The Alaska daily empire., 1923-07-21
CONSERVE ALTON DOES NOT DEPEND UPON
 GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP

Speaking in Juneau the other day to those citizens who present at the hearing he gave, Secretary Wallace said that private of timber adopt ing governmental methods of conservation. and he believes that in the future there will be complete cooperation among those who own timber lands and those who control the Goyernment-owned timber
 The statement of fact is correct and agree with the conclusion. These things controlled by econ omic conclusions. great many wasted tears have been shed destruction of forests in the carly dave of the countrys history-and many of those de- strcyed in the later days Most of the American foress that have been destroyed have given way to a more useful utilization of the lands on which they grew The forests which destroyed by fires of course, were in many instances wasted but even forest fires were not always waste. Forest fires often have resulted in making it easier to establish farms. It is only recently that timber cutting has reached the mountainous districts in the Far West where most of the lands are not suitable for agri cultural purposes when logged off
 And further than that there has been far less timber lands made valueless than would think from the discussions that have had of the con- servation question. Many thousands of acres of the privately owned timberands Of the Tar West where the lands have not been converted other been logged of many times since the first axmen in- vaded the forests Natural reforesation has been prcghsss small trees have large and new trees have sprung from the ground Fire protection has aided this process Much Of the present lumber and pulp production of all of the old lumber States gnu they Slll producing lumber, pulp and other timber products in large quantities-is from lands that have been logged off before-mueh of it many times.
 Increased demand and diminishing supply have caused an advance in the value of timber and nat urally the private owners have taken up question of preserving the value of their holdings through scientific logging, protecting against fires and tree planting.
 The conclusion must inevitably be that conserva- tion does not depend upon Government owership In fact, the Inducements for the who owns the timber lands to conserve timber continue the value of his property is greater than lessee particularly the holder of lease that is about to expire.
 Lands that are more valuable to the people that will support a greater population when put 10 an- other use than timber growing ought to be stripped or their timber as matter of sound economics and converted to the profitable use Where lands are more valuable for timber than for other pur- to the owners This, many other large American prooiems Will solve itself in the course of time through the operation of natural economic laws
 Hcwever, in Alaska and in many other sections or the west, 1t is condition and not a theory that presents tself The idea of conservation and Govern ment ownership of resources has sold to the Am erlcan people and the people are still trying to mako themselves believe that they made a good purchase we nave both in Alaska present need ia to make the most of that situation and encourage tboso III control Of the Goyernment-owned natural resources In their honest and energetic efforts toward their development and toward cooperation with those who are prosecuting other developments