The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1916-12-13
NATIONAL FOREST
BUSINESS EXPANDING

Forest administration last year was
characterized, according to Henry s..
Graves, Chief of the Forest Service,
in his annual report which has just
been published, by an increase Of
more than $4,000 in receipts,
which totaled over $2,800,000, by
rapid progress in land classification,
by material advance in develop
ment work.. in which road building is
one of the largest factors, and by
relatively small losses from forest
fires.
The receipts from timber were
over 81, 100000, a 20 per cent in
crease, while grazing receipts were
s1,2O0,ooO, and water power rentals
brought in 100000. "At present"
says Mr.. Graves, "the receipts from
the National Forests are approx
|mately three-fourths of what it
costs to protect them and carry on
the current business. In addition
to this cost, however, there are ex-
penses which are primarily in the
nature of investments" Roads and
other improvements, reforestation
of denuded lands, and classification
and survey work are examples. "All
expenses connected with the Nation
al Forests, including these invest
ment expenses as well as the cost OF
operation, approximate $5,275, ,0OO."
The business of the National For
ests, Mr.. Graves states, is on q thor
oughly sound basis. "An efficient
organization has been built up to
handle the work of protection of the
Forests and of developing the re-
sources. The rapidly increasing use
|of the Forests points not only to
constantly greater service to the
public, but also to increased finan-
cial returns"
Increased Returns in Prospect
A steady increase in the returns
from the National Forests is ex-
pected by the Chief Forester. In
spite of the unstable and unhealthy
condition of the lumber market q
steady and increasing local demand
for National Forest timber is created
by the upbuilding of the country.
This demand will be constantly
growing even though sales for the
general market will fluctuate with
the prevailing business conditions
The returns from grazing will IN
crease as more stock uses the For
ests. in consequence of range I'M
provement and the development OF
new range, it is stated:
A Moderate annual increase lor
three years in the. grazing fee ls
contemplated which, if put into op-
Grafton, will eventually bring the
igrazing receipts to more than $2,-
0OO. 900 a year, as compared with
approximately $1,200,000 in the fs-
cal wear 1916. It is pointed out
that when regulation of grazing on
the Forests began low. scale OF
lcharges was adopted. uring the last
ten years the value of the forage to
5he stockmen has materially increas-
ed because of the improved methods
of handling the stock which have
been introduced. While some read
Ijustment of grazing charges has ta-
ken place, there has been no gerer-
al advance in the rates.
Instances are quoted which show
that grazing fees on private or In
dian lands adjacent to the National
Forests are much higher than those
charged by the Government for Ma
ltional Forest range. In one locality
in Montana, it is stated, 81 cents per
Ihead,was paid for grazing sheep on
Indian lands, while a charge of only
liz 1-2 cents per head was made on
nearby National Forest lands. In
the same place the rate on cattle
was So on Indian land, as against
81 cents on tie National Forest.
"The present demand for grazing
privileges on a majority of the Ma
tional Forests" says the report, "far
exceeds the carrying capacity, and
the demand is on the increase. Under
these conditions the stockmen using
the National Forest ranges are en-
.ying special privileges over those
who must pay for range on acompe-
titive basis or do without. 1t is an
established principle of National For
est administration that the man who
is accorded the privilege of exclu-
sive use of land or material for a
commercial profit shall pay the pub
lis in proportion to the value Of
what he receives. 1t has become
plain that increase of the benefits
derived by stockmen from National
Forest administration without a
commensurate increase in the charge
for the grazing privilege has created
a situation which calls for readjust-
ment. Before final action is taken
an opportunity will be given for all
} parties interested to be heard"