Page:Report of the Oregon Conservation Commission to the Governor (1908 - 1914).djvu/262

 to maintain experiment stations, conduct faira and for other purposes calculated to assist the farmer. There is no criticism of such action on the part of the Legislature, The money serves a good purpose. However, the protection of our timber, next to the building up of agricultural pursuits, should receive the greatest amount of support from the State. Oregon's timber is valued At $680,000,000 on the stump. There is approximately 1214 million acres of timber land in the hands of private owners, public institutions of various kinds and the State. An appropriation of flOO,000 for two years would represent a yearly expenditure on the part of the State of less than .000074 cents per dollar of valuation or of 4 mills per acre. Surely the community interest in timber warrants this expense.

The value of timber is constantly increasing; with the opening of the Panama Canal and the consequent extension of markets, will come increased exploitation of timber, which means a field for more labor. Oregon needs people. A resource which will bring them into the State should not be wasted in order to cut down appropriations by a few thousand dollars.

Private owners have shown, and are showing, a disposition to do their part, but they should not be asked to bear the entire burden. The employees of timber owners cannot effectively enforce the law; nor will the private owner, unless necessity demands, patrol the foothill and brush covered lands where so many tires start which during bad seasons destroy thousands of dollars worth of property belonging to settlers. Over and above all this is the duty of the State to encourage and promote the protection of a resource in which every citizen has a stake. Other states with far less warrant for the action are alive to th's responsibility and are shouldering it to the best of their ability.

A STATE F0BE8T.

Oregon still retains title to about 50,000 acres of school land within the boundaries of the National Forests. The areas are scattered and consequently hard to manage in a consistent manner and in a way to return revenue to the State.

Governor West has consistently urged the exchange of these lands for a solid block of Government land so located that it could be economically managed and held permanently as a State Forest. The benefit to all concerned of such an exchange is obvious. It would eliminate from the National Forests, scattered holdings which they now have to protect without any