The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1947-12-26

Missoula, Mont, Dec. 9, 1874
Editors, The Peoples Voice,
Helena, Montana:
The November IA issue of "The PEG
pies Voice" carried front page story
headlined Threat of so Year Monop
DIV Has Lincoln County People UI
in Arms.
am sorry you printed this article
without first completely substantial
ing those facts at present available
especially in relation to the Forest
Service proposals and policies. The
Forest Service is always glad to an
swer questions concerning forest plan
ming and forest use of any kind to the
interested users and the public
The following information is here
with made available to you in the in
terests of more complete under
standing of the situation being studied
in Lincoln county.
I. Under the Sustained Yield act,
passed by congress in 1914 after con-
sidering the problems of unstable for
est communities for many years, the
Forest Service has been engaged in
study of Lincoln county forest COM
through which the tributary forest re-
sources might best contribute to their
permanent stability. The communities
of Troy and Libby are primarily de-
pendent on the forest resource for
their security.
2. The Forest Service has vigorous
ly and consistently sought the view
points and criticisms of the local peo-
pie as it proceeded with the study and
planning. This was done through
meetings, informal discus
sions, Montana study project, a ques-
tion and answer program, and num-
erous letters. The Forest Service has
also consistently tried to follow the
democratic process through present
ing the forest problems and seeking
the viewpoints of the people. This |
will continue to be done.
3. The problems in Lincoln county !
are difficult and it is obvious that the
Forest Service has not felt they were !
solved or it would have already pre-
sented its formal proposals to the peo-
pie directly concerned A public hear
ng is required before any proposed
plan under the act can be adopted.
The Forest Service has stated that it
will present any proposed plan to the
ocal groups for study and comment
sven in advance of formal hearings.
Would Not Make Troy
"Ghost Town"
4. If satisfactory proposal can be
developed for presentation, it is be-
ieved it will be found to be very
much in the public interest. 1t will
lot make Troy a ghost town as your
ubtitle indicates. 1t will instead en-
eavor to give increased opportunity
nd stability for Troy. 1t will recog-
ize the dependency of both Libby and
roy which are the two communities
ffected. 1t should decrease rather :
han increase any detrimental effects
ccruing to the communities through :.
ominance of the largest company /,
Any proposal presented for consid- =
ration for cooperative management :
( private lands in the Kootenai area
7ould provide for a large measure of
ontrol over the lands of the cooper I
ting company by the federal govern @
lent Under the plans now being G
sportsmen and other users f
the national forest can be assured L
lat lu6lr luISlGSIS Will D6 lully pro-
9cted as far as can be done under a
lie laws governing such uses. There d
ill definitely not be any reduction n
| the opportunity of sportsmen, as v
esult of the cooperative plan, to use v
lie national forest lands for hunting b
nd fishing. Further, l believe there a
ill be definite gain to the sports C
ian in the opportunity for hunting b
nd fishing on the private co-operat- c
lg lands, if the detectives of the Il
crest Service are attained. n
5. Adequate stability to the depend Il
ut communities in the Kootenai val S
y will require control of the RATE C
cutting on the tributary forest e
nds as well as good forest cutting
I'd cultural measures. These forest n