COMMENTS ON THE REPORT 235 



1 and 2 above, and accompanied by a careful study on the part of 

 both the timberland owners and the foresters of the possibiHties of 

 forest production will result, in many forest regions at least, in many 

 owners adopting a policy of forest production under point 3. With 

 the possibilities then clearly demonstrated it should not be difficult, 

 under point i, to bring the lagards into line. 



The speaker puts his faith in a plan of action such as that just out- 

 lined rather than that indicated by the committee for the following 

 reasons : 



Timberland owners have not and do not now destroy forests mali- 

 ciously; their action has usually been logical in view of existing State 

 law, local public sentiment, and the feasibility of continuous yield 

 forest management as commonly understood. 



Timberland owners are coming to see more and more clearly the 

 national need for proper forest management ; timberland owners, like 

 other citizens, want to see public interests protected. 



With higher stumpage prices and with an increasing knowledge of 

 yields, rotations and other technical matters as yet only dimly under- 

 stood, timberland owners are slowly awakening to the possibilities of 

 continuous forest production under favorable conditions. 



With State fire and tax laws properly adjusted and enforced so as 

 to bring about the necessary favorable conditions, it is confidently 

 believed that many timberland owners, especially the more important 

 ones, will see the practicability and will voluntarily adopt sustained 

 yield forest management. 



With fair, straightforward co-operation between foresters and 

 timberland owners, and this can be secured if the extremists in each 

 group are avoided, it will be far easier to secure Federal and State 

 legislation than will be the case if there is war between the two groups. 

 We can get better results more quickly through co-operation than as 

 the result of a fight. If all reasonable efforts at co-operation fail, then, 

 •and only then, it is time to fight. 



