172 OUR NATIONAL FORESTS 



of in such a way as to prevent its speculative ac- 

 quisition and holding, and to prevent monopoly. 



National Forest timber has found its way into 

 both the general, far distant market, and the local 

 market. But it is the aim of the Forest Service to 

 first of all provide for the requirements of local com- 

 munities and industries, including the free use and 

 sale at cost to settlers as authorized by statute. It 

 is also the aim of the Forest Service policy to make 

 timberlands of agricultural value available for set- 

 tlement under conditions which prevent speculative 

 acquisition but encourage permanent and genuine 

 farming. According to this policy, land which at 

 the present time is covered with a good stand of 

 timber and which has been shown to have a greater 

 value for agricultural purposes is cleared as soon as 

 a bona fide sale can be consummated. And, lastly, 

 it is the aim of this policy to return as soon as possi- 

 ble the cost of protection and administration of the 

 National Forests, and to yield a revenue to the 

 States, since these are entitled by statute to 25 per 

 cent, of all gross receipts as an offset to the loss of 

 local taxes through the government ownership of 

 the forests. 



Annual Yield and Cut. Each year the amount 



