PEOPLE HELPING THE FORESTERS* 



BY CHIEF FORESTER HENRY S. GRAVES 



O HE three big problems of the Forest Service are: Protection of the 

 timber against fire; continuation of forests or reforestation, and de- 

 relopment of the natural resources. 



And the spirit with which the people are helping us solve these is really 

 remarkable. Not only settlers in the National forests and owners of land 

 adjoining are helping us put into practice our theories, but even the private 

 owners of timber lands have realized that it is to their benefit to preserve the 

 forests and to continue them. 



In a few years the loss of timber by fire should be reduced to practically 

 nothing. We have always estimated that $50,000,000 worth of timber was 

 destroyed each year by fire. Last year, I should judge, it was $20,000,000 or 

 less. We were fortunate in having only a few fires last year, but still they 

 were big ones. 



The co-operation of the people in helping us minimize the risk of fire 

 accounts largely for the big reduction in loss. The Forestry Service is build- 

 ing new trails in the forests, putting up telephone lines, establishing look- 

 outs and taking other precautionary measures. The owners of adjacent lands 

 are following our example. In many places, particularly in the states of 

 Washington, Oregon and Idaho, private owners are spending more money 

 for protection than the Government. 



Private owners are also adopting our plan of forest continuation. Not 

 many years ago a forest had been cut down for its timber, the land was left 

 an unprofitable and unproducing waste. Now owners are taking care that 

 new timber will grow where the old stood. When we find it expedient to cut 

 the timber in the national forests we carry out this plan of reforestation. If 

 the scheme were generally adopted no one need fear that the timber supply of 

 the country would ever be exhausted. 



In order to encourage forest continuation, the States should see to it that 

 the tax on growing timber is not too heavy. It requires forty years and over 

 for a tree to become of merchantable size, and if the owners are forced to 

 pay a big tax they will not find it worth their while to grow timber and will 

 abandon the scheme. 



It is easy to see the value of forest continuation. In the old days the in- 

 dustries and cities depending on the cutting of timber disappeared with the 

 forests. Should the forests be kept growing the industries will live with 

 them. 



People have also realized by this time that our protective policy is one 

 of development and we are not meeting with the opposition of a few 

 years ago. 



*Address at meeting of the National Forest Supervisors of California and Western 



Nevada 



189 



