The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1945-02-15
Tells Benefits
Thot Will Come From
Sustained Yield

Ill lftttfi-Ot <3-ifiSifiDIi-ot- ttit
journalism class of the Libby high
SCHOOL,
BY Marilyn Neils
In certain parts of the country
around Libby one may notice bar
rem landscapes, stumps of trees, and
scrubby jack pine sparcely distri-
buted along the hillsides. Perhaps
just mile north or south of this
spot, one finds dense forests with
huge trees knitting the hills into a
gigantic web of timber. 1t is not
forest fires or bug infestation that
has caused this destruction, but
mans own waste in clean cut log
ging and broadcast burning of slash.
Until recently there seemed no So
luton to the destruction Of forests.
Man needed the raw material. When
an area was to be logged, it was
completely cut over and the log
ging equipment was then moved to
a new site where again all the tim
Der was cut. As result of this rapid
cutting, ghost towns have appeared
throughout northern Idaho and
Montana in the last 20 years. Even
though there is huge stand Of
timber in the Kootenai valley area,
it is obvious that under the large
scale logging operations now in use,
it would not be long before all the
timber would be utilized. 1t would
be hundreds of years before new
forest could take its place. Tenta-
tive calculations show that at the
cutting rate of go to 70 million feet
of lumber per year the available
supplies Of lumber in the Kootenai
area will last about SO years. The
greatest wage income in Lincoln
county comes from the numbering
industry and if this is to survive
some definite action was necessary
Local statistics show that there is
enough timber in Lincoln county
and the Kootenai National forest,
both privately and government
owned, if properly managed, to op-
crate the present mill for an in
definite period. The Libby mill
with the help of the forest service
has worked out long term pro-
gram in which the policy of sus-
tanned yield will be employed in
the Kootenai unit. This program is
planned to manage the uncut re-
sources within the Kootenai Nation
al Forest and to secure the great
est amount of employment for the
woods and lumber workers within
Lincoln county. This plan will stab.
ilize the future of the community
and people dependent on the lum.
hnr TfnIar tho t1cf- ~
yield plan, logging and milling op.
erations are provided with per-
manent cut of at least SO million
feet a year. This is enough to Sc
cure living for 35 per cent of the
residents of the county.
In stand of virgin timber, ever
if there are no fire losses, there i.
no increase in net foosage per acre
as growth normally is offset BY
losses from insects and wind throw
By cutting on basis of leaving 81
per cent an acre is covered in one
half the time that would be con,
sumed by clean cutting. Therefore
many of the trees that would have
died are cut and consequently saved
The forest is also put into repro
ductive condition in much shorter
time.
In selective cutting, trees arr
classified according to age class
crowns, and growing conditions.
young stand, less than 100 years oil
with a height growth of from 2 to
logs, is left, unless little thinnin,
or Improvement cutting is done
Immature trees of 100 to $50 year
old, with a height growth Of 3 K
6 logs, are also left. This type o
stand is the age class which i.
putting on the most growth anc
therefore is the best potential agt
group. Only those trees with poo
class-C and D--croWns will be cut
if they have a height growth ex
ceeding logs. Release cutting o,
thinning out is desirable in thi
class in order to continue maximum
growth per acre. Mature trees Of 16
to ESQ years Of age, with heigh
growth of to 8 logs, will be cut
These trees are left only when the,
have good class-A and B--croWn
and are on good drainage sites
Over-mature trees, $50 years or old
er, are cut. The crown class in thi
group is usually poor and the stant
must be cut in order to leave room
for the younger trees.
The sustained-yield program ma.
be compared to farming Only a Ger
tain per cent of trees will be GU
and the rest left to reproduce S
that in another 80 years the sam
area may be relogged. Again only
certain amount of the crop
cut SO it too may reproduce Unde
this policy the forests keep repro
ducing and an unlimited supply Q
raw material will be had.
Selective logging has been prac
ticed in the Kootenai area for abou
four years. The results obtaine
thus far have been very gratifying
After this short period of selectiv
cutting, it is already evident tha
the forest will be left in GOO
state of reproduction. This will pre-
vide refuge for game and proven
erosion and soil waste. While Their
is some loss in the residual stan
through bug infestation and blos
down, it is apparent that thes
losses are not going to be yer
serious. Future generations may
assured of timber to carry on lun
L. i