336 REPORT OF THE FORESTRY COMMITTEE 



toward the end of the duration of the country's virgin forests, and before new 

 crops take their place. 



2. To exert a steadying influence on forest industry which will, on the one 

 hand prevent monopoly and extortion, and on the other prevent over-production, 

 demoralization of the industry, wasteful utilization, and wrecking of the small 

 operator, all of which in the long run injure both the consumer and the States 

 in which national forests are situated. 



3. To make its terms for government timber attractive enough to permit 

 use by those who really need it, but not to subsidize the transfer of lumbering 

 generally to the national forests, leaving private timber uncut to control the 

 situation when government timber is gone. 



4. To secure as fair a revenue as is consistent with the above objects, but 

 not to sacrifice them or future revenue unduly merely for a little more present 

 gain. 



5. To be as simple and understandable as possible to public, purchasers an^ 

 congress. 



To attain all these objects requires : 



1. A non-partisan, unprejudiced, statesman-like treatrnent of the whole sub- 

 ject by all concerned, based upon knowledge of the conditions governing forest 

 industry. These include the factors which govern prices, logging and manu- 

 facturing methods, the growth of forests and like influences which are too little 

 cornprehended by many who now seek to interfere. 



2. A study of stands and conditions not only on the national forests but 

 also on other forest lands, from which to judge future competitive relations. 



3. Intelligent State action in encouraging conservative handling of private 

 forests by wise tax and protective laws and in reforestation, and wise handling 

 of their own lands by the States themselves. 



4. The closest cooperation between government, States and private owners 

 in all forest matters, bringing about friendly constructive effort in harmony, 

 rather than conflict. The whole problem is an interlocking one, unsolvable by 

 either agency alone. 



5. A policy, based upon the above preparation, which considers all forest 

 production and forest use as little or no different from the production and use 

 of any other crop, to be encouraged and stabilized on the best permanent business 

 basis for all concerned. The government should use its control of forest land 

 profitably for its constituents for which it serves as steward, but without taking 

 advantage of its position to accord either producer" or consumer any unfair 

 advantage. In the long run all have most to gain from making all true forest 

 land, regardless of ownership, capable of earning such an income from forest 

 production as will insure its best management and consequent fullest service to 

 community and nation. 



Under such a policy stumpage prices will continue to advance, because timber 

 is becoming more valuable and because it costs money to carry it, will they reach 

 the cost of growing timber, which is the true criterion of the value of any product, 

 but they will not pass it, as they will if recklessness at this time results in bad 



