Forest Service Land
Dear Editor: In regard to your recent article on the possible closure or sale of land occupied by the U.S. Forest Service on Kramer road, discussion needs to be opened about the entire role of the U.S.F.S. in Sitka. Why do we even have them here? Yes, they make jobs and function as a kind of ongoing stimulus program. However, what job do they do? Once upon a time, the U.S.F.S operated as part of the administrative expense of logging. Now, they either have dwindling silvi-cultural set-asides from former logging revenues, or they are an expense upon the taxpayer. One or the other. They also collect fees for the use of our own land. These fees do not come close to covering the expenses of the district.
In other areas, the U.S.F.S. fights fire. It is unlikely that the Tongass Forest could be made to ignite. If a fire could get going in the rain forest, fire fighters could fly in.
The argument is made that Forest Service people are the stewards of the forest. This overlaps with functions already managed by the state, such as by Fish and Game. What we really may have are too many bureaucrats in too many agencies, doing political jobs, instead of productive jobs.
The Forest Service in Sitka most likely should be pruned vigorously. We hardly need them around.
John Welsh, Sitka
