The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-10-12
NEWS OF The SUPERIOR NATIONAL
FOREST RECREATION ASSOCIATION
BY PAUL B. RIIs, Pres. of the Assn

Inseparably linked with the era
of conservation in the United States
are the names of Theodore Roose-
welt and Clifford Pinchot. To them
an inevitable timber shortage was
visible at no distant time. The in
| trepid spirits of these men reacted to
the threat of timber famine. It
was Colonel Roosevelt, then Presi-
dent OF the United States, who by
sheer force of his tremendous per-
sonality set aside suitable large
tracts, scattered far and wide, for
the primary purpose of growing a
perpetual stand of timber. This
forested domain has been increased
until today it covers an area of 1876
million acres.
To the United States Department
of Agriculture feel the task to adj
minister these tracts with the United
States Forest Service in immediate
charge of what are now known as
the National Forests. So well and
creditably have these Forests been
managed that the taxpayer, he who
pays the freight and gets the bene-
fits, has much cause of self-congratu-
lation.
Most of the forest lands were set
aside from public domain as yet un-
appropriated when the forests were
established.
Actually there was not a cent
paid for them. Title was just re-
tanned in the hands of the citizens
of the country. Most of these lands
were in the west. In the east the
need for large, publicly owned for
ests was just as great from the
standpoint of timber production to
support local industries and to pro-
tect watersheds. But there was
little Incorporated land left there.
Not many years ago Congress passed
what is known as the weeks Law.
1t provides that lands which have
permanent forests on them for
watershed protection may be pur-
chased by the United States to serve
| this purpose. 1t is necessary for the
state legislature to ratify this act be-
fore purchases are made and where
this has been done there have been
forests created out of the slashed
and burned waste lands which are
best serving when growing timber.
The cost of these timberlands
| when purchased has been extremely
low and entirely sound from a bust
ness standpoint. The value of fut-
ure timber has fully justified the
price paid for the lands and timber
combined, while the economic value
of the lands as protected watersheds
has considerably enhanced their pres
ent valuation.
But further still, nearly all of
these lands are invaluable from a
recreational standpoint. If no tim
Der production were considered their
value as recreation reserves would
practically universally justify the
government retaining them under
public control. They are most valu-
able to the people of the United
States. Even though a timber fam
inc cannot be entirely averted, the
situation has been considerably i'm
proved by these purchases. Timber
production and timber harvest are
fulfilling their expectations, and fur
Their, we have these extensive areas
as giant Fairgrounds.
The preservation and reforestation
of watersheds is naturally slow
process and it's results do not become
at once visible. It's economic bene-
fits, however, forty years to come
will be cumulative, ultimately result
ing in natural stream and flood con-
troll with timber production a sec
ondary object.
Scenic values are little and in
many cases perhaps only temporarily
married under accepted present-day
methods of silviculture. The Forest
Service religiously aims to protect
scenic values along the natural high
ways of travel, harvesting only
mature timber. Thus, many of our
National Forests to all intents and
purposes serve in the dual capacity
of timber lands and recreational