THURSDAY, MAY 8. 1*41
Our National
Forests, Their
Objectives
Bv HAROLD BOWERMAN
Forest Ranger Redwood Ranger St*.
The citizens of the United States,
and more particularly those of Ore­
gon and the Illinois Valley, have a
great heritage in their standing tim­
ber and all of the many values asso­
ciated with a green forest. The forest
provides saw timber, paper pulp, ir­
rigation and mining water, grazing,
recreation of all kinds including fish­
ing and hunting, and is the source
of many other forest products.
inough these items are but brief­
ly mentioned, they represent a large
portion of our payrolls and sources
of income. The most important fact-
in considering the many values of the
forests is that those within the Coun­
ty, State, and National Forests are
OUR property. We should all take
a personal interest in the manage­
ment and protection of this all-im­
portant heritage.
The United States Forest Service
was founded upon the recognition of
its responsibility to the people of the
United States for the proper manage­
ment of the National Forests. The
Forest Service has for its objectives
to insure a perpetual supply of tim­
ber, to preserve the forest cover which
regulates the stream flow, and to
provide, for the use of all resources
which the forests contain in the ways
which will make them of largest ser­
vice. Largest seTvice means greatest
good to the greatest number in the
long run. It means conservation
through use, with full recognition of
all existing individual rights and with
recognition also that beneficial use
must be use by individuals; but with­
out the sacrifice of a greater total
of public benefit to a less. In other
words, the forests are to be regarded
as public resources to be held, pro­
tected, and developed by the Gov­
ernment for the benefit of the people.
The injury which results from the
destruction of forests by fire and 'Ill-
regulated use is a matter of history
in older countries, and has long been
the cause of anxiety in the United
States. A cheap and plentiful supply
of timber is important, if not abso­
lutely essential, to the welfare of
ILLINOIS VALLEY NEWS
communities; a forest cover is the
most effective aid in maintaining a
regular stream flow for irrigation
and other purposes; and the future
of the western livestock industry de­
pends upon the permanence of the
range. Exhaustion of a local timber
supply means the cessation of lumber­
ing and the business activities de­
pendent on it, and often leaves deso­
lation, impoverishment, and indus­
trial depression; there are vast pub­
PAGE 7
lic and private losses through unnec­
essary forest fires, while a rapidly
growing population and war create an
increasing demand for lumber. With
forest destruction, the flow of
streams becomes irregular just when
development of the county makes
them indispensable to transportation,
manufacture, or irrigation. Without
regulation there is serious decrease
in the carrying capacity of the range.
In short, forest protection is vital
to the public welfare.
Your cooperation with the State
and United States Forest Service in
fire prevention and suppression will
be more than repaid by the preven­
tion of lost investments. Your past
cooperation in the prevention, detec­
tion, and suppression of forest fires
is appreciated.
Let’s do our part in protecting our
nation from an internal enemy. Re­
member that “Forest Defense is Na­
tional Defense.”
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We Congratulate
the Illinois Valley för its
Pay °
Progressive Spirit.
May You Grow and
Prosper.
Del Rogue Hotel
Now on Display at your Dealer's
or your COPCO store
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