BRUSH DISPOSAL PR:0BLEM 41 



Methods of Organization. — The solution of the problem of the 

 lumberman's slash has been the subject of a great deal of study both in 

 the United States and Canada. On account of differences in economic 

 conditions the situation at the present time is more advanced in the 

 former than in the latter. As to lands in the United States owned 

 by the Federal Government, the lead has been taken by the United 

 States Forest Service, through the imposition of requirements for brush 

 disposal in connection with sales of timber in the National Forests of 

 the Western States. As to lands in private ownership, which comprise 

 fovtr-fifths of the timber of the coimtry, progress has also been made 

 through the enactment of state legislation, particularly in New York, 

 Minnesota and Oregon, and through voluntary co-operation on the part 

 of the associations of timber-land owners in the Pacific Northwest 

 comprising the Western Forestry and Conservation Association. Up 

 to the present time, this organization is limited to the States of Washing- 

 ton, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and California. In addition to fire patrol, 

 the organizations comprising this Association furnish expert assistance 

 in supervising the disposal of slash, thus ensuring the greatest possible 

 efSciency and safety. 



Situation in Canada. — -in contrast to the short-sighted policy 

 which so long prevailed in the United States, the Dominion arid Provin- 

 cial Governments of Canada have wisely retained the ownership of 

 non-agricultural lands to a very large extent, disposing for the most 

 part only of the right to cut timber tmder specified conditions. Thus, 

 the necessity for voluntary action through the formation of lumber- 

 men's associations is not nearly so urgent as in the United States. With 

 the exception of the relatively small percentage of timber land in pri- 

 vate ownership, the situation is, in the long run, within the control of 

 the Dominion and Provincial Governments, in connection with the issu- 

 ance of new Ucenses and renewals of those previously issued. In some 

 cases, all that is needed is the enforcement of provisions already included 

 within licenses. This is particularly true of those issued by the Domin- 

 ion Government, where ample provision is made on paper for brush 

 disposal but where these provisions have not been enforced. This 

 continued lack of enforcement has resulted in what is doubtless regarded 

 by many of the licensees as a sort of vested right, which it wiU no doubt 

 be difSctilt to overcome. 



In Eastern Canada, the stand of timber is not nearly so heavy as 

 on the Pacific slope, and the problem of brush disposal must be handled 

 in a different way. The conditions in the Adirondack region of New 

 York, where much has already been done along this line, are closely 

 similar to those in the spruce region which covers so large an area in 

 eastern Canada. Much may also be learned from the experience in 



