Arizona's Unheralded Resources

Arizona's Unheralded Resource

THE National Forests of Arizona constitute one of the greatest natural resources of the entire state. In spite of this fact it is doubtful if many people, with the possible exception of those connected directly with the forests and the handling of wood products, actually realize the tremendous values received from these timbered and woodland areas. fuel, posts, certain types of building material and even food ever since white man first set foot on the waving expanse of Arizona's vast plains.

Tall Timber Represents Wealth to Labor and Capital

Driving over the many miles of forest highways, fishing, hunting, or otherwise enjoying the beauty of Arizona's National Forests, most visitors overlook the value of the timber and other wood products in admiration of the scenic beauty.

By W. W. JAMES U. S. Forest Service There are eight National Forests in the state with a net total of 11,389,464 acres, 34 per cent carrying a stand of sawtimber. By means of careful management, the United States Forest Service supervises the cutting of all sawtimber in the National Forests, taking only the ripe and over-ripe trees and leaving ample seed trees to insure reseeding of the area in the years to come.

It probably seems to the uninitiated observer that "timber in Arizona" is almost a contradiction in terms. But such an assumption could not be farther from the truth.

supplying material for local use, wood products from Arizona's mills were shipped to many other states. The logging, milling and general handling of this timber crop furnished employment in considerable numbers for both labor and capital.

The volume removed each year is so regulated as not to exceed growth and the forest crop is thus used exactly like any other agricultural crop with the basic stock being retained for future production.

During the calendar year of 1934, over 35 million board feet of timber was cut from the National Forests. In addition to The woodland forests, usually not considered as one of the state's largest assets, are extremely valuable from a domestic use standpoint and watershed protection. Occurring at the lower elevations and easily accessible to a large number of people, they have furnished This method employed practically guarantees a sustained yield of forest products for future use, furnishing a steady and reasonably permanent source(Continued on Page 17)