National Forests and the Intermountain Region 9 



which the region is now estimated to consume annually but consid- 

 erably more — perhaps even two or three times that amount. 



The timber resources of the forests are conserved by the require- 

 ment that all salable timber shall be marked before lumbering 

 operations are begun and that certain precautions in the way of pro- 

 tecting young growth and removing slash be observed. In a region 

 where the fire risk is great, slash is burned ; otherwise it is spread on 

 the ground so that it will not interfere with young growth, but will 

 furnish added humus. A forest expert marks the ripe timber and 

 whatever other trees it is desirable from the point of view of the 

 forest's productivity and welfare to have removed; and after public 

 advertisement, if $100 worth of timber or more is to be disposed of, 

 sale is made to the highest responsible bidder. Carefully planned 

 inspection assures full performance of contract agreements. 



Fig. 



3. — Small sawmill, characteristic of the intermountain region, cutting lumber for 



local trade 



THE INCREASING IMPORTANCE OF NATIVE TIMBER 



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 

 prices of material from the coast are rapidly rising because 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 south Idaho, Utah, and Nevada gradually come back 

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

 economic life of the region. At present it is far too easy to under- 

 estimate the immense value of timber resources in the region. It is 

 true that the timber is difficult to reach and is not of the best 

 quality; 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 for low-grade construction and for various special purposes. 

 The railroads are already turning to local stands for their ties, and 

 the mining industry looks to local forests for its mine props, fre- 

 quently using trees which, on account of their size or quality, are 

 not suitable for any other purpose. 



