964 JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



accumulation of inflammable rubbish, a proper planning and laying 

 out of streets. With the most efificient of fire departments, a crowded 

 city built of inflammable shacks is a poor fire risk. Fire protection 

 alone, although it is very essential, will not solve the problem of our 

 cut-over lands or of the future needs of the country for wood. Even 

 on the National Forests, where the timber is afiforded a higher de- 

 gree of protection against fire than may be expected for the country 

 as a whole in the very near future, the system fails in exceptional 

 seasons like the one just past, because of the undeveloped condition 

 of the forest itself. 



We have attempted to answer specifically each of Dr. Compton's 

 points. As a matter of fact, his entire argument, stripped of its 

 pseudo-economic sophistries, simmers down to two points : 



1. The past and present treatment of the forests by the lumber 

 industry is fully compatible with the public welfare ; even the admit- 

 ted large stretches of idle land, the virtual disappearance of many of 

 our most important kinds of timber, the decline in lumber and wood- 

 using industries, are not only not evils, but actually promote the 

 national welfare. 



2. The lumber industry, although it retains ownership of the bulk 

 of our best forest land, is under no moral, social, or legal obligation 

 to so handle the forests of the country as to provide for the future 

 needs of the people unless such treatment can be shown to be highly 

 profitable to the individual owner. 



If this represents the true opinion of the leaders of the lumber 

 industry, we are willing to join issues with them and go to the people 

 for a verdict. 



X. 



