THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST 35 



sight, to engage in reforestation themselves. It will also be 

 affected by tax and fire charges, and the latter, especially, 

 will be largely a matter of location. 



4. The owner with no peculiar advantages, who can only 

 set the general certainty of a market for second growth 

 against his ability to carry a costly and uncertain investment 

 for an indeterminate time. 



Of course a first consideration in most cases is the compara- 

 tive profits of other possible investments or, in other words, 

 the exact interest demanded as satisfactory. Individuals are 

 in by no means the same position in this respect by either in- 

 clination, opportunity or talent. Where one might be safer 

 with his money in timber, another could make more by manu- 

 facturing. Generally speaking, however, conservative judg- 

 ment leads to the conclusion that the present attitude of the 

 public warrants the first of the above four classes of owners 

 in undertaking inexpensive reforestation where the land has 

 little sale value for other purposes and where the growth and 

 fire factors are reasonably favorable. The second class can 

 also undertake it to advantage on much the same basis, but 

 having less capacity for meeting the carrying charge, requires 

 still more favorable conditions. The third class must have 

 the maximum advantage of every kind. It must calculate 

 closely on the factors of cost and profit indicated by present 

 conditions. In most eases the risk will be too great for 

 prudence, and in nearly all financial ability will be lacking. 

 The fourth class cannot even consider it until the public's at- 

 titude changes. 



Better Day For All Is Near 



On the other hand, it is reasonable to suppose that pub- 

 licly-imposed obstacles will decrease. It will become apparent 

 that their persistence is bad economy. Fires will grow fewer 

 and the state will aid in patrol. Reforestation in itself is a 

 method of fire prevention when it places a green young growth 

 on a fire-inviting tract of sun-dried litter and weeds. Taxa- 



