176 FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION April 



lands would be forced to have these any state lands not valuable for agri- 

 state lands appraised and they would cultural purposes, 

 buy them in to protect their other own- When the timber is 'removed from 

 erships. As long as the state holds these lands they are considered of no 

 these lands no party has the advan- value. The owner, rather than pay 

 tage, but with an open market each taxes, allows them to revert to the 

 dominant owner in any one locality county. They contribute nothing to 

 would be forced to take in the school the revenues. 



lands. While competition in their pur- These lands have a value. You who 

 chase would be nominally open to all, have seen the cut-over lands of Maine, 

 yet practically only those who own the New York, Michigan, Wisconsin, al- 

 major portion of the other eighteen lowed to revert to the state for taxes, 

 sections or who already controlled the and then have seen the refuse timber 

 means of exit could bid anywhere near or other materials of value on these 

 their real value. lands so increase in value that the sec- 

 Realizing as all must that the in- ond cutting has realized more than the 

 crease in realty and stumpage values is first, can readily see that in course of 

 far greater than the interest upon the time our schools will surely reap from 

 returns, if sold at a portion of its val- these lands returns often exceeding 

 ue, it follows that the state should not those from the cut of the virgin tim- 

 dispose of one acre of the timber lands ber. Should this value inure to those 

 that prudent considerations do not in- who juggle with the county delinquent 

 dicate as absolutely necessary. No lands or to the state school funds, of 

 timber should be allowed to burn up which the state was created trustee? 

 or to be left where it can never be What would you, as a business man, 

 reached because the state is bound by do? 



a law prohibiting its sale. Nature is kind to us here in Wash- 

 To get, therefore, a proper return ington. No sooner is land cleared 

 upon the trust, there is only one meth- than a new growth of timber starts up. 

 od. That is to sell the state timber It may be fir, hemlock, spruce or ce- 

 only as it becomes accessible in the dar. It is all valuable. In ten years 

 course of ordinary logging operations Washington's stumpage has increased 

 and separate from the land. The sole in value from 50 cents to $i per 1,000. 

 objection claimed to this is that a full Michigan stumpage is now worth from 

 value for the timber is not always real- $5 to $9 per 1,000 feet. The cut of the 

 ized. This is an impeachment of the middle west has been declining for five 

 state land office officials, since no tim- years. The timber of the south will 

 ber can be sold except at the value only maintain the present rate of cut 

 appraised by the state board of land for about ten years. Wait ten years, 

 commissioners. And, further, the con- and the State of Washington will come 

 stitution provides that no land can be into its inheritance. Knowing these 

 sold at less than $10 per acre. Give to facts, would not a trustee be criminally 

 this law a proper, businesslike admin- negligent who did not realize the 

 istration and the state will sell each greatest value from its trust? Would 

 year less than 3 per cent of the timber any sane business man sit idly by and 

 holdings of the state and then only see such a property dissipated or burn- 

 where sale is necessary to prevent loss, e d up by fire ? 

 and to the operator who can well af- ..;, 



ford to give its full value. TH * STAT * MUST PROTECT ITS TIMBER 



FROM FIRE. 



KEEP THE LANDS AND GET ALL THE W ith property valued at from $10,- 



VALUE FOR THE SCHOOLS. ooo,ooo to $i5~ooo,ooo at stake, the 



No matter what disposition is made agents of the people have not appro- 



of the state's timber, it is against the priated one dollar for its protection. 



dictates of prudence to sell the title to Each succeeding summer our skies 



