The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-01-14
F9|ESTRY RECEIPTS
ALMOST PAY ALL
EXPENSES
Government Service Nearly
Self SUPPORTING, Graves
Report Shows.
TIMBER SALES GIVE
LARGEST REVENUES
Grazing Permits and Water
Power Rentals Important
Items, However.

a'NHIS, IlOWCVCI.
An increase of more than $3+O. 600 In
receipts. which totalled over $500. 600.
! marked the national forest administra
ton during the year, according to the
annual report Of Chief Of the Forest
Service Henry S. Graves. This in
crease was obtained by rapid progress
In land classification. by n material
advance In development 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
$l,4Ot.OOO. a 20 per cent increase
grazing receipts We're $1,000. COO, and
water power rentals brought in 500
900. :,
AT present the reccir.s from ma
tlonal forests are approximately three
rourths OF what it costs to protect
them and carry on the current bust
ness" says the report In addition
to this cost, however there are ex-
penses which are primarily in the
nature of investments"
Roads and other improvements, re-
forestation of denuded lands and ella SIS
ficauon and survey work are pointed
out as examples. The report says tina,
the total expenses approximate S.
$4,000.
On Sound Basis.
Declaring that the business of the
national forests is on sound basis,
the report continues: "An efficient
organization has been built up to
handle the work of protection of the
forests and of developing the resources
The rapidly Increasing use Of the for
ests points not only to greater service
to the public. but also to increased Fl
| nanciaI returns"
Chief Forester Graves looks for n
| steady increase in the returns from
the national forests. He holds that, in
spite of the condition of the lumbe,
market steady and increasing local
demand for national forest timber is
created by the urbuilding of the coun
try. This demand it is predicted wit
be constantly growing even though
sales for the general market will fluc
tuate with the prevailing business con
ditions. The report adds that the re
turns from grazing will increase a.
more stock uses the forests, in con
sequence Of range improvements an,
the development of new ranges.
A moderate increase for three year
In the grazing Zee Is contemplated
which, If put into operation. vii
Eventually bring the grazing rcceipt
to more than $g.O0O.000 n year as DOM
pared with approximately $1,000, 900 II
1916
Instances are quoted which shoV
that grazing fees on private or Indian
lands adjacent to the national forest
are higher than those charged by tn
government for national forest ranges
In one locality In Montana, it is stated
81 cents pcr head was paid for grazin
sheep on Indian lands. while a charg
of only lsh cents per head wis mad
on nearby national forest lands. L
the same place the rate on cattle wa
So on Indian land as a-aint "a cent
on the national forest.
''The present demand for grain
privileges on a majority of the nationa
forests" says the report, far exceed
the carrying capacity and the dcman
is on the increase. Under these con
ditions the stocimen using the nations
forest ranges are enjoying specia
privileges over those who must pay fo
range on a competitive basis or d
} without II is an established principl
) of national forest administration tina
the man who IL accorded the privilege
|of exclusive use of land or matcri:
. for IA commercial profit shall pay tn
public in proportion to the value {
what he receives.
2 1T has become plain that increase
/, the benefits derived by stockmen frol
national forest administration witho,
commensurate increase In the chars
J for the grazing privilege has created
situation which calls for readjustmen
: Before final action is taken an oppol
tunity will be given for all parties IL
lterested to he heard"
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