The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1900-03-02
Work on Forest Reserves.

Lumbermen of the Western States
have of late taken an unusual interest
IN the policy of the interior depart
ment regard ing the great forest. re-
serves established during President
| Cleveland's term. More particularly
have their inquiries been regarding
the Washington fir aud cedar reserves
and IN the correspondence that has
passed between the department and
those interested much new and valua-
BILE information is contained.
Lumbermen are now convinced that
the government is going to take up
forestry in practical way. It's work,
it is said, will be witnessed in the
Mount Rainier and Olympic reserves
OF this state during the coming
summer. 1t will be the policy of the
government, it is said, to not only care
for these reserves so as to maintain
the standing timber, but to adopt such
measures as will make them profitable
to the community.
To this end the department of agri-
culture is having prepared for the de-
partment of the interior working plans
OF all he-national forestry reserves in
the West.
A we'll known lumberman who has
just returned from Washington City
where he had long talk with depart
ment officials on the subject, in speak
ing of the matter yesterday, said:
"East year, if you will remember,
the department of the interior, had
several men on the Washington re-
serves gathering data regarding the
timber This work will be continued
on greater scale this year. The de-
partment has III view not only the pre-
servation of these reserves, but plans
that will result in revenue to the
communities in which the reserves
are located.
"This summers work will consist of
determining the present conditions of
the forests on the reserves, just what
merchantable timber exists thereon
and how it can be marketed in order
to meet the requirements of the peo-
pie without injury to the productive
powers of the forests.
cit is understood that the first work
will be done In South Dakota, as there
the timber supply is short and that on
the reservations is badly needed. 1t is
not at all improbable that some of the
South Dakota reservation timber will
be cut this year. While the depart
ment work i'll Washington will be
doEe this and next summer, owing to
the great supply of timber here no
cutting will probably be done for years
to come. The corps of forestry engi-
neers will, however, make an estimate
of the standing timber on Rainier
and Olympic reserves and will study
the growth.
"They will'compare the reproduc-
ton with the present depletion with a
view to determining the practicabllity
of reforesting logged off lands in other
parts OF the state. Mos: of the work
will be done by college men under the
direction OF government expert.
sThe result will be the gathering OF
large amount of data regarding the
rate Of growth and general life history
of existing forests SO as to foretell the
behavior of future ones under similar
conditions. Thousands upon thous-
ands of trees in this state will have
their measurements taken to deter
mine their age.
"The department will also establish
a bureau In connection with its work
where information concerning reforest-
ing will be given to all who may wish
to apply it to logged-off lands. In the
East more particularly will this be OF
benefit, as already the great forests
there that for years have been sup
ply base for that section are nearly
| gone.
"Henry C. Groves, superintendent
of the working plans, and E. M.
Griffith, an expert forester, will have
charge of the work. Beside the Black
Hills reservation, South Dakota and
Mount Rainier and Olympic in Wash
ington, work will be begun this sum-
mer on the Big Horn reservation in
| Wyoming and the Priest river reserva-
ton in Idaho. ."ZP.-I.
We have saved many doctor bills