Pueblo chieftain., 1921-02-20
QUICK WORK
NEEDED TO
SAVE TREES
Chief Of Forest Service
Talks On Smell
Bill

Washington, D. c.. Feb. 19-Need for
public action to save the remaining
forests of the United States from de-
vastation' and to provide for timber
production on lands already laid waste
was strongly urged by Col. w. B. Gree
ley, chief of the forest service, United
States Department of Agriculture. at
the hearings before the house agricul-
tural committee on the Smell Bill.
The bill iauthorises and directs the
secretary of agriculture, in coopera-
ton with the various states or other
suitable agencies. to recommend the
requirements essential for protecting
timbered and cut-over lands from fire,
reforesting denuded lands, and cutting
and removing timber crops so that con-
tinuous production of timber will be
promoted To bring into effect these
requirements, and with a view to fur
nishing n continuous supply of timber
for the use and necessities of the pub
lice, cooperation between the federal
government and the states is author
lied. on such conditions as the secre-
tary of agriculture may determine to
be fair and reasonable.
Expenses borne Jointly
Federal expenditures under cooper
ativc agreements with states would.
under the bill, have to bo at least
equaled by state expenditures derived
owners of forest lands under state
requirements. The bill also provides
for survey OF the forest resources
and requirements OF the country. for
expcrimnts and Investigations in re-
forcstation and methods OF cutting and
utilizing timber. for enlarged purchases
of lands for federal administration as
national forest. and for various other
features of national program OF for
ostry.
In urging tho necessity for action,
Colonel Greeley pointed out that the
essential problem of providing for fu-
ture needs is a national ono.
New York" ne said. imports
nine-tenths of tho lumber which
sho requires. Pennsylvania i'm
ports four iifths. while large
group of middle western states import
81 per cent of their wood. The bulk of
our paper comes from half a dozen
states. Tho growing OF timber son
enormous areas OF land adapted by
nature to that purpose. and scattered
thruout 50 states. is Just as much n
national necessity and Just as much
matter for national action as the
encouragement of agriculture or tho
maintenance of interstate transportl-
ton.
The growing OF timber can not be
left to private initiative alone. Under
assume tho technical leadership OF tho
reforestation movement thruout tho
country. While In the prairie states
cooperation would have to deal chiefly
with tree planting. In other states 1t
should cover technical methods of fire
prevention. of disposal OF debris left
In logging, OF cutting various types
OF timber 90 as to secure now crop
of tho kind desired. and the like.
"Thc largest and most important field
for cooperation. however. In all states
containing extensive forest areas Is in
the prevention OF forest nres. This is
to first step to n continuous supply OF
timber. once the vast area OF cut
over land suitable for timber produc-
ton is really protected from forest
fires. three quarters OF our forest prob
lem is solved.
Tho cost of forest protection should
be shared by tho public and the private
owner. But fire prevention is not an
end in itself. The reforcstation OF tim
bergrowinE land and the actual pro
duction OF timber is the real objective.
In no instance should federal funds be
expended unless the state carries out
the requirements found necessary by
tho federal forest service to make tim
bcr grow"