Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1891-06-17
m pussrnys THE FORESTS.

Section 2i. of the act of congress, March 8, 1891, entitled "an act to repeal timber-culture laws, and for other purposes provides for the preservation of timber on public lands, and reads as follows:
 That the president of the United states may from time to time set apart and reserve, in any state or territory having public lands bearing forests, in any part of the public lands wholly or in part covered with timber or undergrowth, whether ot commercial value or not, as public reservations; and the president shall, by public proclamation, declare the establishment of such reservations and the limits thereof"
 A circular has just been issued to special agents of the land office, by the department of the interior, to carry out the provisions of this sec ton of the act which relates, that 1t becomes important to reserve all public lands bearing forests, or GOV ered with timber or undergrowth, on which the timber is not absolutely required for the legitimate use and necessities of the residents of the state or territory in which the lands are situated. or for the promotion oi settlement or development of the natural resources of the section of the state or territory in the imme- diate vicinity of the particular lands in question.
 In so doing it is of first importance to reserve all public lands in noun tainous and other regions which are covered with timber or undergrowth at the headwaters of rivers and along the banks of streams. creeks and ravines, where such timber or under growth is the means provided by na- ture to absorb and check the noun tain torrents and to prevent the sud den and rapid melting ofthe winters snows and the resultant inundation of the valleys below. which destroy the agricultural and pasturage inter ests of communities and settlements in the lower portions of the country.
 Special agents, upon being detailed to secure the data in question, are instructed to proceed, without un- due delay, to make in the districts assigned to them a thorough and careful personal examination of the public lands bearing forests OF GOV cred with timber or undergrowth, aud ascertain by personal ohserva- tion and by interviews with govern ment and state officials in the vicinity of such lands. and with citizens who have an interest in the public wei fare, all facts pertaining to the value of said forests or timber lands for all uses, purposes and requirements.
 Should knowledge be acquired by the agent that any particular tract or tracts of public timber land are being, or are likely at an early day to be, despoiled of the timber which should be preserved for climatic, economic, or other public reasons and that the early reservation there of Is necessary, the agent should re- port the matter at once describ- ing in general the location of said lands, and stating reasons for believing that necessity exists for early action. Should the services of surveyor be required to locate and define by proper exterior bounds and lines any tract or tracts therein which should be excepted from re- servatioh. he should submit an esii- mate ss to the total cost of such sur vey aud the time required to com plete same Upon receipt of such report proper measures will be promptly taken by the general land office in the promises.