Klamath Falls concerns, as well as others in Bly, Chiloquin, and Silver Lake, which are in or adjacent to the reservation, have secured most of the sales. Nineteen of the twenty-five sales were sold in one bid sales. All were at the appraised price except 1 which sold at 1 percent more. Three sales widely separated in time which sold at 72, 57, and 18 percent above the appraised rates, provided most of the 3 percent overall increase in bids over appraised rates. Two small sales were purchased by a Wilbur Sumpter, reported to be from Bend, Oreg. The Gilchrist Timber Co., which is located about 30 miles north of the reservation, purchased only 2 sales, 1 with 800,000 board-feet on which it had competition, and the other for 2,500,000 board-feet on which it was the sole bidder. The mills best situated geographically to secure this timber were the successful bidders. If there was a threat to the Klamath Falls mills from plants located, for example, in Bend, it would have been most likely to evidence itself in the sales in this unit. 3. West Klamath working circle, Rogue River National Forest The working circle abuts the Klamath Reservation on the west. Eight sales have been made since 1950, totaling 83,437,000 board-feet, of which 45 million board-feet are in 1 sale to Johns-Manville. Bid rates averaged 1.6 percent above appraised rates, and 6 of the 8 sales sold at the appraised price. The Johns Manville sale accounts for most of the increase due to bidding. One small sale of 700,000 board-feet was secured by a logger from Medford, Oreg. As in the case of the two sales bought by a logger reputed to be from Bend, it is possible this timber went to Klamath Falls. Again, the Klamath Falls area mills have been successful in purchasing this timber without excessive competition. 4. North Umpqua working circle, Diamond Lake district, Umpqua National Forest This working circle lies north and west of the Crater Lake Park, or some 60 miles airline from Klamath Falls, is mainly in the Douglas-fir region, or west of the Cascade Divide. Until the forest highway to Roseburg was developed, it was only accessible to the east; that is, the Bend-Klamath Falls area. Since 1950, 21 sales totaling 162,850,000 board-feet of timber have been sold. Thirteen of the twenty-one sales sold to one bidder and in every case but one to a Klamath Falls firm. Starting in the summer of 1955, spirited bidding occurred with up to 10 bidders, and prices as high as 112 percent above appraised rates being received. This marked the opening of the road west to Roseburg. During 1955, all four sales sold were sold competitively to Roseburg firms. On the 2 most competitive sales, a further check revealed only 1 Klamath Falls firm bidding out of the 10 bidders. In 1956, the Klamath Falls firms were again successful in all 3 sales, while in 1957, the Roseburg firms took all 3 sales. In each year only 1 sale had a single bidder. I trust the above furnishes the information you desire. ROBERT E. WOLF. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOREST SERVICE, PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION, Hon. RICHARD L. NEUBERGER, United States Senate. DEAR SENATOR NEUBERGER : Reference is made to your letter of December 18, by which you requested a record of Forest Service timber sales made since 1950 tributary to the Klamath Falls area. Attached you will find sale summaries compiled in a manner which, I believe, will meet your request. You will note that sales for the Deschutes and North Umpqua working circles have been limited to the portions of each that are reasonably tributary to Klamath Falls. The Deschutes working circle encompasses the entire Deschutes National Forest. The North Umpqua working circle includes all of the North Umpqua River drainage lying within the Umpqua National Forest. Consequently, only minor portions of both of these management units are tributary, to the Klamath Falls area; namely, the Crescent district on the Deschutes and the Diamond Lake district on the Umpqua. If the attached report does not fully meet your needs, I will be most happy to assist you further. Very truly yours, J. HERBERT STONE, |