A NATIONAL LUMBER AND FOREST POLICY 361 



requirements which might be imposed were made applicable through- 

 out the region without discrimination. 



It is possible that where public and private lands are intermingled 

 and ecnomically interrelated, as in the West, a still more far-reaching 

 principle may be desirable — one that would co-ordinate all forest lands 

 within economic groups so that they can be developed in a way best to 

 meet the needs of the country and the communities. It has already 

 been found necessary to co-ordinate and handle jointly all forest lands, 

 regardless of ownership, with respect to protection from forest fires. 

 A joining of hands of the public with industry in carrying out and ad- 

 ministering the great private resources of timber so as to prevent 

 the present waste and uneconomic over-production and at the same 

 time to insure forest renewal is a distinct possibility. Under such a 

 plan there would be public control of such features as concern the 

 public welfare, and the industry would handle its part under conditions 

 that would permit full play of individual initiative and enterprise. At 

 the present time the mixed character of ownership tends to prevent 

 an orderly development that builds up and sustains communities. 



In all regions there is needed a broad policy of forest development, 

 a policy which makes for permanent mills and all that means to the 

 employment question, which places timber on the market only as it is 

 needed, which protects the present resource — a difficult matter now, 

 even under the most earnest efforts to co-operate — and which classi- 

 fies the lands, encourages agriculture, puts to its best use every acre, 

 and secures tree growth on non-agricultural lands. 



Is not such an outlook worth while for the public? And is it not 

 likely that the country would support such a plan if it could assure 

 itself that the public benefits would be secured? Certainly it could 

 afford to give its financial credit and authority, provided its interests 

 are safeguarded by adequate control placed in public hands. 



These are suggestions made to indicate the character of the co- 

 operation the public might lend, and the sort of requirements it 

 should exact. I have discussed a few of the principles, aims, and 

 problems of a national policy. I 'have emphasized particular points 

 because of their importance and because they are the ones most likely 

 to cause difficulty. A national program should include many other 

 features, such as Federal taxation, export problems, legislation and 

 co-operation in fire protection, economic and technical research, etc. 



One of the important problems is that of extending the public forests. 

 There are many areas in our mountains which are so important from 



