truly obtained at a premium, no tree is cut until approved by oflicial authority, and provision is made for planting anotherin its stead. Again, the common method of tapping or boxing our pines for turpentine is a very wasteful practice. As a result the trunk of the tree is greatly exposed to fire and insects and its strength is weakened before the storm. Our people need to learn the lesson of conservation, and co-operate with the forces in protecting our woodland. Our Federal Government under the so-called Weeks law has a standing appropriation of 3100,000 among the states in behalf of this cause. Under the liberal provision that each state furnish an equal amount of her allotment, only twenty-one states at present are receiving the benefit of this offer. We should like to call attention to the Work of the Foresty Association of Texas and the laws enacted by her legislature, which might serve as a model for Mississippi. Through the directors of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, a qualified forester has been appointed, who has supervision over the timber interests of the state. This forester with the directors has the power to purchase State Reservations, and to provide adequate means to protect the forests at large from the destructive agents at work. It is estimated that from forest fires alone we are sustaining a loss annually of 13 cents on each EE100 worth of real estate. How much more economical it would be if an equiva- lent tax were used to conserve our resources! We hope the time is near at hand when Mis- sissippi will provide adequate laws and appropriations to care for the forests of the state. Agents of Destruction: Means of Conservation: Fire Federal Co-operation Overflow Organized Supervision Range Reservation Erosion Education Saw-mill State Legislation Tapping Taxation 24

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0Bur Elnfuut Ilnhuatrgmftlliv Hllanufariure nf Haprr O APER for magazines, periodicals, newspapers, wrapping purposes, and manufactured articles is increasingly in demand in all civilized countries, the United States being the greatest consumer. The fiber used for making paper is largely determined by its cheap- ness, and in the early stages of this development rags were used. Later a grass was used and then wood pulp was introduced. At first spruce was the only wood thought to be fitted for the making of paper but now there are about twenty varieties used. They are: spruce, hemlock, poplar, balsam fir, pine, beech, maple, white fir, cotton wood, chestnut, douglas fir, tamarack, elm, basswood, birch, ash, and cucumber. With the exception of the fir trees and the tamarack all of these grow extensively in Mississippi. The Southern Paper Company organized in 1912 established the first paper mill in Mississippi, a million dollar plant, in Moss Pointg and in June 1913 the first paper was made. The refuse from the various sawmills of Moss Point and nearby towns that for years and years has been burned in tremendous quantities is now being used for the pro- duction of paper. Only the pine slabs and wood are used, the bark and small rough twigs not being desirable for smooth paper. It is estimated that every cord of pine slabs that goes into the mill will average 1000 pounds of wood pulp, which, when made into paper, brings from 7 to 75 cents per pound, or S140 to S150 per ton. The plant has attempted as yet only the various grades of wrapping paper, though the experiments show that this can be bleached to a light tan color and newspapers have been printed on it. This mill turns out about 35 tons daily or an average of 12 car loads per weekg yet this is not nearly enough to supply the present demand in the State of Mississippi and with the present advance in price it is clearly seen that Mississippi can make her paper much more cheaply than she can buy it. Besides cutting down the expense by establishing paper mills in Mississippi, large numbers of people are given employment. The mill at Moss Point employes two hundred people who are divided into shifts of eight hours each, the mill being in operation twenty-four hours per day except Sunday. The building of a million dollar paper mill in Hattiesburg in the course of a year is under consideration. Hattiesburg is a good place for such a plant since the conditions essential to the success of this enterprise are favorable: viz, an inexhaustible supply of fresh water that is chemically pure, an enormous supply of pine slabs-these last being obtainable from the refuse of the large sawmills at a minimum cost: and good facilities for furnishing its manufactured products economical transportation to market. All three of these factors are found combined at this point. The grades of paper at this proposed mill will be in the form of cardboard which will be used in making all kinds of paper boxes. 23

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