The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1924-04-24
FOREST PROTECTION WEEK.
Has Clearwater Timber Futures
Timely Talk On Big
Subject.

| This is Forest Protection Week.
Most of us are interested more or les
directly in this subject. The follow
ing article, sent out by Forest Super
vison Frank J. Jefferson of Kooskia
is timely and well worth carful read
ing and considerations:
In the past, the need of forest pro
lection has not been felt to any ap
probable extent In this region. The
increased price of lumber and greater
local activity in the lumber industry
have no doubht been noted by every
one. To grasp the significance of this
is to realize that we must now begin
to practice forest protection or pay
for it in later years as people in other
regions are paying who neglected, or
overlooked similar opportunity.
Going back to the time of settle
ment in America, we find demand
for timber in the northeastern states.
Besides timber for domestic purposes,
some species were in demand for ship
building and naval stores. This area
was logged slowly and with no pro-
vision for future stand. AS the
timber supply ran low, the lumbermen
moved to the Lake States.
Brisk demand for lumber caused
rapid development in the lumber in
dustry. Devastation of the Lake
States was a big job, but construction
Of railways and development of better
milling machinery, tended to increase
The output. AS the supply Of virgin
timber diminished, many large con-
Germs sought new fields and moved to
the maritime pine belt of the south.
Production in the Lake States grad
ually- fell off and the output OF the
south rose to take it's place. Lumber
could be produced at comparatively
low cost in the south and timber was
rapidly cut. Again little or nothing
was done to insure further produc-
tiveness of the land.
The waning supply of timber in the
south and consequent rise in the price
Of lumber caused the eyes of the hum
bermen to turn toward the last stands
II old growth timber in the United
States, those in the Pacific northwest,
California and the Inland Empire.
1t is this movement that we are now |
to feel The advancing
rice of lumber and increased activ.
ty in the lumber industry along the
clearwater river and its tributaries is
ue largely to this move.
The price of lumber has risen until
ur western lumber can be shipped
hree thousand miles to compete with
nat purchased locally
Thirty years ago the north eastern
tates were not only self supporting
ut were still exporting lumber. That
xportation was unwise, is proved by
le fact that for the past twenty years
lose states have become heavy inn
orters. The Lake States, which
w years ago were the greatest pro
icers of timber, are today paying :
eight bill of about 100000 an
Tally to bring in lumber and other
ood products from. outside.
The time is at hand when we must
eide whether the mistake made by !,
hers viii be repeated in this region, :
whether by practicing forest pro-
ction and systematic conservation !,
pply for future use will be insured. !
The need of forest protection, CON
rvation, and the practice of forestry :
$ not been widely felt until recent
ars. The native American has been ~
w indeed, to recognize the fact that
r timber problem was one that de-
lnded attention. Micheaux,
enchman, was the first to point out m
need of forest conservation poi- Of
:. Schurtz and Fernow, Germans, he
re the founders of the conservation A
In America. These men q,
re trained foresters who had profit mi
by the experience of older coun. m,
IS. The most active initial step was pr
zen by Theodore Roosevelt when he :
ated the National Forests. tn
study of the figures which rep te,
emit our present timber resources an
lear to but one conclusion. Those di,
Importance in this connection are an
follows: 81,
sent timber supply tee
--.--.----,.47e billion Gu. feet on
lual consumption :
-------'. ,~-~- 70 " shs
lual rate of growth moi
Z F" g |" pos