New-York tribune., 1908-12-21
WANTS FIVE MILLIONS
National Forester GiUes Reasons for
Asking Increased Appropriation.
rFrom The Tribune Bureau ]

washington. Dec m-Gffrord Pinchot national
forester has asked Congress for an appropriation
exceeding that of last year by 100000 making
total request of S. oooooO and this demand coming
soon after Mr. Pirchot's assertion that within hYe
years he would make the national forests self
supporting. If not revenue producing has occa-
stoned surprise among some members or ooth
houses Of Congress. Among those members OF the
Senate and House who keep posted on the deve-
opr1ent Of the national forests however, there Is
obviously surprise. and II seems entirely PROB
able that Mr.. Pinchot's request will be granted
II promised to make the national forests self
supporting in FIVE years did II in less than three
wears" said Mr.. Pinchot when asked for an ex-
planation of the situation to-day. The Forests
would be self-supporting now were II not Tor
change in policy which I made time ago.
with the approval of both committees Of Congress
Were the national forests administered on purely
business principles should raise the capital
needed TO develop them by mortgagng part or
the land, II necessary. retain adequate force
of men, and then, being in a position to market
entire product. should Se able to show
handsome balance the credit side OF the ledger
But do not do the business OF the govern
ment in that way. Our force Is entirely inadequate
to do more business than are now doing, and
It is IN order somewhat TO increase that force, TO
market more Of the available timber and better
protect the immensely valuable property which
conserving. rather than exploiting that l
have asked Congress for the additional $2OOoW
this year, and 1 prepared 10 show precisely
why need It. and where it should be expended
Among the reasons which I submit in Justi-
fcation of the increased appropriation 1 can snow
for instance, that we doing a business
hich has increased 46 per cent with an Increased
expense of only per cent, but there is limit TO
the amount Of business it is possible to do with a
given capital
After showing that a reasonable expenditure or
money would make available from FIVE to ten times
the timber now cut, and that without the slightest
damage to the forests. Mr.. Pinchot took up the
future Of the national forests, saying that 1t was a
modest estimate that forest land would show an
average wood production. under proper care OF
thirty cubic feet to the acre: that from 1oOOoWO
acres there could be cut each year over &00VOVO
cubic feet-approx!mately 2o0O0.000O00 board reel-
and this without impairing the supply. AT the
prices which now obtain in the more settled parts
OF the country this would bring in an income OF
from $50 900 600 to $4,000 annually. The govern
r7ent now holds in its rational reserves 16s00VN
acres Of timber so that It is easy TO foresee Wnat
a source Of revenue this must ultimately become
provfded of course that members OF Congress from
adjacent sections do insist that the bulk Of the
governments timber be given away TO their fort
unate constituents.
While Mr Pinchot did not go into the political
side of the question. il is fact that II is sich
arguments as he presented which incline the mem
hers of Congress to a liberal policy with the ma
tional forests and thoroughly are Eastern Sena-
tors and Representatives awakening to the fact that
all sections are now paying the annual deficits for
forest preservation administration that they
likely, in the future resist the efforts of their
Western colleagues TO give away the valuable
rroduCts Of this policy.