The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1948-03-25
SUSTAINED YIELD

NOOnLlnQGQs from rage One)
He said that the cooperative law
was passed in 1914, after extensive
hearings, it has been said. He had
learned of the extensive hearings"
through Senator Murray, who said
that no hearings had been held in
the senate, and only one in the
house on Dec. 8, 1913, which lasted
from 10. to 11:30 a. m.
when congress passed this law"
Judge Erickson said, 1T was an
nounced that public hearings would
be held, and we do not think the
Forest Service will try to put
through anything the public is OPP
posed to.
Terms of Agreement
Under the terms of the agree
ment the Forest Service puts in l.
Oil, 900 acres of land to 1863, 900 of
the Neils Lumber company one
half of which has been cut over The
Neils company would get a cut of
1913 million feet a year, which it
would be able to buy at an apprais-
ed value All others in Lincoln
county would get only 6 million
feet"
Judge Erickson said this would
give the Neils company virtual
monopoly; that they would get the
stumpage without investment, and
without paying interest or taxes.
The small operator, he said, would
have to purchase timber land, on
which he would have to pay interest
and taxes over a long period of
years. and hence could not compete.
He said the Troy Development as
boI hGof4 fcY.r,ooI fOy. Golf
protection when it was found that
only 10 million feet could be cut in
the Troy area, and that this was to
be rough cut by the Neils company,
which would further process it at
the Libby mill The people of Troy
know" he said, that if this agree
ment is made, it will be the end of
Troy. and it would be the same in
the Eureka and ReXford areas" He
also said that under the agreement
the public could be shut out of the
national forests by the closing of
forest roads by the co-operator."
He closed by saying it is a matter
of life or death to the people of Lin
coin county and is important to the
people of Flathead county.
P. f. D. Hanson, regional forester,
was next and said, I'VE have an OPP
portunity to do a good job if the
matter is properly handled. We
have been working on a cooper
alive plan, but it is not yet ready to
present to the people of Lincoln
county" He offered to send copies |
of the plan to any interested person |
when il is completed, and suggested |
that such persons leave their names |
and addresses with the secretary, |
and a legal review has not yet been |
completed. we have not yet given |
a copy of the plan to anyone" he
added. The Forest Service, he said |
is concerned with the sterilization
of the industry at Troy as well as at |
Libby, and Flathead county is not
involved.
Mr. Lindh was then recalled, and |
took issue with much that Judge |
Erickson had said. Referring to the |
statement that the agreement would
guarantee a profitable operation to
the Neils company, Mr.. Lindh said
he hoped it would be, but it was the
intent to offer so per cent Of the
timber in Lincoln county to the
public He closed by saying that the
allegations made by Judge Erickson
made the task of getting the truth
to the public very difficult.
To this Erickson said he admitted
that he had been making it difficult.
Now is the time to do So" he said,
for it will be too late after the
agreement is made"
This was followed by period of
questions and answers which grew
rather acrimonious at times.
Tho rVaaafinO was closed without |
taking any definite action either for
or against the proposed agreement.
Approximately 200 attended the
meeting
Editors Note: Erickson continued
his attacks against the Sustained
Yield Wednesday eve at White
fish, and Thursday evening at Eu-
reka. Both times he repeated the
same arguments he gave at Kalis-
1ell.