The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1925-01-09
INDUSTRY SEES
FORESTRY NEED.
CLARKE-McNARY LAW VALU
ABLE FORESTRY
ASSISTANT.

Commercial forces are now plac-
ing a powerful pressure behind the
practice of forestry by private land
owners, according to statement
quoted by District Forester Allen s.
Peck of Denver in commenting on
the Forester's annual report, recent
ly issued. The development of for
estry on private holdings is hind
cred by two obstacles, the statement
goes on to say, % the fire hazard
to which forests are subject and
(2) the danger of taxation that will
make timber growing unremuner-
alive, The Clarke-McNary la W,
which is cited by the Forester as
the outstanding event Of the year
in national forestry, strikes at each
of these obstacles, with the purpose
of clearing the way so that CONNER
cial timber growing may go forward
W.. the greatest possible NOM
entum. 1t provides for nationwide
cooperation betweeR the Federal
Government, the States, and private
forest owners in organized protec-
ton of all the forest lands in the
United States. 1t extends co-opera-
ton in this field previously afforded
by the Federal Government under
section 2 of the Weeks Act by re-
moving it's limitation to the water
sheds of navigable streams and by
crediting private expenditures for
forest protection which are made in
pursuance of State laws and under
State supervision in the division of
cost between the Federal Govern
ment and the States. The Federal
Government will approve the essen
tial requirements in re organization
and protection methods to be follow
ed by the cooperating States, in or
der to insure efficiency in accom-
plishing the objects of the national
policy. One of these requirements
will be uniformly that areas contain
ing young forest growth shall be
protected as fully as tracts of mer-
charitable timber, since the primary
object of the law is to increase the
! production of wood for future re-
| quirements. An appropriation Of
| $2,500,000 annually ie authorized
| for forest protection, which il is
estimated represents about one
fourth of the cost of adequately
safeguarding the State and private
lands of the country from fire.
A second feature of the new act
provides for comprehensive study
of forest taxation, in cooperation
with the States and other appropri
ate agencies, and devising tax laws
| adjusted to the economic needs Of
timber growing. The prevailing
system of property taxes, as applied
| to forests, results in the continuous
taxation of timber in all states Oh
growth and piling up a heavy fin
! financial burden up forest pro
duction long before it yields re
turn. Such taxation creates an OBJ
! stacle, partly financial and partly
psychological, in the way of private
! reforestation. Unless extremely mod
erate, as it is in some portions Of
J the United States, it may largely de
/! feat private reforegtation Exemp
tions or bonuses designed to pro
mote timber growing where it i!
! not economically feasible are UNI
! sound. Forests must stand upon {
solid econmic footing and must pa,
/ its fair share of community rev
enue The problem is rather one
of adjusting the methods of taxa
ton to the longtime nature of tim
Der crops SO as to permit land-own
ers to take advantage of an econ
omic opportunity where it exists.
1 The solution of this problem will
require an extended investigation o.
i the present methods of taxing for
est lands and their results in ctua
practice. The problem must be ap
preached in the light of the existin,
economic conditions in the various
forest regions of the United States
of the trends in land use and Lane
ownership, and of the regiona
needs in fitting timber growing int,
the most effective use of land. 4
survey of the past and present ef
forts to remedy the situation whicl
Il have been made by a number o
states will be one of the first steps
{ The study win be localized to
: large extent and will involve CO
operation with local agencies in de
vising the best solution for tn
: particular conditions existing i
each forest region.