Marble Hill press., 1921-01-13

though uo' 'uHr" .Uusl- FOR fa- time h~.r= a..
III" prevention Hs thr must Important srgr s'"
nni tot l'ss 'Hau million dollars annually asa
Ah'" fnr such cooperation win states
survey tu obtain uryr,sury Information Hs
forest rr~"urg,- forest production aud forest r
Vuirrfnru's ~ 'ly uufsuu
Provision for ,'gdlc. and experiments In FOR
reproduction methods auad utilization tim.
tests sc"d preservation. development u hy.pr.
urts and other steps go hr,uE about the mos, ~,
tive use of ihe nations forest resources
Provision Cor study u forest taxation. ta
>Ist states lB d,sI.iGg tax laws Uhlgh wlI rucu.
axe the conservation and growing Of timber A
~ methods OF lnsufiHg against forest losses
tire.
Provision for more rapid repiautiuE of the 81
autHs ~ Ienuded lands within the national ture~
Appropriation u ten million dollars year z
i've years for the purchase u lands which shuu
BE- added to the national forest system. whether
not on the hradwHtsrs 81 nayiEBhle streams
such purchases are now limited.
Authorizing acquisition uf similar lands by
changes u land Or timber Nheu clearly In the pu
lie Interest.
Authorizing the addition To- national forests
lands uow IN other forms ~ government own'
ship. but found chiefly suitable for permanent &
est production.
There apIear 20 hc two schools Of thought
connection with the national forest problem" -
M Weston. The extreme yuuserNatlonsts apPs
to be advocating absolute government control
timber not only that owned by the goyefnme
but also timber owned ty states and iudviduH
The other school advocates the development of
uniform policy on the part ~ the government
providing for cooperation on the part Of the go'
erum,nt with state and individual owners
while The first policy may be thcorcticau
fv l.sF., 4ts -, H4.s Be-.
practice the federal government would invade tn
rights Of the states aud Individuals to an exten
unprecedented In the history uf the government
Il am heartily In accord with the sugEeste,
form Of legislation ndorSed by the New iork con
ference Il is my opinion that tt Includes the es
sentlalS necessary. not only for 'ho protection OF
the existing forests but for their pcrpetuation and
conversion Anto an Increasing asset"
Mr. Wesfous Endorsement Of MIR Packs IeCis.
lattye program emphasizes the fact that In Il, X.
ling the forest problem. congress has big job
ahead Of g. MIR Weston indor+,S 1t because OF
its contrast with the plan Of absolute government
control ~ timber. Nevertheless there are many
people who viii consider even MIR. Packs program
as altogether too natoBau~tic.
Some OF the eastern states win doubtless fee
that way especially tho<, which are we'll along
In a constructive and effective state forest policy
of their own.
Then ,herc are people who regard the Depart
neut Of Agriculture as already too biz and IN
Sieldy. They are likely to object to giving the
secretary of agriculture the additional power he
would get through this legislation.
There are people who hRrshly criticize The for
est service in charge OF the national forests
They are disappointed that the forest service
after fifteen years OF control OF the natIonsl for.
asts, still has annual deficit OF about S20N 600
They think the national forests are large enough
1ow-they now number l52 and contain lsO 299,-
TT6 acres, OF which little over SO per cent is
,uhlic land their net increase last year was G..
,SS, ,3SS acres Some even charge the forest serv-
ce with neglect OF fire protection and other legit-
nate activities while promoting its recreation
schemes In the national parks. There is bill
vending In congress- to restore the national for
sts to the Interior department, from which they
we're taken In 1905
Doubtless, all of the activities suggested by
ir, Pack have merit. The question is: what
gency Is 10 undertake them? If congress can
econce the warning partisans. get them united
N national forest policy and program and pass
egisation that will emhody the best Ideas of all
interests the country will be surprised delighted
nd grateful