Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1921-02-25
Governor, Legislators and
Lumbermen Consider
Forest Problem
.SAVIDCE ANNOUNCES
RESULT OF CRUISE
Recommends Chief Executive BE
Given Absolute Authority in
Stricken Region

Twenty we'll known lumbermen
legislators and state officials met
yesterday with Governor Louis F
Hart for a conference for the pur-
pose of discussing the matter of the
devastated area recently visited by
the governor and his party in JET.
feson and Clallam counties on the
Olympic Peninsula.
Those invited by Governor Hart
to attend the conference held in the
executive Office, were Representative
Mark Reed. Hon. J. J. Donovan,
State Land Commissioner Clark v.
Savidge. Frank B. Cole, Pat Mccoy,
E. J. English, N. w. Emery, r. l..
Fromme. supervisor of the Olympic
Forest; Senator E. J. Cleary, Senator
William Bishop. Senator Howard d.
Taylor, A. A. Scott, Alex Polsen, r.
D. Marritt. George s. Long, F. E.
Pape, state fire warden; Will Taylor.
H. r. Williams, George H. Cecil, and
G. c. Joy.
Savidge Makes Report.
After visiting the devastated area
State Land Commissioner Clark v.
Savidge made the following report
which was read at the conference:
THE following observations are
offered as representing what in my
Judgment should be done in order to
meet the conditions prevailing in
the Olympic Peninsula by reason of
the recent tornado.
1.-THE State Of Washington is
probably the largest interest holder
within the storm territory as it
owns $4,000 square acres or some
thing more than 1000 square miles
Of valuable timber.
Storm Moved in Streaks.
1.-THE personal inspection made in
company with the governor last.
week, showed that the storm moved
in streaks and thus only affected GER
tain stripes of the timber. Further,
a report made by my timber cruiser,
A. X. Wade, shows that he selected
ten sections which were hit by the
storm, cruised a strip three-hundred
and thirty feet wide at right angles
to the storm streaks, thus crossing
both the affected and unaffected
strips and made count of the stand
ing and down trees, the result shows
that only &c per cent of the trees
on the stip had been blown down.
Fom this 1t will be seen that the
greater problem confronting US is
not the salvaging Of the down tim
Der but the preserving of that which
remains. The danger from fire this
coming summer will menace these
great resources Of our state, none
who have viewed the tangled masses
Of trees will deny.
Make Conclusions.
From the above the following con-
illusions are reached:
That someone must be vested with
absolute power Of supervision over
the territory west Of Lake Crescent
and north Of Lake Quinault II the
greatest conflagration and destruc-
ton of resources in the history of
our country Is to be prevented this
coming season. That is necessary to
have authority vested in one individ-
ual, will be proven by comforting
with the different individuals, cor
pOrations etc. who are interested in
this region. as 1t will be quickly dis
covered that the opinion Of each one
differs from the other as to Just
what should be done, consequently
there can be no unity of action un-
less someone is vested with absolute
authority to control.
Recommends Absolute Authority.
!, therefore, recommend that
such legislation be secured as will
vest in the governor the power re-
ferred to for the coming two years
or until the legislature shall meet
again. That, in addition, he be given
a generous appropriation to use as
he sees best in the protection of the
states natural resources. Thus
equipped he could gather about him a
group of advisors to assist in the
task, If he 80 desired.
He would be able to organize these
having interests in that region, such
as the Counties of Clallam, and JEFF
ferson, and the timber owners, both
large and small, and thus duplica-
ions would be avoided and the
greatest results be secured proper
tionate to the outlay. Such matters
as the designating of roads and
places that tourists who de-
sire to visit the stricken area may
use the salvaging of timber and such
other matters as are met from time
to time could be promptly and effec-
lively handled.
l also recommend that a govern
ment hydroplane be secured as soon
as the weather permits in order that