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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1948-1-7, Page 6Britain Plans Reforestation Of 5,000,000 Acres Within the next five years the British Government is to spend $80,000,000 upon extending and re- stocking woodland areas through- out the British Isles, David Cur - nock writes for United Kingdom Information Service. This is only the first part of a 50 -year plan during which Britain proposes to develop 5,000,000 acres of forest- land. Ultimately this acreage will meet 35 per cent of the home de - nand for timber as against four per cent before the war, when the United Kingdom government paid $252,000,000 a year for imported timber. This amititiuu.: scheme is a re- ply to critics inclined to say that Britain is not making enough ef- fort to help herself to meet the home demands for timber. What these critics forget is that Bri- tain's forestland has been twice depleted within little more than a quarter of a century in order to conserve shipping space during two wars to maintain the steady flow of vital necessities, such as munitions and food, to the Allied Armies abroad. * * * ' The period between the two wars did not give the depleted forest in Britain time to recover in spite of the setting up in 1919 of a commission to deal with for- estry problems. Britain has a small acreage of woodland, only five per cent of her acreage coming under that ca- tegory, but with the development of 5,000,000 acres within the next 50 years she will meet more of her demands, and also have re- serves for emergency. Timber is used for such vital purposes in Britain as housebuild- ing, for furniture in its many forms, railway sleepers, goods wa- gons, telegraph poles, pit props for mines, and many other things. Research in recent years by Bri- tish scientists has also brought more uses for wood. For instance pulped and chemically treated wood can now be used in the man- ufacture of artificial silk while it plays a large part in modern air- craft construction. The famous Mosquito lightning fighter boni- er ah -craft, the finest of its type in the world, and one which made so many devastating raids on Ber- lin with such small losses, is made of specially treated and moulded plywood. The forestry commission is re- sponsible for the ambitious plans in Britain. Of the 5,000,000 acres target, 3,0.00,000 will be newly planted forest -land. The remaining 2,000,000 acres will be developed from existing woodland. When the scheme is fully working it will provide skilled empoyment for 50, - STUFF AND THINGS "Shouldn't I be gettin' more'n a couple blocks to a bottle o'pop?" 000 men in the forests, and 200,000 in forest industries generally. Private owners of woodland in Britain have been invited, and are readily responding, to the call for timber development. Under a de- dication scheme 784 private own• ers of 408,449 acres of woodland have informed the forestry coal' mission of their willingness to grow timber on their land for all time, They will receive a ,govern- ment grant of 25 per cent of the net annual expenditure until such time as the woodland becomes self-supporting, * * 4, The forestry commission at pre- sent holds about 1,500,000 acres of land, of nide!, actual forest is about 900,000 acres. Of this 500,- 000 acres are a'•eady planted. The average number of trees to the acre on British Forestry Commis- sion plantations is approximately 1,700 so that the total number of trees is roughly 850,000,000, repre- senting about 18 trees per head of Britain's population. Much of the laud to be used in Connection with forestry is net suitable for farming, so that the farming projects of Britain, which call for greatly increased produc- tion, will not be handicapped. Nor will the public be robbed of the famous beauty spots, some of which are situated in woodland. Many are 'to remain as national forest parks for public recreation with cheap camping facilities for holidday makers and nature lov- ers. By MARY NELSON ":happy new yearl" The cry echoed and re-echoed down the street as Penny made her way toward the bus stop. Every- where about her people were light' hearted and gay and busily wishing their friends good fortune for the coming year. She buttoned her coat at the neck and turned up the collar. It was a bitterly cold day and she told herself she would be happy to reach home and stay in for the night. Let those with pio- neer blood go out and stand in the raw wind down at Dayton Circle just to blow a silly horn at mid- night ostensibly to usher in the new year. Penny had always been known at home as a sensible girl with good common sense, She was proud of that reputation and now that site lived in the city alone she was more determined than ever to live up to it. She didn't want to become a sophisticated, worldly wise city girl. Thus, she summed up ment- ally, it was just as well she didn't. "Going out tonight, Penny The words interrupted her thoughts and she turned to greet Ruby, a fellow worker who was al- ways going out with someone she called "Beanie." You could always tell the status of Ruby's romance by her snood. If she was exuberant to the point of being giddy, she was +Si ��✓v I I I 1 e7 "But her foot missed and came down on a sheet of ice." going to see Beanie that night; if she was quiet and petulant, site was downright rude with a sarcastic twist to every remark she made, then they had quarreled. Penny smiled. "No, I'm not, Ruby," she replied. Odd that she should feel such emptiness within her as she said the words. She not- ed Ruby's quick glance of sympathy and it irritated her. "I don't know anyone here," she defended herself. Then added curtly, "And anyway, I wouldn't dream of going out in such ghastly weather." Ruby shrugged. "Olt, well. if you feel that way about it . . happy new year, Penny." She hurried away before the wretched girl could make any response. "Now why did I act so nasty?" she asked under her breath. Ruby hadn't meant any offense—sate was simply so wrapped up in her own little world that she felt sorry for any- one who had no Beanie to whom to belong. She was essentially a gener- ous person and now Penny had de- liberately hurt her. As she stood in the middle of the sidewalk, angry and discour- aged, she saw her bus speeding Canada's Wedding Gift to Princess Elizabeth—This wedding gift of silver was presented by Prime Minister King on behalf of Canada to Princess Elizabeth. Learning that Princess Elizabeth had desired antique silver for a table service, selection of the silver was made, for Canada, by Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone. The service consists of a George 1 plain, two -handled siver cup and cover, made in London in 1720 by Paul Lamerie; four silver salvers, made in 1734 by Paul Lamerie; two single silver candlesticks; four silver candlesticks and three silver candelabra, reproductions of Paul Lamerie; 24 silver -gilt dinner plates; a case of table silver. recklessly down the street and with- out another thought to anything else she hurried toward the corner, "Wait, oh, wait(" she called, runn- ing breathlessly. No one else was waiting, however, and he careened sharply off the curb, hurrying on his way. "Oh, dear!" She burst into tears at this new dissappoint- ment and reached blindly for the curb. But her foot missed and came down on a sheet of ice sending her into an astonished heap in the street. For a moment she was too stun- ned to move. She heard footsteps hurrying toward her and managed to sit up dazedly. A man knelt down beside her but his face was a blur of features, "Take it easy," he admonsilted, placing an arm a- cross her back. She tried to focus hc. eyes upon him and hadn't quite succeeded when he cried, "Penny! Why, Penny Lindsay! I1'hat in the world are you doing out here?" And then everything cleared and she saw the handsome, blond fea- tures of a former school friend. "Olt, Alan!'' Tears tumbled over each other in hasty exit. He helped her to her feet. "Gee, it's good to see someone from the old home town. I've been so doggone lonely," he told her, manipulating a hand- kerchief around her nose and eyes. "I'm lonely, too," she gasped. "I've only been here a month." "Say! What are you doing to- night? Anything?" "N•nothing." Her heart skipped a beat in anticipation. "Then why don't we go some- where and talk over old times? Gee, I'm dying to hear some gossip abort the Turners and the Mit- diets and all the t •st, Will you Penny?" And Penny smiled happily this time. "Yes, Alan. Even this ghast- ly weather couldn't stop me from talking over old times with you."' As Interpreted A young wife, wishing to an- nounce the birth of her first child to a friend in a distant city-, tele- graphed: "Isaiah 9:0" Which passage be- gins: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given." Her friend, unfamiliar with the Scriptures, said to her husband. "Margaret evidently has a boy who weighs nine pounds and six ounces, but why on earth did they name him Isaiah," THIS CURIOUS WORLD By William Ferguson THiS NOTICE WAS ISSUED BYiHE MAINE DEVELOPMENrCOMMISSION 10 PREVENT HUNTfNe ACCIDENTS. 0F 00 Ft Ds 7U wgiK o FOUg LEGS AND THEY Do Noi RESEMBLE A MAN IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR MANNER. COPA. 1946 00'555 SERVICE. INC. %e T. M. AEC. U, B. PAT: 07. ferso-r(ope,, OR CHAMBERED GAfgrin[l.A.Ug K THE ONLY LIVING SPECIES OP A LONE, LINE OF FOSSIL FORMS OF MOLLUSKS THAT REACHES BACK AT LEAST .SOC,,,4 ru av ,.4.91s: "A SION PAINTER; CAN PAINT SLow FAST/" .says . JACK KENTTA, ),1 fluri.8r� M»NFNFroY'd A Haven For Mamie By 4NNA E. WILSON Wind, broad -shouldered Joel said, was just air in notion; all wind was the same. But Mannie, putting a tired hand to her bead, pressing it against that spot of pain above her eye, decided that Joel must be wrong. There were all kinds ' of wind; but the worst was this wind that blew for days until it got into your head and burned a tight band about your forehead. Joel came in to dinner. "It must let up soon, Mannie. It's never blown this long before." "It'll never stop, Joel." Joel's kind, blunt face looked worried. "We've got a good start here, Mannie. You like it here when the wind doesn't blow. Maybe running away isn't the solution. Maybe any other kind of life would have drawbacks too, Mannie. Seems like we might find a better way." "You can't stop the wind, Joel." When Joel had gone, Mannie washed the dishes, the pain above her eye becoming each moment more unbearable. She reached for an aspirin, thinking of Joel, and stopped, It did no good to say the wind wouldn't blow tomorrow, there'd be the next year and tlit next, Joel could sell the ranch and get work in a factory. She could see him in 15 years, his shoulders stooped, Isis hair thinner and the swing gone from his walk. Joel wouldn't blame her, but he wouldn't be happy. Joel would never be !appy anywhere away front the prairie. That was what made a so hard, so impossible for her. She looked out and nowhere was there anything but sameness, no- where except that old bluff, border- ing Dead Man's canyon, a deep cleft sheltering a slough. :I.* Roanie was surprised at being saddled so early in the day. Ile jumped as spurs dug into hint and lie swung around and ]leaded into the wind, When Mannie came to the bluff she reined in Roasie and sat looking down into the canyon. It was narrow, steep with few foot- holds. She slid down from Roanie and looked down to where a thin sliver of light, water, was barely visible — it was quiet down there — the wind could never reach you. She began to climb down, her feet slipping on the shale and stone. She rolled down the last 20 feet ignominiously. She lay quiet on a tiny beach, re- lief seeping through her, The sun was warns and she relaxed and slept, like a linty rag on the sand. When she woke clean -eyed clear- headed, the sun was slanting against the wall. It was time to get back. She could stand anything. She glanced upwards and caught her breath. Nowhere was there a single foothold. She proceeded cautiously, exam- ining the walls, coining at last to a shelving cave. Above the entrance was printed in rough letters: Wind - haven, 11'indhaven. Someone had been here before her. Someone had caste here to escape from the wind, just as she had conte. She advanced farther into the cave and her foot struck a light object — a comb that some woman might have worn. If a woman had conte here years ago, she must have had some way ofgetting back. Mannie hunted furiously. It was simple when she found it. A rough hair rope, hidden by the side of the boulder, exactly the sante color as rock and shale. She seized it eagerly and began to climb. She reached the rope's end and found it anchored securely by a huge rock, invisible to those above. She pulled herself over the rine of the canyon. She heard a nicker farther along and rounded a curve to find Roanie grazing. She rode him with the wind be- hind her—but it was no longer a fearsome thing, something from which there was no escape but in flight. Windhaven she had only to climb down the canyon to sleep securely on the small dry beach. Why they could spend whole days there, she and Joel. Dampened salt can be restored by the addition of a little corn- starch. One teaspoon of corn- starch to six of salt is about the right proportion. MQPSY by GLADYS PARKER YOU'D BETTER SOME BACK FOR ONE MORE SITTING, I DONT BELIEVE 1 HAVE THE NOSE QUITE RIGHTL_/— 44, ,s ct.o (tfcs tae , ., • •0 ... and the stare look down on the birth of a new year. From farm and forest, village and city, the citizens of a great and free country scan the new horizon with courage and optimism. Meeting a challenge with confidence is an old Canadian tradition ... and in presenting The Dow Award to deserving Canadians we have the opportunity of seeing, over and over again, ample proof that this tradition is no myth. As the clock strikes twelve and we greet a new year ... it is good fo know that the heart of Canada is strong ... that Canadians have faith in their destiny and in their ability to shape it well. * '• K ' 0 w�JAWARD cf lg,,,01ea ,/01• l 1s!dnodtng V ICI'oielll now nngwEttY * MONTREAL .wawaa:x;.0 MUTT AND JEFF --And What D'Yah Know? So Soon After Christmas v�c►az - -'BUT,t3EFi; THEROs No LIFE OR LIGHT M THIS ' IAMOND! MERRY CHRISTMAS, y; EMCEE, HONEY/ A LITTLE ENGAGEMENT RING FROM ME To You! By BUD FISHER WHAT Docs SHE EXPECT FOROS 1,9S POwERROUSE- ELECTRIC MCAT COMPANY? LIGHT! 150 MATTE OF 111 ' ,1.115.45 NO SPARKLE! IT DOESN'T GLITTEI OR SHINE! THERE -NO LI}(T IN IT' STORAGE BATTEi2IEs i perms 25f A bA'V • rs . !Am llpllf: O