The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-09-15
TIMBER LANDS
YIELD REVENUE
Form a Valuable Source for
Taxation Purposes, Says
u. S. Forest Service.

report Of the United States Forest
Service points out that one of the
chief benefits of standing forests and
forest industries lies in their wealth
for purposes of taxation. The present
system of timber taxation is unques-
tionably imperfect, says the report.
adding that any future notifications
must recognize the basic need for a
fair contribution to the public revenue
In the state of Washington, the re-
port states, data obtained by the
forest reserve service indicate an as
sessed valuation on timber lands of
about 100000, 900 and on the lumber
industry, aside from timber, of about
S50,000,O00, a total of S150,0OO,00O out
of a grand total for all property in
1920 of about ST. 95, 100000. The total
for timber and the lumber industry
was under the total amount for i'm
proved agricultural land in the state
by about o~ne-fourth. The taxes on
timber land alone made up about s
per cent of the total levied for 1921
for all purposes, and on other property
invested IN lumber manufacture about
3 per cent, making a total of approx
mately IL per cent, or in excess of
$7,00O,0OO. In some of the heavily
timbered western counties the contri-
button of timber lands alone reached
so per cent of the total taxes. Addi-
tional taxes, 1t Is stated, are paid by
dependent wood-using industries and
by the large number of people whose
livelihood depends directly and indi-
rectly upon the forests.
Similar conditions obtain In Oregon,
the report declares.
In 1920, the lumber industry in
Washington and Oregon paid in taxes
about SLIGO for each thousand feet,
board measure, of lumber cut. The
cut was nearly 9,0O0,O 900, 900 board feet,
but under intensive forestry 1t would
be possible to grow and harvest 49,
000,000,000 board feet or more per
year, or nearly twice the 1920 cut.
This, the report points out, NEAR an
enormous taxable resourc which can
be made permanent.
Denuded and Timbered Lands.
The report cites examples from
widely scattered regions to illustrate
the contrast from the standpoint of
public revenues between timbered
lands and nearby denuded lands of
similar character. The average assess
ment in the western part of Washing
ton on standing timber Is In the
neighborhood of $26 per acre, on
l%ogged-off lands 1892. One timbered
section assessed at approximately $50
per acre adjoins a cut-over section as
sessed at $3.50 per acre. In New Jer-
sey, the State Forest Park Commits
sioner estimated that a forest area of
100000 acres was assessed at $4,000
900, but under timber-crOp production
might be made to return taxes on an
assessed valuation of 100000.
The average assessed value of stand
ing pine timber in Louisiana in 1920
was estimated at about $42.50 per acre,
says the report, contrasting this with
the figure of 1925 for cut-over lands.
In Mississippi 1t is reported that cut
owe land is assessed at So to 81 an
acre, while standing pine timber is as
sessed at So to IS per thousand feet,
with stands running from 5000 to
10000 feet per equivalent to
from 1886 to $50 per acre assessed
value.
In New Hampshire, says the Forest
Service, the contrast Is between the
tax value of denuded land and that of
second growth. Cut-over timber land,
If fairly well located, Is generally as
sessed at about 81 per acre, it is
stated; on the sides of mountains as
sessments go as low as 81 an acre. A
forty-acre tract of second growth pine
saw timber about fifty years old, con
tanning 10000 feet. board measure, is
assessed at $4,000. On a 81 valuation,
1t is pointed out, this land would pay
a little under 10 cents per acre in
taxes if cut over; 1t now pays. 1896,
or over thirty-six times as much.
Large Employment to Labor.
abundant standing timber affords
large employment to labor. In 1919
the Industrial Insurance commission
of Washington reported that the lum-
Der industry paid 40 per cent of the
total pay roll of the state for hazar-
dous occupations, a~ggregating S227,-
995, S62. 1t is estimated that in excess
of 1900 men were required by the
railroads to handle the lumber output
of Washington and Oregon. 1t Is also
estimated that upward OF 10000 sail
ors, longshoremen, stevedores and 9TH
ers we're employed in the water trans
p~ortation of lumber. A total of 60,0Ss
additional persons are engaged In the
lumber industry. A large percentage
Of the states total population of about
100000 was directly dependent upon
the forests for a livelihood in 1919.
'sTimber is also an important source
of railroad traffic. The annual reports
of the Northern Pacific, Great North
ern, Oregon & Washington, the Chi
cago, Milwaukee & ST. Paul railroads
for the year 1920, on file with the
Public Service commission at Olympia,
show that of the slightly less than d.
100000 tons of traffic originating in
Washington nearly 13,500,000 were
products of the forests. Under in.
tensive timber cropping Washington
could grow on Its present forest area
from 1,OOO,O00,0o0 to 2,000,0O0,000
board feet per year more than its
sawmills cut In 1920.
CATARRHAL DEAFNESS