The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1913-12-16
SPLENDID ADDRESS
ON CUT-OYER LANDS
FORESTRY CLUB ENTERTAINED
LAST NIGHT BY w. d. HUMISTON
OF POTLATCH.
Gave Members Some Valuable Pointer.
Concerning the Problems to be
Solved in Idaho.

1
address delivered before the Asst
ciated Foresters of the University
Idaho last night by w. D. Humistol
land agent of the Potlatch Lumbe
company. The attendance was larg
and Mr.. Humiston proved to have
clear conception of the subject, holdin
his auditors in rapt attention durin
! the entire time in which he spoke.
The information impaired to tn
members of the Forestry club was val
liable and instructive and the clul
considered it fortunate that it was abl
to secure Mr.. Humiston for the address
last night. In part Mr.. Humisto1
said:
How to Utilize Lands.
''The question of how to utilize oul
cut-over land to the best advantage
is one of the greatest problems which
this generation is called upon to solve
and the problem must be solved before
Idaho will come into it's full measure
of prosperity.
This is probably the only gathering
of forestry students and experts in the
United States that l would dare to
stand up before and state that, in so
far as most of the privately owned
timber land in northern Idaho is con-
cerned, fully half, if not more, has a
greater value for agricultural uses
than for reforestation.
Lauds Shattuck's Work.
THAT have the temerity to make a
statement so much at variance with
the commonly accepted teachings in
most forestry schools is because I have
known DR.. Shattuck, the head of your
department, for a number of years and
know that his teachings are thorough
ly practical at all times, rather than
merely theoretical In some of the
famous eastern schools the theory
seems to be prevalent that land which
has once produced trees should be kept
in trees until the crack of doom, re-
gardless of it's topography, the char
acter CT it's soil, ease of clearing, prox-
unity to transportation and markets or
the demand for cheap land which can
be made into productive farms with in
tel1igent work.
Instruction is Probable.
81 don't think DR.. Shattuck ever un-
1ertook to teach you any such theories, |
or the fellows have known that came |
rom this school seemed to have had a
great deal of stress laid on their prac-
ical training, and in this showed a
marked contrast to some of the high
proved theorists 1 have kown other
chools to turn loose on an unsuspect-
ng world. The boys 1 have known
hat came from your school have been
BILE to get over the trails like old
ruisers; would at least try to ride
nything with hair on; could pack as
rnery cayuse as ever came off bunch
rass pasture in the spring; could
ght forest fires not only with spirit
nd determination but with judgment; {
nd were not afraid to leave a trail and |
i've through the brush for five miles, l
necessary. /
~
Adapted to Farming.
"It is because you have had sane,
ractical training that I say to you,
hat l would not have the courage to :
W to any other forestry class in
merica, that most cut-over land In
laho, aside from that in rough, :
ountainous locality, is better adapted :.
farming and stock raising than for =
forestation.
"And don't be afraid that in adopt =
G this view you will prejudice your
ances for good positions. You fell
ws will be in charge of extensive
erations in the utilization of forest
lste and will be turning out valuable
products of the lumber industry
len the fellow who is taught that all Ii
tower land should be reforested is CT
lding down job at $500 month H
robbing the squirrels of their is
nter supplies in getting seeds with of
ich to refOrest land that should be th
)ducing milk, butter and eggs, and es
IT, pork and mutton.
Million Acres for Farming. ia
l imagine there are now some 200, -
acres of cut-over land in Idaho he
that eventually there will be at 80
st 1,006,000 acres suitable for farm eq
and stock raising. This land con- o''
8 of meadows and bottoms and gen -
rolling hills. The soil is generally
client and is underlaid at a good
tn with clay subsoil. It has all
wonderful natural advantages of Wi
famous Palouse country and other tire
d farming localities, and in addition ina
the further advantage of greater Wis
sture and larger content Of hui inc