The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-09-15

closing season of scientific work of
an important nature in this state. As
usual the work has been done in qui-
etand systematic manner, and it is not
known how extensive will be the BEN
etits from it aud the work of similar
parties that will be sent out each sum-
mar until the field is thoroughly COW
erel. The work comprises search
ing investigation. of the great red fir of
Puget Sound. At first the work was
conducted by one large party under
Alfred Gaskill, special agent of the
division of forestry of the department.
OF agriculture, but later the party was
divided, one continuing under NJ. Gas
kill and the other operating under T.
III. Sherrard, another special agent of
the division of forestry:
Other timber trees of the United
States have been thoroughly inyesti-
gated, but this is the frat systematic
attempt to learn all Chat is possible to
know about the red fir. The assist.
ants in the work were selected from
young men students in the universe
ties of the country, as follows: From
Harvard, R. T. Fisher, Frazier Curtis,
Henry James, (second), and VIM. James
jr.; from Yale, VIM. g. Hodge, Thos.
c. Carson and Stewart Hotohkiss
from Stanford, VIM. F. Wright; from
Montana, E. ]. S. Moore. F. A. Spragg
and E. Koch; from Swarthmore col
lege, Pennsylvania, w. M. Maule. Be-
sides these student helpers there we're
p. t. Allen, of Tacoma, and John Fo=
ley, stenographer of Washington, D.
G. This group OF vigorous young men
formed valuable crew for work in
the woods.
The object of the expedition Is we'll
set forth in the letter OF instructions
from Clifford Pinohot, forester, to
Alfred Gaskill, which was in part as
follows:
"You are directed to proceed from
Washington, D. c., to Spokane, Taco
ma and Seattle, Wash, and afterward
to such other portions of that
state as may be necessary in the ex-
ecution of the work intrusted to you
Your first duty will be to select loca.
tions for the prosecution of the follow
ing lines of work, which are to be car
ried on by students assistants Of this
division during the coming summer,
and all of which apply to the growth
and sylvicultural character OF the red
fir.
"The specific object Of the investiga-
tion is to aquire such a knowledge OF
the rate OF growth of the red fir as will
permit lumberman to calculate the
production ON his cut over land.
That once known and stated in board
feet, together with the slight and mex.
pensive changes necessary in the way
of cutting (such as greater care not to
injure young trees), it becomes SIM
pie matter to decide whether or not
conservative laundering will pay.
"Valuation Surveys.-These will be
taken in untouched virgin forest, to
determine the probable stand on wood
of this character; on numbered land,
to determine the stand after lumber
ing; in young growth of varying den
sity and age, TO determine the stand
and rate of growth OF pure forest.
Free anal, ses must be taken where
numbering is going on.
"Sylvicultural Studies.-For these
both Numbered and unlnmbered land
but especially the former, are desirable.
The effect of fire on the growth and
reproduction of the red fir Will be
noted with especial care,
"It is desirable that if possible one
of the two camps in which student
assistants will be located should be
placed at the base of the Olympic
mountains, and the other on some one
of the streams which begin on the
west slope of the Cascade range. At
! first the men of camps will be assem-
bled in common camp for instruc-
ton and preliminary work."
/ Then follow detailed instructions
about the formation and selection and
of camps and the cooperation with
|lumbermen. The first general camp
was selected on Voight's creek, near
| Orting. There the men were drilled
and much work was done. The camp
was visited by Mr.. Pinchot, who re-
NAMED with men for q week.
Upon breaking camp at Orting, two
parties were formed. One, under T..
II. Sharrard, proceeded to the head
waters OF the Nisqually river and
worked along the foothills of the Cas-
cade mountains, The other party,
under Alfred Gaskill, worked in the
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