2'M) AX^■UAL KRP0HT8 OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



ations in six out of tlic iiiiic yi'ars (hat liaxt' |)assc(l since the fire- 

 H<ihtin^ fiimls were cut from $l,ir)(),()(H) for the fiscal year 11)12 to 

 ^H.^O.OOO for 191,'?, with siil)sc(|iicnt further irductions. It is helicved 

 tJKit in nornuil veai's an expcudiluie for lire li^ditin^^ of from $(j(H).0()0 

 to $S()0,()()() must be antici])ate(l. 



MANAGEMENT. 



TIMBKK. 



I'he orowino- shorta^ic of tinilx-r in the Kastern States has an 

 important bearino- ui)on the achuinisLration of the National Forests. 

 Many forest industries are moving Avestward to new fields of raw 

 material. They are brintiino- to t])e National Forests an increasing 

 demand for publicly owned tinilu-r. They are putting to the test, 

 as never before, not only the elliciency of tlie Forest Service as busi- 

 ness manager of 155,0()(),()()() acres oi' i)ul)lic property, but also the 

 basic idea of forest management, namely, controlled use Avith a con- 

 stant renewal and perpetuation of the I'esource. 



The economic relation of the National Forests to local communi- 

 ties and to particular industries also assumes an increasing measure 

 of importance. In many instances the National Forests now stand 

 as the principal means of livelihood for manufacturing connnuni- 

 ties and large groups of labor and as the source of su})})ort of many 

 industrial enterprises. This development must be made stable. The 

 sawdust piles and abandoned mill towns of forest regions in the East 

 must not be repeated in the public forests of the West. Current use 

 of their timber must be limited to the material which they can pro- 

 duce, and the economic means for the utilization of their timber crops 

 must be developed along stable lines Avhich will make for the interest 

 of the greatest number in the long run. 



An insufficient supply of newsprint and other papers is one of the 

 most pressing phases of our national situation as to timber. There is 

 but one effective remedy of the paper shortage — increased production. 

 The forest resources of the West, particularly the National Forests, 

 offer opportunities for the increased manufacture of paper on a scale 

 adequate to meet all the requirements of the country. Large areas of 

 pul[) timber are available in the northern Rocky Mountains, on the 

 west slope of the Cascade, in the Sierras, and in the National Forests 

 of Alaska. The enormous coastal Forests of Alaska particularly, with 

 their available water powers and opportunities for tideAvater ship- 

 ment, should be one of the largest and most permanent sources of 

 l)aper for the entire United States. These public Forests can furnish 

 1,500,000 tons of paper annually for all time to come, if they are de- 

 A^eloped under effectiA'^e public control and in accordance with a sound 

 technical policy. It is indeed fortunate that, in meeting the problems 

 of timber depletion, the Nation controls these vast Forests as public 

 resources available for development in such Avays as Avill best serA'e 

 the public Avelfare. The national interests in the Forests of Alaska, 

 as in the public Forests of the Western States, must not be lost sight 

 of in the consideration of any questions relating to their development 

 or administration. 



There Avas a marked increase in the timber business on the National 

 Forests during the year. The amount cut increased l)y 100,000,000 

 board feet, or about 14 per cent, and the amount sold by 527,000,000 



