Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1916-07-28
DRAFT BILL TO AID
CLEARING OF LAND
COMMITTEE OIrr-
LINES PLANS FOR AIDING SET.
TIERS ON LOGGED LANDS.

The committee appointed by the
recent logged-Off land conference ar
the University of Washington held
it's first meeting at the Commercial,
club in Tacoma this week, with DR.
II. X. Benson of the state university
presiding. Those present were: State
Senator Ralph Metcalf of Tacoma:
n. b. Coffman of Chehalis, Austin
Griffiths, S. F. Woody and j. E. Ora
ham of Seattle.
After a discussion and hearing
from several interested, the commit
tee agreed upon definite program
by which a bill is to be prepared and
submitted to the conference to be
held in October, for recommendation
to the legislature, providing for the
creation of agricultural development
districts co-extensive with county
limits, the chairman Of the county
commissioners. county engineer and
auditor to constitute the board.
OutnneS f,rOpOSeu B1ll.
In commenting on the proposed
bill one of the committee said:
This district will be authorized to
provide actual settlers with stamping
powder sufficient to clear 20 acres az
a maximum. clearing to be done
under expert supervision, at a cost
not to exceed $500. The district is
to take over the land and clear it and
then sell 1t back to the settler with
the cost of powder and expense
added, giving him 10 years to pay
for it at reasonable interest. This
land bill enacted in 1913, but limits
the work to furnishing the powder
and to $500. 1t is claimed by many
students of our conditions that IL
powder could be obtained on easy
terms like this, hundreds of settlers
would go to work at once clearing.
who now cannot for lack of funds to
buy powder. The committee consider
a plan of this kind far preferable to
a state powder factory. Senator Met
calf, Austin E. Griffiths, S. F. Woody
and Dean ]. T. Condor were appoint
ed subcommittee to prepare the
bill.
"The second step is for the state to
enter upon deliberate program of
reforesting its land not available for
agriculture. Professor B. P. Kirk
land, forester at the university.
showed at the conference that the
present volume of timber owned BY
the state could be retained for all
time and made to pay cost of it's own
reforestation. The plan suggested
by the committee will use portion
of the income from state forests for
replacing and extending them and
possibly the ultimate acquisition and
reforestation of privately-owned
logged-off lands. Professor Kirk
land was requested to present legis-
lation covering this.
Problem of Land Prices.
"A third problem is the fact that
much logged-off land is held at spec
ulative prices too high to be available
for settlement. The question of solv-
ing this by taxation or by other
means was considered at length. An
appeal will be made for the co-opera-
ton of owners of large tracts to get
them in the hands of actual settlers
in small tracts at reasonable prices
and terms. Mr.. Coffman was ap-
pointed to handle this problem. The
committee will meet August FL and
will welcome suggestions from any
one interested upon any phase of the
problem.
1.-THE state of Washington owns
more than 100000 acres of logged
off lands in % counties, ranging
from 80 acres in Ferry county to
$500 in Pierce. $500 in Whatcom.
1000 in Skagit, 400 in Lewis, $500
in King, $500 in Thurston, 5000 in
Snohomish, 5000 in Spokane, 10000
In Mason and $4,000 in Stevens"