Show chief forester tells need a and nd suggests plan to increase timber production united states lumber output during the postwar post war period will be maintained at or near wartime levels and there will be inci eased creased activity in the industries using veneer pulp or chemical raw materials lyle F watts new chief odthe of the federal forest service forecast recently in his first annual report to claude R Wt ekard secretary of agriculture the great impetus given to wood utilization by war conditions may confidently be expected to carry over into the years abear he said 11 and provide employment tor for thousands in the demobilization period in urging a comprehensive amerl american can forest policy as a an element la in the structure of security which wb hope will make an enduring peace mr watts said the growth of trees suitable tor for lumber in the united states Is currently not much more than half of 0 anticipated postwar post war requirements and that wartime demands have pushed the drain upon the forests 25 per cent above the prewar levels the chief forester said that in postwar europe the timber deficit probably will bf be greater than the anticipated surplus of all the rest of the world the situa situation tion in the war torn countries where cities have been and normal economies disrupted coupled with the inevitable depleted condition of much of the commercial forest of our own country after the war mr air watts sald said makes caltea it important that the united I 1 states I 1 tates take stock of its present and potential forest productivity since we are not now growing as much timber as we ourselves need we can safely undertake to help meet Eu ropes reconstruction needs only it if we exercise th utmost care to keep out our own forest land productive he said mr watts predicted postwar post war use of the new molded plywood and paper base plastics in automobiles furniture and other articles and said that postwar post war outlook offers incentive to farmers to manage their woodlands for maximum sustained yield either by their own efforts or with the kap of cooperative organization indicating that the present pinch on civilian use of tor for est products in this country would become even more acute before the end of the war the chief forester reported that purchases pui chases for direct war use in the first six months of 1943 were greater than in the preceding six months whereas estimates ot of total cut tor for 1943 tall fall some feet below 1942 consumption he added that inventories of retail yards declined by more than one third in the that first half of 1943 leaving them some 60 per cent below I 1 ow the peart pearl harbor levels in outlining an effective forest program lor for america mr air watts said that nationwide nation wide regulation of forest practices on private land Is absolutely essential it if needless destruction ot of productive growth Is to be stopped but regulation should be supported by an expanded and accelerated program of public acquisition to relieve private own enship where ft here conditions made this equitable or prudent ano regulation must be supplemented by better protection and by var lous aids to private owners under such a program he said annual growth can be increased to a level which will supply our people and industries with ample timber for all foreseeable needs at reasonable cost with a margin left for export ot 01 emergency to implement forest regulation lie he said new federal legislation will be required ile he suggested that this legislation should provide opportunities tor for both state and federal action and declared that as a minimum te t e liew law must pie standards tor for required forest practices and authorize the secretary secie secre fary of agriculture to determine whether practices adopted by the states conform to such standards to I 1 inspect L lie enforcement of the state ta laws and to take direct action where suitable state legislation Is not enacted or the practices established are not adequate the chief forester praised continued on on page ive chief forester urges increase in production jn in tt U 5 continued from page one those forest owners and operators whose operations running a all 11 the way from wood landato large industrial ownerships were werd demonstrating in every region that measures I 1 advocated bythe by the forest service are practical but he regretted reg retied a well avell financed publicity campaign sponsored recently by the forest ll 11 industries and designated to cultivate public complacency when destructive logging Is atul so so widespread r the forest service Is planning for the period of demobilization BO bp that we may bereacy be ready willi blueprints and organization re alred before it t Is time lo ir put pui the men to work he be said while these plans cover work on national national forests public acquisition Is the only solution I 1 tor for some acres of depleted forest land in private ownership and prompt action in taking over these lands will greatly expand the volume ol of cuollo work la in forest development and improvement pro he be added wartime activities and accomplishments com ments in cooperation with tho the army navy war production board office of price administration or other war age agencies included the alaska spruce log project in which aircraft spruce to is being crafted ratted down to puget sound bound while other timber Is being supplied tor for war needs in alabak and in which during the summer total production reached board feet a month the Eemer gency rubber project ji set which up to last june planted acres of guayule and processed tons of high quality rubber special forest aresi marketing marketing projects which have helped and stimulated the output of oe lum her ber necess necessary a ry for war continuing surveys vital to the condet of the war on the requirements supplies and pro r of forest products throughout the country were reported with completion of 60 50 scientific studies tor for the war effort on the properties and uses of wood plywood paper base and wood base plastics in aircraft and other war products extensive exploratory fiur surveys veys ot of timber resources in central and south america tor for war purposes and an all time record national forest timber cut amounting to board feet |