forests, timber harvests 

 were relatively small, 

 reflecting the poor condition 

 of the timber stands, the 

 limited markets for timber, 

 and sales policies 

 emphasizing support of the 

 local economy. The first 

 timber sale (1909) on the 

 Ouachita National Forest 

 was for $32. By 1917, 

 however, timber sales 

 covering as much as 33,000 

 acres reportedly were made 

 on the Ouachita. 



The volume actually cut 

 prior to 1 923 is not known, 

 but during the early years, 

 the curt exceeded growth 

 on some units. Overmature, 

 defective, and disease- and 

 insect-infested trees were 

 harvested to improve stand 

 condition, reduce losses 

 from mortality, and aid 

 establishment of new tree 

 growth on these previously 

 abused forest lands. 



Terrible floods in portions 

 of Appalachia during 

 summer of 1915 further 

 supported the apparent 

 wisdom of government 

 ownership and jurisdiction 

 of the mountain areas. 

 Local opinion, at least 

 according to the National 

 Forest Reservation 

 Commission, was almost 

 unanimous that the Federal 

 forests were of great value 

 in retarding the flood waters 



and holding the soil in 

 place on the slopes and in 

 coves. 



Overall, the members of 

 Commission were satisfied 

 that during its first decade, 

 the experiment in Federal 

 ownership was indeed 

 successful. 



The Clake-McNary 

 Amendment of 1924 



While the Weeks Law 

 provided the States with 

 some assistance in fire 

 control, its provisions were 

 not very effective. In 1924, 

 it was amended by the 

 Clark-McNary Act. While 

 continuing to authorize the 

 purchase of lands for stream 

 protection, the new law had 

 two important new 

 facets: financial assistance 

 that helped many State 

 forestry organizations get 

 started, and authorization 

 to purchase lands with the 

 objective of timber growing. 



This latter aspect of 

 Clarke-NcMary opened the 

 possibility of purchases in 

 the southern pine belt of 

 the South Atlantic and Gulf 

 States, where the need for 

 constructive public action 

 in forest conservation was 

 becoming more obvious 

 with each passing year. 



17 



