Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1930-07-31
High Forest
Officials Pay
Libby Visit
Chief Forester Anderson of
Washington Here on In
pection Trip.
ACCOMPANIED BY
CONGRESSMEN


and Wednesday when two high forest
officials and two U. S. congressman |
were here. In the party were Major |
R. Y. Stuart of Washington, d. G.,
chief forester of the U. S. forest serv-
ice; Major Evan w. Kelley, OF Mis-
soula, regional forester; Congressman
r. G. Simmons of Nebraska and our
own Montana congressman, John M.
Evans of Missoula. Major Stuart is
making an inspection trip through
western forests and was accompanied
by Congressman Simmons who is seek
ing information on national forest mat
tiers. Congressman Simmons is MEM
Der of the subcommittee on agricul-
ture of the important appropriations
committee in congress and is slated
for its chairmanship in the next con-
gress All appropriations for national
forest matters must be passed upon by
his committee Congressman Evans a
personal friend of Congressman Sim
mons, joined the party at Missoula and
came on to Libby to meet old friends.
The forest officials were taken in
hand by Supervisor F. J. Jefferson who
having previously been called to Mis-
soula--was instructed to remain here
until after the visitors had left. Tues
day the gentlemen visited the camp
and logging operations of the ]. Neils
Lumber company, climbed to the Shell
don lookout and made other investi~
cations here of forest matters. Wednes-
day morning they drove into the Troy
district to study the damage being done
there by beetles and the methods en-
v,1o~,oI ~ hat
Entertained by Commercial Club.
Tuesday evening the visitors were
club at dinner served in Masonic hall,
which proved one of the most enjoyable
social events Of many months. Follow
ing the serving of dinner-at which
bear steak was served the visitors
President r. j. jefferson took charge
as POSTMASTER and introduced the
speakers, first calling upon Major
Stuart
Major Stuart is an easy and fluent
speaker. He held the interested at
tention of the large number of men
present for some little time, stressing
briefly the aims of the forest service
and the importance of the work. He
said that formerly fire control and
the saving of the forests from forest
fires was probably considered the work
of highest Importance by the service
and of course still occupies the I'M
ceasing attention of forest adlninistra-
ton That is vital in order that a con-
slant supply of raw material may be
available for the lumber demands OF
the nation. But another conception is
gaining strength and that is that one
of the greatest and most far reaching
values of forest conservation is from
the standpoint of watershed protection
and stream control He remarked that
probably Libby men were too close
to the watersheds and the mountains
to fully realize the Importance of tina,
statement, but called attention to the
fact that the streams rising in the
mountains spread over practically the
entire nation and thus stream control
becomes really national problem.
Major Stuart was an interesting con-
versatonalist and told much of the
work that covers SO much of the nation
Questioned as to the attitude of con-
gress as to forest matters he said thai
with increasing knowledge of the worl
of the forest service it is becoming
much easier to obtain appropriation.
from congress. He could not be drawn
out much on highway matters but sale
there is an unceasing request from
all forested districts for improved high
ways and that the service naturally
would use its best judgment in the ex.
penditure of what funds congress CAV,
it.
Compliments Libby's Location.
Major Kelley, regional forester, com
plimented the natural beauty of Lib
bys location and said it was one o
the most beautiful in the northwest
He urged the Importance of starting
movement to conserve some of tn
forest growth along the main high
ways so as to retain at least a par
of the beauty of the forests after log
cling operations and said that as h
travelled from Plains to Libby he wa
impressed with the fact that here
the largest and longest stretch of tim
bered and green land left in the north
west, which eventually would make tn
highways through here very attractiv
to tourists. He also urged CAREFUL
thoughtout program of game conser
walton in order that that asset woul
always be available.
Major Kelley took occasion to highl
compliment the people of Libby an
the J. Neils Lumber company for tt
fine cooperation they had always give
the forest service, telling of the tin
when Supervisor Jefferson had calle
on the commercial club for 30 me
to help fight fire one Sunday mornir
and how not 30 but 36 men volunteers
for service and worked hard all da
He also told how the lumber compar
had closed down its plant on more thu
one occasion to help save forest ser,
ice timber from fire.
Congressman Simmons spoke in
quiet convincing matter, telling Of h
enjoyment of the trip and how /
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