Cof. Gteeley Answers Governor Pinchot

Col. W. B. Greeley, secretary-manager of the West Coast Lumbermen's Association, is opposed to Governor Pinchot's proposal for immediate legislation to place all forests and forest cuttings under control of the Federal Government. In a letter dated July 23, 1942, Col. Greeley states:

"Governor Pinchot has asked the people of this country to urge immediate legislation which would place the Federal Government in control of all forests and forest cutting. He asks this on the strength of 'vast forest destruction' brought on by the needs of war. He asks it at the very time when Suez is threatened, the Russian front is wavering under fresh attack, the sinking of American ships is increasing and the whole issue of the war is at stake.

"No country should hesitate to draw upon its capital resources in time of war. We are drawing heavily upon our forests; but the fear of their widespread destruction is groundless. As a matter of fact, our total cut of lumber last year was under 35 billion feet-less than we took from the forests every year during the decade ending in 1929 when home and farm building was active. We will cut no more this year-a scant 2 per cent of the 1,700 billion feet of standing timber. Surely this modest use, no more than the cut in many peacetime years, is no occasion for driving through Congress a drastic extension of Federal power, over private business and property, under plea of national emergency.

"Whether timber growing in the United States should be placed under Federal control or left to private enterprise and such regulation as the several states deem necessary is a proper subject for Congressional study. The private owners and growers of timber are not afraid to try the case o{ forestry by decree vs. forestry by free enterprise before the court of public opinion. But this should not be done when Congress and the people are so concerned with the bitter problems of a war which is going none too well, that the court of public opinion may become a drumhead courtmartial.

"The winning of the war does not depend on this legislation. To attempt it may indeed impede the war effort through disunity-at a time when all our energies should be concentrated upon the real emerg'ency. Unless we win the war, the discussion is academic. It can well await the sober consideration of the American people when peace has been re-established.

"The forest supply of the United States is not as serious as Governor Pinchot fears. There is plenty of room for improvement; some forest destruction still goes on. But timber growing-private as well as public-is gaining steadily. In the Pacific Northwest, 7rl million acres of junior forests, mostly in private ownership, are growing up to 1,000 board feet of new timber on every acre, every year. More millions of recently-cut acres are stocking up with young trees. Most of the logging follows a code of forest practice which insures reforestation if fire is kept out; and the acreage of regrowing land is gaining on the annual cuttings. A cooperative forest nursery, maintained by the industry, will soon distribute five million young trees for planting every year. And some two million acres of commercial tree farms are leading in improved fire prevention and timber culture.

"Lumbermen are growing trees in many States. Southern pineries are now cutting their second or third crops. There are industrial tree farms in Michigan, in ldaho, in New England. A large part of the industry accepts timber growing as part of its job.

"We owe much to Governor Pinchot for his leadership in forest conservation. Many of his ideas are now accepted and practiced by lumbermen. We cordially invite the Governor to come to the Northwest and see for himself what is doing in timber cropping and permanent forest industries.

"Lumbermen welcome public inquiry, when it can be thorough and judicial. But they object to an efiort to stampede the country into drastic legislation, under fear of an emergency which does not exist."

In Air Corps

Myron L. Hoag, chief accountant for White Brothers, wholesale hardwood importers and dealers, San Francisco, volirnteered and was recently accepted in the U. S. Air Corps ryith the rank of Lieutenant. He is now at an officers'school at Miami Beach, Florida.