WHAT THEY ARE FOR. ig 



Then, again, wood is so very essential in everyday life 

 that it seems unwise to let it be monopolized by indi- 

 viduals or corporations. Actual results show that when 

 public timber lands pass out of the Government's hands 

 they eventually, and often very quickly, fall into the 

 hands of big concerns, which rarely show the slightest 

 tendency to handle them for the greatest good of the 

 people in the long run. 



On a National Forest the present and future local 

 demand is always considered first. The Government 

 tries to see that there shall always be enough timber 

 and wood on hand for use by the home builder, the 

 prospector, the miner, the small mill man, the stockman, 

 and all kinds of local industries. If local needs promise 

 to consume it all, nothing is allowed to be shipped out 

 of the country. If it were in the hands of individual 

 or corporate owners, it would very likely be shipped 

 out, regardless of local needs. It would seek the best 

 market. If it were sold locally, the users would have 

 to pay whatever price the owner might demand, and 

 this price might be very unfair. 



This is especially important to the mining industry. 

 All mining operations require a great deal of timber. 

 It must be accessible, of suitable quality, fairly cheap, 

 and always on hand. When timber for mines has to be 

 shipped in from a distance at great expense it often 

 makes the operations so costly as to be unprofitable. If 

 the local supply is burned up, the mines suffer. In min- 

 ing districts one of the chief objects of National Forests 

 is to protect the timber and keep it on hand ready for 

 use in the mines at all times. 



