New-York tribune., 1878-07-11
FOREST DKPREDA1IONS.

REPORT ABOUT NUMBERING IN MISSISSIPPI
WASHINGTON, July 9.-It will be rcmem-
bered during the last session OF Congress while tue
general subject OF timber depredations the public
lands in the Gulf States and IN the Far West WAS under
discussion great deal was said concerning the inus
tce which was being done TO citizens OF the regions
where these alleged depredations occurred. smal ap
propriation was made 10 deiy the expense Of sending
agents to Mississippi with view TO ascertain the exact
condition Of the pending suits and discover whether tho
allegations of injustice and oppression brought against
the Government prosecutors had any foundation in fact
Mr u j. Baxter Chief Clerk Of the Land ONCE, who
was selected to make this investigation, has lust made
report on the subject to Commissioner williamson
After relating at length the history Of each seizure
and the actual condition Of the suits, Baxter says:
OF the merits Of these cases. together with those IN
Harrison County, attempted 10 get some general idea
made. From these observations 1 am able TO report
generally that the system Of numbering more loosely
Organized than the regions Of the Northern pneties
and while depredatOns ON the pnbhc lands may Jast ~
easily be commltted there Is much greater dncoiy I'D
recaming any particular lot or quantity OF logs or u-
Der by tracing II TO the stumps from which IL mas been
severed. , ooo -, -. 4,
in case no 520 abOye there less than seventy
three different brands, showing that at least thi mum
Der OF persons engaged IN the cutting vi thesG
brands It happen tnat the cutter employs several
proprietor 80 SPEAK, Of that mark But taking each
mark but one person. you nave IN c aOoFc
average OF about eleven logs TO one cutter tDe rear
fact being that according 10 the lnVentores frequent
instances where but single log among the whOe
lot of maEy thousand VIII be found OF particular brand
The explanation OF this s:hd 10 ne IN the Iacl Ia
these log cutters arc not employees OF tbe great
mill owners and lnmbermeD, US III our NO1thefn
pineries, but the settlers and choppers scat
tered along the streams and throughout the WOODS Oen
transient visitors for hunting and hshinR), who from
time to time through the entire year, ana especially
when rise in the water IL expected c one TWO, tfte
or more logs get them into tae bed OF the stream and
leave them ~ find their way down INTO the tddies ana
booms where they mingled with the general mass
and eventually Oated onward 10 he mills ana dOcks pc
From time TO time. men ldkluk CHhBO Ol tue
drives" find the owners OF particular brand ana pay
them for the logs sometimes doing TINS on the Dahk De
fore they are put IN the stream, ana sohspes aItel
ward The mill men, getting Information OF the pr0Da-
Ule number their way down. contract Tor snch guam
ty as they may need and pay for them at their booms
taking Of tEem as the, are assorted ana run
them into tie particular side b0oms ready for saving
You will readily perceive that the identification OF the
logs under these conditions VIII De ar more Oeult anu
expensive than IN where body OF choppers engage
Winters Numbering season, 90 into regular logging
camps select tract for tnef operations ana proceed 10
clear they 80 OF all timber sntaDe Ior ther pur
poses In the yO1 have only 10 find The camp
aud Identify the lot cut by the whole force In the other
you trace back, perhaps single log TO the
| may the locality from which he severed IT, Tie
more shcss and irresponsible the cutter the greater
the probability that nc obtained II nmedmtey on the
bank where the labor throwing 1t Into the stream was
least leaving the hauling from greater distances 70
more energetic hands This consideration will assist In
the Identification from the fact that the State has Sc
upon most OF the streams which seizures have been
made, and u mainly where haJng for some distance
has been done that the public lands have been tres
In the cases already considered, would 70
port that Notwithstanding the apparent dineul
1 ties there Is probably good ground Tor beheY
/ ing that considerable quantities OF the property
! in question have been taken from the public
ands and that survey should be made at the earliest
practicable period TO ascertain the facts and connect the
evlde6ce 10 be fully ready for trial st the Noyem
| Der term.