234 JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



The harvesting of the forest crop on National Forests by the Forest 

 Service is not favored. 



It is not clear that forest insurance agencies require specific authori- 

 zation ; such agencies are desirable, but can they not now be initiated 

 without further authorization? 



Whatever public forest policy is adopted should apply to timberland 

 owned in wood lots as well as otherwise. 



The report, in effect, lays the entire blame for the evils of the 

 present forest situation upon the lumberman ; it is implied that the 

 timberland owner will never do anything on his own initiative, and 

 that the only way to deal with him is at the end of a big paternal Fed- 

 eral club. A share of the blame, at least, should be apportioned to 

 the public and the States, which have generally failed to bring about 

 a situation with respect to fire protection and taxes under which it 

 would be practicable for the forest owner to manage his property on a 

 continuous production basis. 



Our American civilization of to-day has been reached through the 

 force of individual initiative, curbed only so far as necessary in the 

 interests of society, rather than as the result of being hazed along by 

 the lash of a far-reaching paternalism. The principle of individual 

 initiative should not be exchanged for a bureaucracy, tending to 

 mediocrity in its ability to produce results, unless and only to the 

 extent that it is conclusively proven that individual initiative will not 

 accomplish the purpose. 



Action along the following lines is advocated by the speaker : 



1. Federal legislation designed to encourage and assist the States in 

 bringing about conditions under which it will be practicable for forest 

 owners to manage their lands on a continuous production basis. 



2. The necessary State legislation. 



3. Give the private owner a fair opportunity, under favorable condi- 

 tions, to take the initiative in putting his lands on a continuous yield 

 basis. 



4. Finally, by State legislation, force those who fail to do so volun- 

 tarily to adopt a system of continuous yield forest management or have 

 their lands condemned by the State. 



The speaker is convinced that there is a far better opportunity than 

 the report indicates to secure hearty co-operation with timberland 

 owners in carrying through a reasonable plan of action. It is believed 

 that such co-operation secured in connection with accomplishing points 



