The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-12-08
TO ANAL CANAL
TIMBER LANDS
OF CONTINENT
Proposed Gigantic Combination
of Lumber Interests
TO PREVENT DEFORESTATION
Immense Holdings in This Country,
Canada, and Mexico viii Permit
Scientific Tree Cutting.

Washington, Dec. ST. b. Walker,
the largest timber land holder in Min
Hesota and the holder OF hundreds OF
thousands Of acres Of white pine lands
m Northern California, is in Washing
ION taking the initial steps in what
looks to be an amalgamation into =
cooperative association OF all the
Numbered lands In this country, Cana
Ia and Mexico. Mr.. Walker denies
that his scheme has anything to do
with reported merger with the Wey-
erhauser interests of St. Paul, though
that merger would form, he admits,
a logical beginning for the more gen.
aral scheme Of combination.
Within the last few days there has
been a meeting here OF Mr.. Walker
and Mr. Mccormick, who represents
the Weyerhauser interests on the
Pacific, and General Manager Hines,
who looks after the more eastern prop
critics of the Weyerhausers. For
number of years, said Mr. Walker,
there has been talk on the part OF
outside interests of promoting the
merger OF the two concerns already
owning more than a million acres OF
timbered lands in Minnesota, Idaho,
Wisconsin, Oregon, and California.
Under the present tariff protection
however. Mr.. Walker declares he al
WAYS has refused to become party TO
. anv merger. But the possibility OF
a lowering of the duty on lumber
makes him feel the necessity for a
general combination to which the
Government shall be at least an in
terested spectator, II not a real part
ner
Mr.. Walker says his aim is to avoid
the necessity Of cutting down the Tor
ests he holds and that are held by
other persons in this country. But II
the tariff walls are to be lowered
there must be some check put on cut
ting in Canada and Mexico. That
check is best guaranteed by acquiring
the Canadian and Mexican forests.
Then the tariff walls can be thrown
down and the American forests owned
by the bulk Of the present owners,
acting in an associated capacity, VIII
he masters OF the situation.
Mr. Walkers AFFAIR with the Govern
ment lust now is to find some way lot
lowering the taxation levied by local
governments on forests left standing
That taxation, he said, forced MIN
against his will to strip absolutely all
his lands I'm Wisconsin In order 10
avoid having his property eaten up by
taxes. To prevent the detorestation
~ the land. he says il is necessary 10
have a supply OF timber that would
last through eighty years before be
Ginning TO cut e. In that way WIN
intelligent reforestation, the cutting
could continue heavily relorestea
when the circuit Is completed
Such a system requires absolulely
that the timber be under one manage
mont This solidarity OF manage
ment according to MIR Walker S ten
tatiye plan. would be- achieved by TAX
ING ON tlmbered lands held In smaller
tracts and paying for them WIN
Sonds common or preferred stock
and letting the profits 20 10 u''lue''u'
and interests. ,-.,,,,os r,r,i.
eularly on the Pacific Coast are az.
enough for him 10 bebin '"'' az. -,
wear system with three large MUS ,s.. d,
time. and n It we're not for the loc ,,i
taxation ON standing timber he w oudu
be able TO run his mills at prom,
nat would make a fair return on Ihs
vbo,e estate Of something IKE th'u
a. million acres. A.t,ro the
Nv Walker appeared before IN, IN,
ways and Means Committee recently .sS
and asked for the retention oi nv
Suty ms at present. lie Is now 3u 10y
nre1arlng for It's possible removal, p y,
hunting In the forest service anu -. :,
,Se National Association for mean ,n
snoreby cooperation between lhe !"
wi and Federal authorities can y,
Srousht to bear on private lana 10 "
Woye a somewhat OF It's taxation 81,
"' uc will then be ready to begin ,o ,n,
o,sbty.vcar circuit on his lanu; , lo..,
,o eU The absorption OF smaller nolu ..,.,
IN n cooperative plan ana 10 snv h s,
mer long discussed In vain under u n's =
,saria Of all the big holdings west "
10 Mississippi