NATION-AL FORESTS AND THE INTERMOUNTAIN REGION 9 



THE INCREASING IMPORTANCE OF NATI\^ TIMBEIB 



In the past it has been cheaper to get lumber from California and 

 the Northwest than to utilize native timber (fig. 3), but now the 

 whole Nation is looking to that limited region for much of its lumber. 

 Higher prices for coast lumber will have a tendency to make the local 

 timber of southern Idaho, Utah, and Nevada gradually come back 

 into its own and occupy the important place it deserves in the eco- 

 nomic life of the region. At present it is far too easy to underesti- 

 mate the immense value of timber resources in the region. It is true 

 that the timber is difficult to reach, nevertheless, it is capable of wide 

 use, and as time goes on it is destined to replace much of the timber 

 brought in from other regions. The railroads have already turned 

 to local stands for their ties, and the mining industry looks to local 

 forests for its mine props, frequently using trees wdiich, on account 

 of their size or quality, are not suitable for any other purpose. 



FiGDEE 3. — Small sawmill, characteristic of the intermountain veg 



for local trade 



■mtmg lumber 



An incident connected with the Targhee National Forest may be 

 referred to as typifying the change in attitude toward the value of 

 timber on the national forests of this region, which has come about 

 during the past 20 years. In 1905 some of the land which has since 

 become part of the Targhee National Forest was being considered 

 for inclusion in the forest. Its inclusion was urged by one of the 

 prominent men of the region on the score that " the entire region 

 supports no industry but grazing * * * 55 ^^^ -^^^^^ "they (the 

 lands) are not valuable for lumber but are exceedingly valuable 

 to protect the very important streams * * *." Mention was 

 also made of the very limited amount of merchantable timber on 

 the land, most of it consisting of "inferior lodgepole pine, wnth 

 occasional bodies of red fir." In 1928, from the forests consisting 

 of such lands as this, sales of lumber reached a total of 63,600,000 

 board feet, having a stumpage value of $127,258. This was possible 



