228 AMERICAN FORESTRY 



that remain as possible, and for the thorough development and management 

 of these public holdings so that they will constitute the chief single factor in 

 lumber production and so equalize conditions and balance the market. This 

 is not an easy goal to arrive at, but it is practicable. Our national and state 

 forest services must be developed to the highest point of efficiency and they 

 must have the people back of them for they represent the people's end of this 

 enormous business. 



Another thing that does not appear in this report but may in the sections 

 that are to follow is the difference between these large timberland owners 

 and the lumber manufacturers and the small owners. We surmise that in 

 any controversy that may arise the side of these latter factors would be 

 the people's side. Their interest is against concentration of ownership in 

 private hands of the timberlands from which their industry derives its 

 life. Right here it may be appropriate to make an observation about the 

 so-called lumber trust, the bogey which is so often brought out to frighten 

 the people and irritate the lumbermen. Commissioner Hmith has shown the 

 possibility of a timberland trust but that there is any likelihood of a dominant 

 trust in lumber trade or manufacturing, no one can believe who has the 

 slightest knowledge of the condition and of the keenness of the competition 

 to the extent almost of chaos. A sharp distinction must be drawn between 

 the ownership of timber and the lumber industry. Sometimes they go 

 together. Often they do not. 



Another point should be noted. Mr. Smith discusses the rise in the value 

 of standing timber, solely from the point of view of the concentration of 

 ownership and consequent control of production. This should be considered 

 in connection with other conditions that normally afifect prices. The rapid 

 decline of the available supply in the face of an increasing distance and 

 difficulty of access of the available supply are two important elements which 

 would inevitably cause a large increase in cost if there were no holdings of 

 over a hundred acres in the country. 



These notes on the report are intended rather as suggestions than as 

 discussion. We wish that a forestry expert might have been joined with the 

 Commissioner of Corporations in this investigation because it seems to us 

 that in that case we should have had a broader report and more conclusive 

 results. 



THE SECRETARYSHIP OF THE INTERIOR 



iw^E WELCOME the appointment of Mr. Walter L. Fisher to the secretary- 

 vly '^^'P °^ *^® Interior as that of a man who has shown a high sense of honor 

 ^^ and of public duty, sound views, and an exceptional capacity for inde- 

 pendent judgment. His record and affiliations justify confidence that he will 

 administer his great department with an eye single for the general welfare. 



The retirement of Mr. Ballinger is not to be regretted. The controversy 

 of which he was the center assumed unfortunately so personal a character 

 and was so obscured by political considerations that it failed to be disposed 

 of to anybody's satisfaction. The fact remained that Mr. Ballinger had 

 become, justly on unjustly, persona nan grata to the American people as a 

 cabinet officer. His usefulness ceased some time ago. The continuance of 

 the personal feud embarrassed many departments and bureaus of the govern- 

 ment, and the change will be a reliel' that will work to the public advantage. 

 The whole episode was most unfortunate and our relief that it is over is so 

 great that we do not care to revive any of the old questions. 



