Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-02-18

tHe uepartmcnt ana mas received the
following order which we print below
in full. While this order was issued
last October he did not receive it until
few days ago. Mr. Hamaker says that
no wood can be cut from standing tim
ber, either dead or green. without max
ing application for 1t in the regular form,
which applications must be accompani-
ed with bids upon the wood it is desired
to remove:
Department of the Interior, J
General Land Office,
| Washington, ID. G., Feb. z, 1899. }
Mr.. II. G. HAMAKER,
Forest Supt., Custer, S. d.
SR:-I am in receipt of your letter of
January "a, 1899, explaining your rea.
sons for permitting wood choppers to
freely take the fallen timber in the
Black Hills Forest Reserve, without
charge therefor.
You are advised, in regard to taking
further action in this matter, as follows:
This Office fully appreciates the urgent
necessity for having the forests cleared
of all combustle material as rapidly as
possible before the approaching season
for fires. And to this end, on October
10, last, issued instructions to each of
the several Forest Superintendents. as
follows:
"Y ou will direct the attention of your
Supervisors and Rangers to the fact that
the fall and spring are seasons when,
owing to the dampness of the soil, the
burning of such refuse can usually be
effected with least danger of the fires
spI eading; and that. accordingly, it is Of
immediate impoi tance that they should
at once take in hand, vigorously, the
proper clearing up of all brush and
other debris throughout the several re.
| serves.
"As far as it is possible to discover
| the lumberman or others responsible for
che litter, such parties should be requir-
ed TO burn or otherwise properly dis.
pose Of the same, under the supervision
of forest officer
when the parties responsible cannot
be found, the forest officers should
themselves dispose of the debris. In
doing so. the utmost carefnlness should
be exercised to prevent the spread of
fires.
/ an view of the importance of having
the reservations properly cleared with
as little delay as possible, you are direct
ed to have this work rushed forward be-
fore the season becomes too far advanc
ed. Keep this Office currently advised
each week Of the progress made, and
report promptly the conclusion of the
work in each reserve. Hereafter your
reports must show actual practical re-
suits accomplished by each member of
the force under your direction.
This office is determined that the
work necessary to prevent the starting
and spread of fires in the reservations
shall be accomplished before the next
season for such fires"
In carrying out the above instructions,
however, it is obviously ofimportance
that care should be exercised to distin-
guish between such down timber as
would constitute cord wood" and might
be disposed of as such, and such other
down timber as would constitute mere
refuse" as, for instance, lops, tops and
other brush and litter. All mere refuse
of every kind, should be safely disposed
Of as rapidly as possible, by removal
from the forest. burning or otherwise /;
and the public, in general, should be
encouraged to assist in such work, with
out charge for the debris. In doing so,
however, the utmost caution must be
exercised not to, thereby; furnish an in
n,t 10 Oft N Gro hnr fn
the purpose of securing down and waste
timber free of charge. Green and grow.
ing timber can SO readily be converted
into dead and down timber that every
precaution needs to be exercised to
prevent INSCRIPTIONS parties from fire.
ing the forest.
In regard to such of the down timber
as may be serviceable as cord wood, or
for other purposes, you are advised that,
under the law, only so much ofthe same
can be appropriated, free of charge, as
is allowed in section 2l of circular of
June 80, 1897, containing regulations
under the act of Of June 4, 1897, go Stat,
80 36); and that the remainder can only
be disposed of by sale, as required in
section 90 of said circular. You will
endeavor to have this clearly appre-
hended by the community; and for
ward to this Office promptly all petitions
received for sales of timber under said
section %.
From the above, you will understand
that it is desired that you will press
forward the work of clearing the re-
serve of all combustible materials with
the utmost despatch and that, in doing
so, you will exercise proper discretion
to distinguish what constitutes mere
litter ofrefuse from serviceable timber
or cord wood; and act accordingly.
Very respectfully,
BINGER Hermann,
Commissioner.
| TT. 4. 1y