Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-26
BROAD NATIONAL FOREST
III, PROGRAM IS INAUGURATED
3N00o,0O0 Fire-Fighting Fund Plan Is
y Beginning Of Policy Which May
.,shf Have Great Future.

With the request of Secretary of Agri-
~diture Meredith for $1.000.000 with
which to fight forest fires and for other
forestry work during the next fiscal
year, there was inaugurated what those
to Tho adoption of a broad and compre-
hensive national forest policy. Fire fight
ing is one Of the steps which is most
important and which can produce most
practical immediate results, it is claim
cd In helping to save the nations tim
her wealth.
Legislation will be introduced at the
= present session Of Congress. it is un-
dersto0d, which will cover the whole
scope Of the proposed national forest
policy. While it is hardly expected that
either the Senate or House will find
time with the mass of matters which
they must consider and pass on between
now and March 4. to give final consider
alton to a problem so important as that
Of passing a general forest law. still it
is believed by those who are in favor
of the proposed legislation that some
thought may be given to it. AS Presi-
dent-elect Harding is known to be
strongly in favor of action looking to
uation in this country, having so ex-
pressed himself in one of his campaign
speeches, it is desired to have some
preparatory material on hand. so that
tho question may be taken up with rea-
sonable promptness after he comes into
Office.
Recent Conferences Held.
Recent conferences have been held
by the lumber, pulp and paper, wood
using industries, newspaper publish
ers and others interested. as re-
suit of which the national forestry
program committee was appointed to
work out the details of the desired
legislation. This committee. of which
r. s. Kellogg of the American Paper
and Pulp Association is chairman. has
been making careful study of the
entire situation; and Mr.. Kellogg de-
clares that this is the first time in
the history of the country when all
of the interests concerned are so
closely united in approval OF proposed
forestry legislation and stand so strongly
together in their endeavor to secure
its passage by Congress. The Cham
Der of Commerce of the United States.
which has been represented at some
of the conferences held on the sub
ject. has been asked to take
referendum vote of it's membership.
adoption of a national forest policy.
In view of the fact that wood or
wood products are of great, If not
vital, Importance to many manufac-
turers and business concerns in the
United States; that 20 per cent of
the 276.000 manufacturing plants in
the country are dependent to a
greater or less degree on forest pro-
ducts; that more people are employed
in the lumber and wood-using in
dustries than in any other in the
United States; that these industries
take second place in the amount of
capital invested, and also rank Sec
ond in the total value of their annual
output, it is expected by those urging
the forest legislation that the bust
ness interests will line up almost
solidly in favor of a safe and sane
Policy of protection.
Prevent LOSS By Fire.
Nothing is intended, it is said, that
will in any way check the present
lumber output of the nation. The only
purpose is to prevent loss through
fire of millions of feet of timber year
ly. and to establish a system by which
reforestation can proceed and by
which there can be replanting on land
now lying idle which is valuable for
growing trees. but not for other pur-
poses.
With the country using more than
2S.00e.000,0 600 cubic feet of lumber an
nually, according to the recent annual
report of Col. w. B. Greeley, head of
the United States forest service. and
growing only 100000. 900 cubic feet
in the same period Of time. it is de-
sired to prevent some Of the $1,000
forest fires which in 1919 burned a