The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-11-23


becomes possible to re-
view what has been
done the past summer by the division
or forestry of the United States de-
partment of agriculture, newly es-
tahlished institution designed to sup
ply expert knowledge on practical
questions of forestry.
Since May the division has had par
ties at work in New York. Tennessee.
Missouri Colorado, South Dakota, Ar
kansas, Arizona, Washington, Oregon.
California, a number OF tree-plantinS
states of the middle west, and in IL
small way, in other states besides.
Much new and valuable information
has been collected, and very large
number of surveys has been made, of
the results of which it will soon be
possible to make practical use. The
work which has thus been going on in
the field consisted of making forest
surveys and of gathering measure
ments and information about growth,
stand, reproduction, etc. Much of it,
as that in the Black Hills forest re-
serve, in the Adirondacks, and on th,
tract of the Sawyer g. Austin Lumber
company in Arkansas. 4 is preparatory
to the preparation OF what are called
working plans" or plans for the MAN.
agement and utilization Of given tracts
of timber. The rest of the work Of the
field parties has been more of the
character of investigations--as, for in
stance, an examination of the infiu-
ence Of forest cover on waterilow
which was made on the watershed of
the Arrowhead river IN southern Cali
fornia. studies of the habits of
growth and reproduction of the two
most important lumber trees Of the
Pacific coast-the red fir and the red
wOod--s,nd a survey of the results
of tree-planting undertakings which
have been carried on in the northern
part of the Mississippi valley. During
the coming winter the agents of the
division will spend most of their time
III working up the results of the sum-
mer's surveys and in preparing re-
ports on them.
That this expert work, assuming it
has been intelligently performed, will
in time have substantial value may
readily be understood from one in
stance. The Black Hills reserve in
South Dakota contains 1.211.6S0 acres.
No other tract of it's size in this coun-
try or abroad presents more favorable
conditions for forest management.
,ly y1fe,
and there is a large and steady de-
mand for timber. The forest. too, re-
produces itself easily and grows with
great rapidity, so that, although cut
ting and burning have gone on in some
places, the problem which is presented
is not that of fostering a scan,y
growth and creating forest conditions,
but rather utilizing and caring for an
already well-establshed forest. In the
course of the summers work a part
Of the reserve was examined, and on
$4,000 acres exact figures We're col
lectcd regarding the size and kind Of
all standing trees. From such meas
urements estimates of the present
stand and future yield of timber can
be compiled, and on these the recon-
mendations for the management Of the
reserve will be based. The adoption
of these recommendations will mean
that this immense woodland will con-
tinue for centuries to supply immense
quantities of marketable timber with
out exhaustion.
1t Is along such lines as these that
the great problem of conserving our
timber supply, with its numerous coll
lateral issues, such as irrigation, cli-
mate chances, etc. must be solved;
and the time to start is now.