St. Paul & Tacoma Issue Book on Company's Reforestation Program

"Growing New Forests" is the title of an attractively illustrated booklet just issued by the St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Company, (Tacoma, Washington), describing the reforestation program which that company is carrying on in connection with the lands from which the merchantable timber has beeh removed.

"The question of growing new forests is a serious one," stateg the Foreword, "for there'are handicaps which public interest alone can remove. Destructiv,e taxation and undue forest fire hazard are the principal obstacles that tend to block the movement. A widespread desire to adjust these two will permit these forests to continue reproducing themselves by their natural processes as they have always done in the plast.r'

The booklet points out that conditions in the Pacific Northwest Douglas Fir forests are unique, because of conditions which the lumbermen and foresters recognize but with which the general public is largely unfamiliar.

Certain facts are emphasized: "That the old forests cannot be depended upon for the future, because over-mature trees decay: that new forests must be grown becbuse they are the real and only hope; iand that the lumber industry must bear most of the cost of reforestation if a shortage is to be averted-and it cannot do it if the cost is too high."

The booklet discusses the origin and growth of the great forests of the Pacific Northwest and points out that they'are not permanent resources like minerals which can be conserved by hoarding, but that they are a crop which must be utilized when ripe and that must be renewed' Methods of reforestation are described and the conditions which affect it are explained.

Copious illustrations show examples of reforestation in its different stages as carried on upon the lands of the St' Paul & Tlacoma Lumber Company. The cover of the booklet reproduces in all-over half-tone a dense growth of young firs with one of the marker signs "New Forest Growing Here", which the company places for an aid to protection of the baby trees.

"All of the forest lands of the St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Company have been classified," it explains, "ahd the future yields calcul?ated. The condition of the cut-over lands has been analyzed and practical steps taken to assure reforestation of remaining timber lands as they are logged'"

After pointing out the dangers from fire and the steps which have been taken to overcome this hazard. the question of taxbtion of timber lands is considered. "Fair, scientific taxes, properly adjusted to reasonable forest production, can, make the forests a perpetual yield, both in lumber and public revenue," it declares. Nature planned these forests to be a permanent natural reservoir of wood, thriving in a land ideal for forest cultiv'ation. Nature's plan will succeed if followed ahd encouraged by man. IJnnatural obstructions must be removed.

"Over-taxation is the only such handicap that the lumberman has not removed and cannot remove. Heretofore, the lumberman's open, cooperative attitude toward the common good has been traditional in the Pacific Northwest. He has given generously, taking part in many activities for public and community advancement. Even more, he has been relied upon to help steady and support the country during the years of its development' A like willingness on the part of the public is lall that is necessary to give the forests their proper share of taxation, and the people serve their own best i'nterests when they demand this adjustment."