FIFTH NATIONAL CONSERVATION CONGRESS 327 



use of so much forest area that the remainder acquires a monopolistic position. 

 Under such a policy the terms of sale will be more clearly defined, with less 

 left uncertain for future adjustment. It is probable that the problem of fixing 

 fair prices in long term transactions will be largely met by improved transpor- 

 tation facilities, placing the timber open to competition by more purchasers and 

 shortening the time necessary for them to open and use it, and. where this does 

 not result otherwise the government itself may provide such facilities. The 

 competence of officials will naturally increase continually, through experience, 

 unless Congress fails to provide adequate pay to hold them. States, Congress, 

 and people will be equally satisfied with the national forests as a profitable 

 public project. 



Section I l 



NEEDED LEGISLATION IN NATIONAL FORESTRY 



THE legislation which is needed in national forestry is primarily to extend 

 the principles already recognized by Congress and to enable the executive 

 authority better to put these principles into practice. In handling the 

 public property the executive departments are handicapped because the present 

 laws do not give sufficient authority in certain specific matters, and because suffi- 

 cient means are not yet provided to meet fully the practical requirements of the 

 most effective administration. Attention is called to the need of legislation in 

 the following matters : 



1. We would urge more liberal appropriations to render the national forests 

 secure from destruction by fire. Especially would we urge much larger appro- 

 priations for the construction of roads, trails, telephone lines, lookout stations, 

 and other improvements which must be built before it is practicable to give the 

 forests proper protection. Although a great deal of this work has already been 

 done, the progress is necessarily slow compared with the enormous amount of 

 work which must be done. Every dollar spent in this work is insurance against 

 direct loss. It is significant that private patrol associations of Pacific coast tim- 

 ber owners spend much more per acre for protective work than does the Gov- 

 ernment on contiguous National Forest lands. 



2. Since Congressional appropriation for co-operation with States in pro- 

 tecting watersheds outside National Forests has proved of immense value in 

 stimulating State action, we urge its annual continuance as a part of a regular 

 Federal forest policy. 



3. There are areas outside the National Forests which are valuable only for 

 timber production, and which at the present time are not under any adequate 

 administration. The committee urges that this land be classified as rapidly as 

 possible, and those areas which are found to be chiefly valuable for timber pro- 

 duction should be included in the National Forests. They stand today exposed 

 to destruction by fire and trespass, and in many instances they constitute a menace 

 to the forests which are under protection. 



4. The committee urges legislation which will authorize the Forest Service to 

 grant term permits for the occupancy of land, for construction of hotels, summer 

 cottages, and other special uses. At the present time there is authority for the 

 granting only of a revocable permit, except in a case of development of mineral 

 springs. The executive authority should be able to grant leases for at least twenty 

 vears for the use of National Forest land for hotels and similar purposes. 



