34 



THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



Photo from U. S. Forest Service 



MIXING THE POISON AND WHEAT: DENVER, COLORADO 



lumbering would be quickly shifted to the Under the timber-sale policy now in 

 public holdings. It is sometimes asserted force both the present and the future in- 

 that the creation of the national forests terests of the consumer are borne in 

 has played into the hands of monopolists mind. The needs of those dependent on 

 of timber lands. It was, on the contrary, the forests are supplied up to the limit 

 an eleventh-hour halting of the process set by the power of the region to main- 

 which would soon have made the hold tain a steady yield. It is recognized, 

 obtainable by such a monopoly complete, also, that the removal of mature timber 

 To permit the owners of standing timber to make room for a new and growing 

 to preserve their stumpage intact while crop is the only way by which the forests 

 supplying their business needs through can be put to work. Small sales are, 

 purchases from the government would however, preferred to large sales, and 

 simply invite the hoarding of private large sales which would tend to expose 

 timber for further high prices, while the the consumer to monopoly prices are uni- 

 public supply would be disposed of with- formly refused. Requests made by pros- 

 out an adequate return. pective bidders for the advertising of 



