COMMENTS ON THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE FOR 

 THE APPLICATION OF FORESTRY ' 



By David T. Mason 



The speaker feels that he is in full agreement with foresters gen- 

 erally and with many timberland owners as well in stating that the 

 production of timber on a sustained yield basis must by some means 

 or other be brought about on those lands in the United States which 

 are best suited to timber production. The interests of the nation un- 

 doubtedly require that action be taken to bring about this object. The 

 interests of individual timberland owners, while secondary to the 

 interests of the nation, should be equitably treated in accordance with 

 the guaranties of our Constitution. The important question for discus- 

 sion is the means by which the continuous production of forest crops 

 on forest lands may be brought about. The committee in its report 

 suggests a plan. Will this plan produce the desired results promptly 

 and in the most satisfactory manner in the long run? The speaker 

 believes not. 



Before discussing the proposed plan, however, it is desirable to refer 

 briefly to the "Summary of Facts" constituting the preamble to the 

 plan. The speaker is convinced that the preamble does not give a fair 

 impression of the situation in a number of respects. Only two or 

 three of the points in mind will be mentioned here. 



The impression is given that the high lumber prices of to-day are 

 due exclusively to the diminishing supply of standing timber, and that 

 the application of the proposed plan will by some magic result in low 

 prices to the consumer. It should be recognized that the high prices of 

 to-day are due mainly to an exceptionally heavy demand for lumber at 

 a time when stocks of the manufactured product are low and when it 

 is impossible to produce and ship as much as is normally moved. The 

 effect of the diminishing supply of timber on the present lumber market 

 situation is slight indeed. When lumber production facilities become 

 adjusted to the demand, prices will doubtless recede for simple old- 

 fashioned economic reasons. During this period of high lumber 

 prices stumpage prices have increased substantially, but still lag far 



1 Alade before the Washington Section of the Society on March 11, 1920. 

 232 



