Forestry Appropriation Advocated

Washington, Nov. 6.-Wilson Compton, Secretary and Manager of the National Lumber Manufacturers' Association, has addressed the following letter to General Lord, director of the {ederal budget, urging liberal appropriations in support of the Woodruff-McNary, Clarke-McNary and McSweeney-McNary forestry acts:

November l, 1928.

General Herbert M. Lord, Director of the Budget, Treasury Bldg., Washington, D. C. Dear General Lord:

At the forestry hearing in your office on October 11, we urged upon you the importance of continuous and orderly development of the national forestry policy embodied in the Woodruff-McNary, Clarke-McNary and McSweeney-McNary Acts. That policy calls for increases in appropriations under the Clarke-McNary lawof $43q000, under the McNary-Woodruff law of $1,000,000, and under the lVlcSweeney-McNary law of $288,000 for the fiscal year 1930. You have indicated your familiarity with our problem and your sympathy with the increased appropriations necessary to carry out the forestry program. Without going into detail, therbfore, I desire to draw your attention to four major items in the forestry program which deserve particular consideration. These have to do with increased appropriations for forest fire cooperation, forest products research, forest experiment stations, and investigation of termite infestation.

It has been estimated that $600,000,000 annually can be saved through research and investigation of methods of utilizing waste materials and improved methods of using forest products. The actual results thus far accomplished in that field by the Forest Products Laboratory confirm the practical possibilities indicated. To cite an example, many of which could be furnished, research in the mechanical properties of wood has resulted in more efficient use of heavy construction materials which saves annually more than the entire Federal appropriations for forest products research for the last fifteen years. The program of work facing the Forest Products Laboratory which gives real promise of practical and useful results would easily justify appropriations twice the $505,000 they are now receiving. We regard the forest products item as of the greatest present importance ofall forest research.

Under the McSweeney-McNary Act, a maximum of $1,000,000 was authorized for forest products research, with the understanding that present appropriations would be increased annually until at the end often years the full amount would be available. No increase was granted last yea!. Progress toward better utilization was correspond- inglyretarded. It should not be retarded further. - It is therefore of first importance that the increase of $50,000 asked for this work, in accordance with the McSweeney Act program, be granted this year.

In order to encourage the development of adequate forest fire protection by the several states and private enterpriqe_, ,t!r9 Clarke-McNary Act authorizes appiopriations up to $2,500,000 annually to be expended in CoopCration with states which meet certain requirements and regulations fixed b_y the Department of Agriculture. These-requirements have been met to the extent to require the fulf sum authorized if the Government is to hold up its end in the program. We have asked that $400,000 be added to the present appropriations of $1,200,000. This additional sum is sufficient to permit cooperation to the extent of one half the contemplated program of equal expenditures by the Federal Government and the states.

The forest experiment stations are the base from which all forest research is carried on. Stations have now been established ii practically every forest region in the United States and programs of essential work have been carefully prepared for their guidance. We ask that ffi,300 in addition to the $354300 now being expended for the upkeep of these- experiment stations be added to next yearts ap- propriations to enable them to keep abreast of-the carlfully laid out plans fortheir work. This amount'is the proportional increase contemplated under the terms of the McSweeney-McNary Act.

Termite damage to wood construction and wood articles has reached the proportions of a serious threat and an emergency. It has had the attention of the Government and the lumber and associated industries for some time. Considerable has been accomplished in the way of better construction methods, wood preserving and the like to cut down losses due to termite infestation. The problem, however, is fast assuming proportions comparable to those of the boll weevil in cotton and the corn borer in corn groiv- ing districts. Termites, formerly largely limited to the South and Pacific Coast, appear now to be extending into other regions. We strongly urge that as an emergency measure, appropriations sufficient to permit a thoiough study of causes and practical measures o{ prevention be granted before the infestation gets out of control. What can now be done with thousands, will then cost millions.

Very truly yours,

WILSON COMPTON, Secretary-Manager.