The Coconino sun., 1924-01-25

gress. We lumbermen are quite able
to take care of ourselves. We have
followed the receding forests from the
Atlantic and the lakes to the south
and on to the Pacific. We can go no
farther. But we can cut our forests
and let the blackening fires lick up
the underground and the culls we
leave. We come here, not to beg, but
because we feel that the public has
commanded US to put ourselves in line
with new age and new policy or
be run over. We stand ready to see
that the public is not to be damned
by us, or anybody else, when it says
| that the ownership of forest is now
public trust. We realize that for
ests henceforth may be as perpetual
as farms; that numbering, if it endures
at all, must be permanent, and, no
| longer migratory; that it must sow
as we'll as reap. We have reaped,
without planting, the mightiest crop
that natural bounty ever gave. Now
we must plant We are ready to take
our orders from the forest service
hereafter, provided the public recog-
nizes that it has obligations to couple
with ours. Give us fire protection;
give us taxes adjusted to a crop that
natures but once in fifty or hun
dred years, and we will sit down with
the forest service and make rules that
shall govern our cutting and refores-
tation. The virgin forests were raw
aged because the economic conditions
left no choice. We will conserve what
we have and give you new forests if
you will but shape your fiscal and
protective laws to support the new
economic conditions. Give us fire pa
trolls and taxation conformable to the
things taxed and the forest service
may writes its own ticket. 1t is prac-
tical; it is reasonable; we have con-
fidenca in it."
Our national forest policy should be
so shaped as to provide for equitable
adjustment of taxes on growing for
ests, and it is believed that if free
play is given to the commercial i'm
petus already evident, by making the
growing of timber more secure and
attractive business, our national forest
problem will be largely solved without
the necessity of assumption of tim
Der growing as a public activity in
any wholesale way.
There has been a rapid rise in the
value of timber in the United States,
particularly in those states whose
stands have been largely cut.
There are Indications that we may
expect the growing of timber by pri-
vate individuals and corporations to
become feasible and profitable in
Il To-
to the principal markets and where
forest growth is rapid.
The nationwide study which is be-
ing made by committee of the U. S.
senate has brought before the public
the extent to which many owners of
timber land in various parts of the
country are ready to embark in the
business of growing trees if public
aid can be extended in the protection
of forest lands from fire and in the
adjustment of forest taxes.
We mentioned a minute ago that
steps were being taken by lumber
companies cutting in the redwood
forests of California to plant those
areas where natural reproduction is
not coming in. We should not pass
up this subject Of planting without
calling to your attention the fact that
the funds provided by congress at
the present time for planting burned
over areas is adequate for planting
only approximately 5000 to 5000
acres per year. At the present rate
of progress in planting $50 to 200
years will pass before the denuded
areas in the national forests alone
can be restored to productivity. Need
less to say our program Of planting
is grossly inadequate. During the past
season the forest service has made a
survey of the national forests with
view of submitting plan for the re-
forestation of denuded areas within
reasonable period of time. The carry
ing out of this plan, however, must
await the provision by congress of the
necessary funds.
Summary
Our national forest policy should,
then, provide first of all for adequate
fire protection, not for federal lands
alone because only Approximately 21
per cent of the country's timber lands
is in federal ownership. Privately