This week 58 years ago: Timber businesses debated, county schools cost over $2.6 million in operation

The Flathead Courier, August 29, 1968

Status of Mission Primitive Area Is Debated by Wilderness, Timber Men

Pros and cons of the wilderness status of the Mission Mountain Primitive Area were debated for the benefit of the U.S. Forest Service at a meeting Tuesday afternoon and evening in Polson. The session was sponsored by the Western Wood Products Assn. and brought together regional timber industry representatives, wilderness enthusiasts and area business people.

The Forest Service is charged with the responsibility to make recommendations as to whether or not the Mission primitive area should be included in wilderness legislation, if commercial logging operations and multiple-use management practices should be followed, and what areas should be considered for various uses.

One proposal presented for discussion Tuesday was to open the area of low-level forests on the east side of the Mission range to commercial logging. Higher elevations would be treated as wilderness.

Those arguing for opening the area to logging stated that there is moderate to serious infestation of spruce budworm and that the disease is spreading northward. Timbermen point out that there is nearly 205 million board feet of merchantable timber in the low-level areas. They agreed that the alpine and sub-alpine regions of the primitive area are suited for wilderness designation.

They pointed out 98% of people seeking outdoor recreation do not travel more than a half-mile from a road. They contend that the ratio of wilderness acreage that has been reserved is out of proportion to the number of wilderness buffs. They say other wilderness areas nearby are the Selway Bitterroot, the Bob Marshall and the Cabinet Range areas.

Depending on timber supply, there are 10 mills with over 1500 employees and payrolls running into the millions of dollars, the industry spokesmen commented. They felt the U.S Forest Service multiple-use management program is in the vest public interest … 

Plywood Burner Operation Is Debated

A standing-room-only crowd attended the special city council meeting Monday night, where plans for plywood plant operations were outlined.

Mayor Don Corrigan laid down ground rules for the session at the beginning of the meeting — outline of plywood plant plans by Larry Brown, president of the Pack River Co., then a period for questions, answers and comments.

Audience participation on the pros and cons of operating the burner was spirited but generally courteous.

At the end of the meeting, Mayor Corrigan said he would appoint a council committee to weigh testimony transcribed by Court Reporter Carroll Copeland from Missoula. The committee will then make recommendations of whether or not to rescind the ordinance prohibiting burner operation.

Consensus appeared to be that the audience generally favored opening of the plant. The opinions were divided, however, when it came to the question of whether or not the burner should be operated. 

Leading off was Larry Brown, Pack River Co. president. He reviewed information he had told the Chamber of Commerce at a general meeting Tuesday of last week and which was reported in detail in the Courier.

He clarified his term "contingency" purchase of the plywood plant by saying that the plywood plant had been bought by Pack River and that operation of it was contingent on its being competitive.

Among items reviewed were plans for cleaning up the grounds and debris left by U.S

Plywood Corp., when it closed the plant last Nov. 1; plans to remove the debarker, the old sawmill and conveyor systems from those facilities to the purner; intentions to landscape around buildings, paint and repair buildings.

Brown also stated that there would be no log storage other than a 24-hour supply of peelers. The large area used for log storage would not be

utilized, he said. Peelers would! be debarked, cut to size and hauled from the Dupuis Bros. mill in farm-type trucks. These vehicles would then return to the Dupuis stud mill with the cores to be made into 2x4s.

Cores would not be chipped as they previously had been. He also said the big Waggoner loader was not included in the purchase and would be sent to Gold Beach, Ore.

Elimination of large log storage areas, removal of the debarker, saw mill and conveyors would mean a big decrease in noise and dust, Brown said. As for the burner, he said that a spray nozzle would be installed at the top in an effort to control fly ash … 

County School Operations Will Cost $2,681,130.05

Total cost of school district operations in Lake County in the 1968-1969 academic year will d be $2,681,130.05, according to County Supt. of Schools Clyde F. Carpenter. This is $ 303,913.84 more than last year's total cost of $2,377,216.21.

Despite the increase, the countywide tax is down this year due to the state's ability to lower the deficit from the foundation program. Last year the foundation program fell 11% short, and the difference had to be made up by the county taxpayers. This year the foundation program deficit is 8%.

Millage breakdown for the countywide school levies:

Countywide elementary, 24 mills; additional for state deficiency, 4.77 mills; countywide high school, 14 mills; addition for deficiency, 3 mills; high school transportation, 1.47 mills; high school retirement, 1.46 mills; high school public employees retirement system, 19 mills. The total is 48.89 mills, compared to last year's county-wide total of 52.12 mills.

Total levies for elementary and high schools by district are: No, 8, Arlee, 87.63 mills; No. 22, Elmo, 70.32 mills; No. 23, Polson, 85.67; Polson elementary (formerly Nos. 65, 6771 Jt.), 80.55; Proctor, 72.17; No. 28, St. Ignatius, 128.94; No 30 Ronan, 147.13; No. 32 Jt., 120 92 Ferndale, 108.105; No. 35, Valley View, 79.84; No. 36, Dayton, 80.83; No. 38 Jt., Bigfork, 87.999; No. 40, Battle Butte, 70.068; No. 41, Rollins, 80.57; No. 73, Swan Lake, 85.237.