The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-23
FORESTS OF THE STATE
Report of the Commissioner of
the General Land Office.
SIX NEW RESERVATIONS
They Include Forty-Six Million Acres.
Patrol of the Reserves-Forest Fire
Laws-Sheep Neutrality-suspicious.
ment OF the Service.

| with the following report of the COM
missioner Of the general land office
| upon matters relating to the forest re-
| serve system:
| Among the many matters Of interest
concerning the public forests which
are treated of in the report of the gen
eral land office for the year ending
June so, 1899, the following are of spec
ial interest:
New Reservations.
During the year six new reservations
have been created, in addition to eff
fecting certain changes in the areas
of three of the existing reserves, maxi
ing, at the date of the report So forest
reservations, embracing an estimate ed
area Of 46,021, 1899 acres.
Patrol of the Reserves.
The result of the first years effort
at patrolling the reserves is shown to
have clearly demonstrated the eff
cheney of the forest force in protecting
the reserves from destruction by fire.
In addition to the numerous camp
and other small fires which We're found
LETT burning and were put out by the
rangers, there were specifically report
ed, by reserves, nearly one thousand
fires which We're discovered and ex-
tinguished with comparatively small
loss
1t is shown that of the 232 reported
fires which had gained considerable
Roadway when discovered (several of
them being so large as to require eN-
traordinary effort to extinguish), but
nine became important fires; and that,
practically, but three of these, by rea-
son of high winds, got beyond the tenn
porary control of the forest force; and
that they We're extinguished before the
vast destruction occurred which must
have inevitably resulted had it not
been for the forest service.
Expansion of the Provisions of the For
est Fire Law.
The report devotes considerable
space to the imperative need for the
enactment of a fire law of more COM
prehensive provisions to properly pro-
tect the timber on the public domain.
In doing so it points out that the
average yearly reported loss from for
est fires is stated to have been esti-
mated at not less than s20,O0o,000 OR
the United States; which is but a
1.-THE of the actual loss.
Sheep Grazing.
Careful study is said to have been
made of the subject of sheep grazing
within forest reserva tons, as pre-
scented from every side, through eX-
haustive official examinations and re.
ports from wool growers associations,
fruit growers, water associations. pub
lie men and other citizens, which re-
suited in sheep being allowed in por-
tions of certain of the reserves when
it was found that the protection and
improvement of the forests. and the
water supply of the citizens. would
not be adversely affected by the pres
ence of the sheep: while. whenever 1t
was satisfactorily shown that sheep
would work an injury to the reserves,
the forest superintendent were adj
vised that they must not be allowed
therein.
Lieu Selections for Private Holdings in
Forest Reservations
It is pointed out that legislation is
needed to remedy the evil arising
from the fact that railroad and lum-
Der companies. owning large tracts of
| land within the limits of forest res
ervations, are making selections, un-
| der the act for the administration of
| such reserves (Act of June 20. 1897, 80
Stat. 1886, of valuable unsurveyed
! timber lands elsewhere, using, as a
basis therefor. lands which have been
| denuded of their timber, and thus be-
| come practically stump wastes, of lit
tie or no value for any purpose.
/ Timber on Unreserved Lands.
Attention is called to the fact that
| large portions of the forests clothing
! the public lands are still without need
ed protection, only fragments having
| been gathered under the protection of
| forestry legislation by setting them
| apart as reservations. leaving extensive
forested areas still subject to I'M
checked ravages by fire and to increas-
| ing inroadS upon their resources by
| numbering operations
! Liberal appropriatios are urged, not
only to provide for an adequate admin
| ie.Ar ;o,, of he lra IN
established, but to enable the land Of
flee to push forward with rapidity the
work of examining the forest lands
| which yet remain unreserved, and also
| to provide sufficient protection for such
| as are not of a character to be with
drawn for forest purposes.
| The report concludes with the follow
| ing statement:
development of the Service"
| while the great paramount benefits
| derived from national forestry sys-
| tenn in the way of forest preservation
| and water conservation are necessarily
| beyond computation, yet one of the
minor advantages resulting therefrom
| viz, a revenue to- the government, is
| appreciate, and it is interesting tC
! note that the receipts from this source
last year, as reported above, agSre-
! gated $223. 696. Sc.
This amount. as compared with The
| total amount of appropriations eX-
pended during the year in connection
| with the public timber. $2S5,000, shows
that the forest service, even in it's pres
ent early stage of development, and
| laboring undcr many and serious dlsad-
Vantages which cripple it's efforts to a
| large extent, has already proved large
ly selfsupporting.
With amended legislation, as urged
! above. and appropriations proportion
S of the service, it is evil
administration of our
IAN be made to yield q
to the government.
ears work has been in the
lonstration, 1t has DEM
possibilities of the serv-
ar off-set ting of its needs
of congress, in respect to
IN and appropriations.
important that congress
iZe that the tal