The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1921-02-28
OF IDAHO
NEED PROTECTION
MAJOR FEM ADVANCES ARGU-
MENTS FOR FAVORABLE
ACTION AT ONCE.

Major F. A. Fem, veteran of the
forest service and pioneer of Idaho,
has written the following timely ar
ticle on the need of protecting Idaho's
forests. His letter follows:
The forest conservation and pro-
lection bill before the legislature
holds direct interest for every citizen.
Summarized; it embodies a compul-
sorry patrol law; makes it a felony to
maliciously set fire to a forest; Gre
ates the office of state forester; pre-
scribes proper methods of numbering
to be entered; required the clearing
debris; fixes the respective amounts
which shall be paid for conservation
by the three forest owners, the gov
eminent, the state and private hold
erS.
For two years those elements in
the forest industry, heretofore di-
vergent when not actually hostile n
to another, have worked to frame a
measure which all could support.
Concessions were necessary. The U.
S. Forest Service has always looked
with disapproval, if not contempt,
upon the efforts of the state service,
where any existed. Private holders
were disposed to resent any inter-
ference in what they held to be their
own business. The state naturally
felt peeved at the U. S. officials. All
this has been ironed out and this bill
has the unqualified endorsement of
all. After much consultation it was
agreed that $3.50, 900 would serve to
give proper protection and enforce
conservation. Of the 1000 acres of
forest land outside the Forest Re
serves the federal government owns
practically none; the state owns 1885,
acres; private holdings total 3,275, 900
acres. The ratio of cost to each is:
government and state each one-quar-
ter, private holders one-half. So the
portion of the costs will be
$4,000 which considering the respec-
tive areas is by no means an impo-
sition. The national contribution is a
gift to help the state in perpetuating
There are 1900, 900 acres, owned
by non-residents, which have
never paid a dollar for protection.
These tracts are held for speculation
and, as they are adjacent to state and
other holdings, the owners cunningly
argued that protection could be had
anyhow-and they were right. 1t
cost this state and private Idaho
over ten thousand dollars
20 protect one piece or property held
an fastener last year. The bill
or small holder who lives
a mile and gives certain other
'air exemptions to small owners. But
he leeches who have fastened on this
Forest body must come through if this
oill goes.
In 1910 the l. w. WIS as is now
veil known, were responsible for
many fires, costing many lives and
Millions upon millions of dollars. The
,nly penalty then inflicted was to
over the hill" The present bill in
licts a penalty which strangely has
been imposed before.
In order to meet the contention of
he U. S.. men and, further, to do that
which is the order of the age, the
management of forests so far as pro-
ection and conservation go, is. in this !
MEASURE taken form the realm of
An advisory board will |
commend the state forests who has |
to act in times of peril with
ut dangerous delay and red tape. :
his board is composed of the dean /
f the school of forestry at Moscow, |
ne commissioner of reclamation, the |
o%vernor, who is chairman, one citi-
appointed at the recommendation
{ the United States Forest Service
nd one citizen appointed on the the
commentator of the timber pro-
,ctive associations, of which there
re five and of which the State of
laho is a member. This gives the
alance possible when the man of
the field expert, the execu-
We, the central government and the
rigationist are cooperating. Irriga-
and conservatin of forests are so
osely interviewer that representa-
of the former was held necessary. =