IMPORTANCE OF THE PUBLIC FOREST 

 LANDS TO MINING 



BY 

 T. J. GRIER 



Superintendent, Homestake Mining Company 



I THINK our President made a mistake when he 

 asked me to address the array of talent I see 

 before me here today upon a subject of such far-reach- 

 ing and vital importance as is indicated in the title to 

 this paper, and I am sorry, therefore, that he did not go 

 farther and secure for your entertainment someone 

 better able to give the subject the careful and exhaus- 

 tive review it deserves. 



Responsive to the query suggested by the title, per- 

 mit me to suggest that "Forests help mining" in much 

 the same general way that they help all other industries 

 which require forest products. The forest furnishes 

 the supply; the industries make the demand. The 

 main and chief products of the forest being wood and 

 water, I fear that the progress of very many of our 

 great industries would not be rapid if they were 

 deprived of those articles. The importance to the 

 nation's great industries of the forest therefore is not 

 questioned, but a very great deal of interest and impor- 

 tance is centered in such conservation of it as will 

 enable it to meet the great and growing demand of 

 those industries. 



The question of tree supply and demand presents 

 itself for that solution which will bring about an ample 

 and increasing supply to meet an ever-increasing 

 demand that is being made upon it. I trust that the 



