Page:State vs. National Control of Public Forests.pdf/8



FROM a national standpoint these public forests ﬁll other functions than merely to furnish lumber and other timber products—functions and uses which extend far beyond state lines and involve the welfare of many people. They cover and protect the headwaters of streams used for navigation, irrigation and power. They prevent or minimize constantly recurring disastrous ﬂoods, which know not state lines. They retard soil erosion and in many ways have a direct effect upon natural conditions of the greatest consequence. The timber supply of the future for all the people, not of any particular state, is nation-wide in its importance, and the continuity of its production a national problem. Natural conditions for maintaining the timber growth and supply not being equally favorable, those states not able to supply their own wants must depend on the sections peculiarly adapted therefor to supply the same. The foregoing propositions will not be seriously controverted.

The national forests are now under the control of the federal government and the expense of their protection, amounting to about $4,000,000 a year, is paid from the nation's treasury. In Oregon alone there is expended in this work about $480,000 a year, an amount nearly one—sixth as great as the state's total expenditures for all governmental purposes. This ﬁgure does not include sums expended in actual fire-fighting, which in destructive ﬁre seasons such as of 1910 and 1911 amounts to $75,000 to $112,000 additional. Fires and accompanying losses and disasters are not conﬁned to state lines. This dread destroyer knows neither geographical lines nor governmental divisions.

FORTUNATELY Oregon has recognized both the value of this great asset and its obligation towards it and, as it should, works in the closest co-operation with federal agencies and private owners. Happily there are but few who