LAWSUITS: A timber tale

Excellent editorial on the frivolous timber lawsuits. Brings to my mind a conversation I had with a good friend in Orofino who had been in the lumber business for many years. He also worked on some committees for the governor.

Alex commented that while on a timber tour with a bright young college graduate in forestry, he asked her where, by shutting off all access to timber and the mills all close for lack of product, are you going to process it? Her reply was that if they were ever needed again, she was sure the mills would open.

Since that time the lumber miIls in both Orofino and Kamiah have shut down, I am sure causing a huge economic loss in those little timber towns. Of course they were outdated unlike the mill at Leclede that has modernized and is amazing in what they can do. The thought remains: Will there be a huge influx of logging trucks on narrow two-lane roads to get timber to a mill if it is even possible, certainly adding costs?

DEANNA GOODLANDER

Coeur d’Alene