The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-22
NATIONAL LUMBER
AND FOREST POLICY

Chicago. April 2l.--A comprehen-
sivc program of public aid TO the
lumber industry, combined with the
enforcement OF measures to protect
tho public interest III future timber
supplies, was advocated by Col. Henry
S. Graves, chief Of the United States
forest service. who spoke before the
American Lumber congress here.
Lumfermen, said Colonel Graves
are studying the needs Of the in
dustry and are doing many construc-
tive things to increase it's efficiency.
Nevertheless, the great fundamental
problems are not being solved. The
industry is still essentially unstable,
labor conditions are unsatisfactory,
forest depletion is of increasing seri-
BUSINESS, and our public forest police
is incomplete.
1t was poincd out that the lumber
industry has neen seeking govern
mental aid along various lines. to help
it get on a more stable basis through
curta;lvnent of production. relief from
present methoda OF taxation, price
standards. and n other ways. In seek
ing such help. however, the industry
has failed to recognize any obligation
to provide for forest replacement af-
ter cutting. While the injury and loss
LHdL accompany ttiElbIdi1Zt I1lduSN
rial conditions are necessarily OF pub
lie concern, the question of forest
renewal and growth on cut-over lands
now lief, unproductive is still more
important
Forest renewal Is of vital interest,
Colonel Graves declared. not only to
the public but also to the owners of
tmbcriands We have enough nom
agricultural land" he said TO pro-
duce for all time lumber in abundance,
for ourselves and for export The
public must share with the owners
both the responsibility and the burden
of securing tho essential objectives.
Those sought by the public are fund
| arnentaliN the same as those needed
| for the permanent well being of the
| lumbe industry. It is necessary to
| plan a program broad enough to &C
compllsh them.
81 am ready 10 advocate q policy
| more far-reaching in all respects than
| has generally been offered. ! would
afford whatever public assistance is
needed to make possible the conser-
vative handling of our forests, and
| would then make fire protection,
conservative production OF lumber,
! ard right methods of removal a mat
ter of requirement with such public
| direction and control as is necessary to
/ realize the aims desired by tho pub
! lie"
| compreh. nsive policy of forest de-
| velopment, said Colonel Graves, would
| make for permanent mills. place tim
| Der OH the market only as it is needed,
| protect the present resource, classify
! the lands, encourage agriculture, and
secure tree growth on non -agricul-
| tural lands. Tim berlands would be
! placed on a sound basis of manage
! ment instead OF a speculative basis
and industrial plants given a perma-
/ nent 'ife. The resulting labor con-
! titions woulc attract men who want
to settle down instead OF migrate. The
, public would have timber in ahun-
| dance al reasonable prices. 1t could
! afford 10 give it's financial credit and
! authority IL its interest are safe.
guarded by adequate control in pub
! lie hands
I'VE have the problems 10 solve, "
! the speaker concluded. "and we can
| not continue to ignore them. Public
| demand for action is increasingly ur-
| gent. II should be in accordance with
! broad constructive plans rather than
| by piecemeal legislation by different
| states. I am asking for co-opera-
! ton in laying the ground woork for a
! national policy, and have initiated a
| series of conferences to this end.
hope that lumbermen will concur in
the neei OF such a movement, and will
| join in the undertaking to work out a
constructive program"
! ga Rrg, TIL -Okjl'