I G ROV E wHoLEsALE

Io: IlJlR. REIAIT tUtlBER DEATER

Subjed: SUPPTY AND DEII[4]{D

WE stock, locolly, o lremendous SUPPIY of IONG-BELL nqlurul wood kitchen cobinets.

WE hove, for the first time, o beoutiful prefinished cobinet thot is competilively priced.

YOU cqn enler this profitoble kitchen business now. The DEMAND is there.

Legislotive Chonges Proposed

Legislativo changes in the State Forest Practice Act to bring about improvement in the operations of some California loggers was proposed by DeWitt Nelson, Director of the Department of Conservation at a recent meeting of the Board of Forestry at Redding.

The recommendation by Nelson followed a thorough discussion of the history and application of the Forest Practice Act before the Board of Forestry by four forestry experts on June 15. They are: Professor Emanuel Fritz, emeritis, School of Forestry, University of California ; \A'illiam- Schofield, forestry consultant; John Callaghan, executive of the California Forest Protective Association; and Francis H. Raymond, state forester.

The director told the board that 15 years' experience with the Forest Practice Act has brought about outstanding progress in logging practices, including fire prevention and forest conservation practices. He said the act is one of the most important conservation laws on the books in California.

In suggesting that further improvement in forestry practices, particularly among a few erring loggers, can be brought about by a law change, Director Nelson noted that as the law now stands, penalties may be too severe for minor offenses, and too difficult to ap- ply in severe cases. At the same time he pointed out that nine operators' permits have been revoked and one suspended under the existing law and hundreds of infractions have been corrected before being brought to hearing.

Under present procedures more than 13 weeks is needed to process violations of forest practice regulations. "To protect the present and future economy of timber areas this time lag must be drastically shortened. Increased investigations, with penalities to fit the grav- ity of offenses, will protect the economy and at the same time will protect legitimate loggers from unscrupulous competition," Nelson stated.

Different forest types require different methods of forest harvesting practices, he said. The lack of public understanding of many of these problems leads to many charges of exploitation. At the same time. failure bv some operators to take care of erosion. siltation and other stream damages, failure to fall snags and in some areas to leave seed trees brings criticism on the industry as a whole.

On the credit side of the ledger is the timber industries excellent cooperation in forest fire prevention and suppression, control of insect infestation, and fire-killed timber through salvage operations. Real progress is being made in stream clearance by major operators, and in a number of areas re{orestation by planting and reseeding is going forward, Nelson reported.

In discussing the advisability of broadening the present Forest Practice Act, Nelson said, "Public opinion is being felt in the stream clearance problems. If the industry does not meet its obligations in this area, they may expect some of the Forest Practice Rules to be put in the Fish and Game Code bv the Legislature.

The present act is aimed exclusively toward adequate amounts of forest products for the future, the director pointed out. lJnder present and future conditions, forest products and other forest benefits are dependent on healthy forests. Until recently, "forest products" were understood to be sawlogs, poles, and veneer logs. Modern definition often is enlarged to take in other benefits, including California's vast recreation potential, water, u'ildlife habitat. and homesites. Nelson concluded.

New Red Book Vice President

William J. Clancy, President of Lumberman's Credit Association. Inc.. announces that the Red Book has a new \rice President. 1\{r. Robert G. Mitchell, a valued member of the Red Book staff for many years, was elected to his new office in June, 1962.

\{r. Mitchell's many friends in the industrv ioin Lumbermen's in congratulaiing "Mitch" on this wellearned oromotion.