The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-02-08
RESTOCK LAND
AS Trees CUT
Permanent Lumber Is
Esse for
Pacific N. w.
Bv {. =. CHAPMAN
Neyerhaeuser Timber co.

Permanent lumber and other
forest using industries are
essential to the welfare Of
Washington and the North
west.
Forest renewal necessarily bears
a vital relation TO permanency Of
these industries and their employ
ment. If our forests and forest
industries are TO continue to fur
nish financial support for our gov
eminent and its institutions there
should continue 10 be the fullest
possible reliance upon private en-
terprise and initiative.
In the Douglas fir and pine
regions of the Northwest through
voluntary action Of many timber
land owners, valuable experience
has been gained in the technique
OF improved forest management.
There has also been clearly
brought to the front many of the
obstacles standing in the way of
continuous forest ownership and
long time management Of forest
properties.
Changes Needed
Public recognition Of the public's
stake in forests and its response
bility for protection, as well as its
interest in forest industries would
doubtless lead to the change neces-
sary to insure rapid progress to-
ward nationwide sustained forest
production. Even without such
recognition substantial progress is
being made by private industry.
On the majority of lands, oper-
ators are now carrying on adequate
slash disposal and protecting lands
during and following logging. They
are making provision for restocking
the land after cutting under plans
worked out through the aid of
trained foresters. In many cases
they are expanding large sums to
prevent or control insect attacks.
Studies are under way to determine
for individual tracts or groups of
tracts the possibility of sustained
production Many tracts are
already on such a basis. =, Studies
to determine better manufacturing
methods and increased usefulness
for forest products are going for
ward as are trade campsiSns to
maintain and extend wood use.
Must Avoid Fires
1t is known fact that under
good management our forest lands
are capable of producing enough
forest material to maintain our
industries on basis approximate
ly equal TO the peak of production
for any period in past years. This,
however means a period of exploit
tation of old over-mature forests
and conversion into fast growing
young stands.
1t means, too, maintaining our
good record of the past several
years in fire loss and ii means con-
tinuation of well worked out plans
for prompt restocking of cut over
areas.
In all of this program our state
is ana must be playing an import
ant part. Being large owner of
forest lands, state holdings are
yearly being increased and this will
doubtless continue for the next
decade
Encouragement Needed
But the state must do more.
They must encourage private en-
/ terprise and initiative in forest
growing, amend the system of tax
ing forest properties to fit in with
conditions surrounding a crop re-
quiring from half TO a whole GEN.
fury TO grow TO marketability
Greater aid in protection against
fire loss as well as that from in
sects and disease is necessary. And
+ il must not be overlooked that the
greatest hazard to the forest is
the public, who use these areas at
will and without charge.