Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1921-01-07
TIE FOREST POLICY
OF THIS STATE

! Washington. Since then its scope
and activities have been enlarged,
and many better methods have been
put into use. Portions of the law
and some of our methods have been
adopted by sister states, and also by
the United States forestry depart
ment.
L. We reiterate the principles
set forth in our letter of March IS,
1920, to the chief forester of the
United States, and maintain that the
national forests and other forest
| lands under federal control, except
ing military and scenic reserves,
should be coded to the state, and I'M
| til that time the federal government
should pay the taxing units of the
state sums equivalent to the income
which would be derived if such lands
were privately owned We are op-
posed to the exchange of timber for
logged-off lands as proposed by gov
eminent officials, as it opens a door
for peculation and increases the
government holdings, already too
great.
2. We recognize fire protection
as the primal need in successful re-
foresting. 1t should include all area
where fire may occur, up-tO-date
methods, and the testing of all that
appears useful and practical. We
ask the cooperation of the federal
government in aviation, with a view
to its utilization in forest protection.
Methods and practice in forestry and
fire fighting must be adjusted to To-
can conditions. 1t has been found
that sowing grass seed in logged-off
lands after first burning is a val
liable fire protective measure, and
we believe that seeding should be en-
couraged whether the land is to be
used for timber growing, grazing or
agriculture
3. We recommend a measure that
will prevent smoking in numbering
operations and the forests, and also
revision of our laws to prohibit the
starting or use of fire in or near
forests for idle or unnecessary pur-
poses during the closed season, ex-
cept such places as may be prepared
for camping and recreation pur-
poses; and to this end, we further
recommend a measure authorizing
this board to designate and prepare
places for use as Official camping
grounds
4. We favor a careful study of
forest taxation which will result in
fixing fair rates and enable timber
owners and timber growers to de-
eide what policies they can safely
adopt.
5. We favor a measure that will
permit the purchase of logged-off
lands from private individuals for
the purpose of growing timber on
nOn-agricultural areas and in order
that contiguous lands may be Sc
cured, the state should have power
to condemn such areas as may be
required to create a safety zone, Of
where needed by the state for grow
ing timber. All mountainous and
semi-mountainou lands which show
evidence of producing commercial
timber, and which are too rugged
for agricultural or horticultural pur-
poses, do not need to be classified
such lands should be designated for
timber growing purposes and should
be acquired in large, contiguous
areas by the state. Additional ad-
jacent lands should be designated for
classification and when determined
by competent classification to be
more valuable for timber than for
other purposes, they may be added
thereto.
9. To insure a maximum yield OF
timber the young growth areas
@A'S 'AANA ~ wi uilS SOut OVER anu
approved methods of replacement
should be carried out wherever
natural seeding is insufficient. Also
where no reproduction is visible i'm
mediate steps should be taken 10
plant seed trees, particularly on hill
sides, ridges and places where best
opportunity is afforded for natural
scattering of seed. Experiments
should be conducted to determine
best methods under various condi-
tions.
I. We favor extension of classifi-
cation OF lands as needed and each
year we should add to the amount
OF such information now in the rec
ords of the state land and forestry
departments.
s, 1t is to the interest of all citi-
zens OF the state that they be kept
advised OF the work and the impor-