The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1945-11-01
Sustained Yield of
Forest Resources
By Cooperation

Question 3. Which of the larger
cumberland owners have signified
willingness to coorer4te in practic-
ing sustained yield?
Answer 3. Only the J. Neils Lbr.
Company. The Northern Pacific
Railroad, the second largest owner
after J. Neils. has indicated a pref
erence to sell its holdings rather
than manage them for future re-
turns. Inasmuch as the j. Neils
Company is the principal buyers of
these lands most of them will even
tually come under the sustained
YIELD agreement. if one can be
worked out. The state forest offic-
ials would like to participate in the
sustained yield program. but are
prevented from entering coopera-
tive agreement by lack of legal au-
thority Of the other owners, the
County is disposed to sell its lands
as opportunities arise and the small
owners are inclined to cut ard sell
without restrictions.
Question d. What portion of Lin
coin County and the Kootenai Ma
tionaf Forest will be included in the
proposed cooperative Il S al e d
yield unit?
Answer 4 The proposed unit
would consist Of the entire Yak
River and Lake Greek Blocks and
all of the Kootenai River, Libby
Greek and Fisher River Blocks ex-
cept the Pleasant Valley portion of
the latter. The Tobacco River wat
.ershed and all other drainages east
of it will be outside too.
Question S. Are the ]. Neils hold
ings inadequate to tie up the large
Government timber involved
Answer 5. They are considered
sufficient. Ordinarily private TIM
Der should constitute approximately
20 percent of the totaloperable vol
unne and about one-third of the pro-
ductive capacity. The j. Nells Co.
has more than sufficient volume to
meet these requirements through
their recent purchase Of all A. G. M.
timber in the Fisher River Drain
age. What they may lack III acre
age is balanced by better site quail
ties and growing potentialities.
Considerable leeWay may be grant
ed private owner in one respect or
another. Under certain provisions
of the law a dependent industry and
community may be designated as
beneficiary (be able to buy timber
at the appraised value without COM
petition) without any timber hold
ings whatsoever.
Question 6. Would the j Neils
Mill be able to operate continuously
without a cooperative agreement
with the Forest Service
Answer 6. Yes, provided the j.
Neils Company was able to success
fully bid for and buy most of the
timber that was offered for sale by
the Forest Service within the pro-
posed unit. But should another
large, or even a medium sized mill,
become established and outbld the
j. Neils Co on few large log
glng chances, there would not be
sufficient loggable timer to support
both industries unless one or both
were able to exist largely on mixed
species
No sawmill in this region has
been able to get by cutting main
~ mixed species A reputable firm
tried it once at Eureka, but eventu-
ally the mill had to close. The lum-
Der economy of the Inland Empire
region is based on the sale of high
percentage OF pine. Prior to the
war this requirement was 80 per-
cent of the total cut The j Neils
Company required less than that
(about rs percent but still sub
stantial amount There definitely
is not sufficient pine within the I'M
it to supply even one large mill at
the previous rates of consumption.
Continued next week.)