The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1944-06-22
t
Green Light
For Private
Forestry
Nv w. Dub. Brookings

Manager, National Resources De-
partment Chamber of Commerce OF
the United States.
Recent actions by Congress great
" encourage cumberland owners,
foresters and the lumbermen VINO
long have been supporting ma
tional program of private forestry.
Private forestry means the grow
ing of trees as a commercial enter
prise. rather than landscaping or the
planting of ornamental trees. The
hazards of the business, such as
fires, insects, tree diseases and the
many years before trees mature,
are so obvious that there are some
who say that the government ought
to own the forests. As an alternative
to outright government ownership,
they advocate complete federal con-
troll Of forest practices covering
growing and cutting on all private
H-owned timberlands.
- Either of these alternatives would
be serious matter for the cause OF
private enterprise. It would take an
enormous area out of the free, COM
petitjve field The forest areas OF
the United States actually exceed
the titled farm land. In number OF
employees and investments, forest
product enterprises rank fifth among
American industries.
BY the recent passage OF a meas
ure authorizing greatly-increased
funds for fire prevention, Congress
has gone long way toward remov-
ing what it recognized as the great
est deterrent to the progress OF pri-
vate forestry-fire.
"A basic principle Of this new fire
protection legislation is equal con-
tributions by the federal government
on the one hand and by the states
and private owners on the other.
The late Senator McNary of Ore
Ron was instrumental in enactment
Of law based on that principal 20
years ago, but there were inadequate
funds to make it effective It is to
be regretted that the Senator did
not live to see the passage OF his
recent bill for greatly Increased
funds-an endorsement Of the
soundness of the principle he init
lated. That principle is cooperation
between the federal government,
the states and private individuals,
rather than federal control.
Statistics show that the public is
responsible for most forest fires,
yet the public has not been willing
to assume responsibility for them.
For more than 20 years, the Ma
tional Chamber has urged the pub
lie to recognize its full responsible
ity for proper forest fire protection
A second important action Of Con-
gress in this regard is an act ito
promote sustained yield forest man
agement." That language simply
means that the federal government,
an extensive owner Of forest lands,
will enter into agreements with adj
Joining private timberland owners
to make possible operation Of the
area as single forest unit
The basic principle here IS that
the unit will be large enough to
produce annually a volume of for
est products to support an efficient
forest operation. Each year there
would be harvested only the equiv
alent Of a years growth; hence the
term, Sustained yield" Many lum-
Der companies own areas large
enough to practice sustained yield
cutting; but in some parts Of the
country, particularly in the North
west, where the government is a
large owner of timberlands. this CO.
operative type of legislation will
help private owners create units
large enough to support continuous
operation.
: Another piece Of legislation that
has just passed the Senate and
House would authorize funds to en-.
able the federal government to COM
plete national forest survey. The
forest products industries long have
had to contend with public fear
of a shortage Of wood products
Some advocates Of government own
ership and control have not beer
hesitant in painting the black pic
ture Of the future. The Fedora
government, however, has completel
surveys of several important fores
areas and findings in the overall ma
tional survey thus far warrants thu
belief that our forest lands are ade
quate if they are kept producing.
With facts instead of gucssWork.
and with federal cooperation witt
private timberland owners to maxi
the growing of trees commercial,
profitable. the prospects lool
brighter for self sufficient fores
industry in the hands of privat
individuals instead of government
Within the Naval Training Cente
Of Enrrad,1t Ida ic rnilnc of rail