The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1922-12-23
WOULD AMEND
FORESTRY LAWS
DEAN MILLER AND OTHERS OUT
LINE BILL TO CONSERVE IDAHO
TIMBER RESOURCES

| posed amendments to IdahO'S forest
ry laws was reached Friday by sub
| committee of the general represen-
tative committee studying the stu
alton, according to report made by
F. G.. Miller, dean of the University
of Idaho school of forestry, who is its
chairman. The committee has been
in session for two days and the find
| ings will be submitted to the general
committee at the final meeting, to
be held in Boise the first part of
January
The measure as finally agreed up
on is the result of a series of five
two-day sessions of the general com
mittee of Is, held during the last two
months at Moscow, Boise and Spo-
kane, and represents the united opin-
ion of all interests concerned in per-
petuation of the forest resources of
the state.
The personnel of the committee is
composed of Representatives Of all
interests vitally concerned in the use
OF the forests, including the state,
federal government water users, ir
rigation farmers, livestock interests,
numbering interests, and general pub
lie. Every phase of the subject was
exhaustiveIy discussed before any
section of the proposed new bill was
drafted.
The new measure proposes that
the state board of land commission
ers, aided by the land commissioner
and six non-salaried representative
of the various interested agencies,
shall serve as a state board of for
estry Under this phase of the bill
the assistant state land commission
er will enlarge his field to include
81 .+a ri hD
responsible for the execution of
terms of the law. The bill is drawn
so that the constitutional powers of
the state land board over acquis-
ition disposal and control of the
state timber land grant are not i'm
paired.
Vast Body of Timber.
Idaho now controls nearly 100000
acres of timber land, carrying ten
billion board feet of merchantable
timber worth at least thirty million
dollars.
A second feature of the bill has to
do with disposal of the slash re- I
sulting from logging operations. I'm
der the present law the general GUS
tom has been to burn the slash broad
cast; but such a method, the com
mittee agreed, destroys all young
was conceded that in old, mature or
over-ripe stands, where little or
nothing in the way of tree growth is
left after all merchantable timber has
been cut, broadcast burning may be
permissible. Over large areas trees
left would furnish second cut by
he time the present supply is gone
and would thus serve to prolong by
4 number of years the life of the
mills now in operation.
In the amendments proposed the
slash following logging in such
stands would be piled and burned in
/ manner to protect all young
growth.
The third essential of the proposed
ill seeks better fire protection for
ut-over lands, of which there is an
aggregate of several hundred thous
md acres in north Idaho. Nearly
lalf of this is included within or
,anized fire districts where made
uate protection is afforded, the :
ommittee found, while the other half
S in unorganized territory without
ny protection In spite of these ad-
erse conditions 25 to SO per cent of !,
he cut-over lands are reproducing !
oung timber and much more would
e productive were the chance given.
Other amendments and new sec :
ions of minor Importance, which, ac- !.
ording to the committee, will I
the present forestry pro-
ram, will be suggested. 1t was the :.
eIief of those studying the forestry !
roblem that if the proposed meas :
re should receive favorable legisla \
We action it would be a splendid
art toward the establishment of an
dequate forestry policy.