The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-13
TOUR AMONG THE FORESTS.
EXPERTS TO MAKE Personal
INVESTIGATION OF RESERVES.
Inquiry TO He Made Into the Grazing
ProbIem-Erperfmen in Tree
Planting I'm Eastern States
Agents Coming to Washington.

serves The restriction o. sheep grazing
in these areas has raisel a storm o, pro-
test from wool growers, and public feel
ing IN the West has Become divided and
Intense. A plan for an exhaustive inves-
ssration by the government was publish
ed few weeks ago. bat the tour o. these
officials Will be the frs. actual work in
the field.
They will be met at Holhrook. Ariz.. BY
o committee consisting % A z Potter.
Of that city, who f. secretary OF the All
xona Wool Growers Association. and J.
=. BARK Of Phoenix. who represents the
cattle and irrigation interests. They VIII
epeDd three weeks in the Back Mesa re-
e@rve. and then visit others in Arizona
The examination viii be extended 70
other Western reserves later In the sum
ner.
Brunswick Me, a place q about 1000
Inhabitants, IS probably the first munich
patty in the United States 20 undertake
foree, planting on large scale. or what
IL practically the Old world institution OF
a town forest The town owns a tract
OF about 100 acres Of what was once
pine lard. but long since given over 70
IRE and huckleberrie=. At a recent meet
fng Of the council 800 was appropriated
20 improve THIS land by planting II To
white rsne Gses viii re purchased and
n nursery e4tafsissles To raise the young
trees A. che right age they will be trans
planted in rows and set out in the posi-
lions they will finally occupy, and win
then require little more care except pro
tec4ion from FIRE.
TIRE land AZ present t. absolutely unpro-
directive II the new plan IS successful II
~fil not only be ornamental. but profit
able Town forests are common in Eu-
rope and often furnish large part OF the
municipal reyeHne.
The planting will be under the direct
supervision Of Austin Cary, but the divis-
ion OF forestry viii assist in organizing
and carrying out the work
The watershed Of Rock river. I'm North
srn Illinois, win soon be the subject OF
an investigation by the division OF for
essry in order TO Determine the cause OF
the diminution Of the stream. This is
supposed TO be due to the denudation of
the forests along its headwaters and TO
excessive artificial drainage for CONNER
ciaI and agricultural purposes. The de-
creas'e In volume Of water has become
alarming. and, In response to the agita-
ton OF citizens in that locality their
representative in congress. Hon. r. r.
hit. has applied to the secretary OF
agriculture for an investigation G.
Fred schwarz. field assistant in the divi-
sion y. forestry, will proceed 10 Rock
river IN a short time to study the condi-
lions and report in favor OF such action
as he finds advisable.
Tree planting for an unusual purpose
has been recommended to residents OF the
western irrigation districts by w. l..
Hall assistant superintendent Of tree
planting of the division OF forestry. who
has recently been in New Mexico on an
Investigation. Agriculture In that region
depends largely on irrigation. and the
streams and reservoirs are much depleted
by evaporation due to the heat and dry
winds Mr.. Hail recommends that belts
of trees be planted along every ditch and
reservoir not only TO shade them. but 10
shelter them from wind. The problem
of preventing evaporation Is very irnpor-
fant not only account Of the loss OF
water, but because the percentage OF al
kali In the quantity remaining becomes
excessive.
me r<~w4. and Clark forest reserve IN
Montana has been selected as the second
20 be examined by the division Of fores-
try with the view Of preparing forest
working plans 9. w. Prtce. an offcial
OF the division. VIII organize the work
about June ! and win be Joined later by
a number ~ assistants The stand and
rate Of growth Of the timber win be de-
ssrfninsd. and a system Of numbering Will
Be devised which viii meet the demand
far lumber without impairing the value
Ct the forest
ants rsxerx. contain. SOS 600 acres II
f. chiefly in a broken and little known
region, but has valuable forests. ana the
timber IL locally IA demand Lsodgepole
pine iarch. red Or and white pine are the
principal trees 1iuch damage IL done by
fres. ana their prevention will form an
fnsrot ;ant part q the system TO DO ap-
piled.
similar work g. now tn progress in the
Black Hiils reserve IA South Dakota
Other reserves will be taken up about
July l.
The University % the South, at Sewa-
nee. Tenn has placed its AQ0o-acre tract
OF hardwood timber near that town IN
der the management OF the division Of
forestry An official % the division viii
marx al trees 10 10 cut aud viii draw
MO the logging contracts 10 provide for
the preservation 81 young growth. II is
Intended 20 make the forest yield a per-
niAncut annual revenue 70 80 toward the
support OF the college.
Another interesting tract 20 come under
government supervision IL one Of about
Geo acres, owned by the Adirondack
league Ciuh II Is ia the Adirondack
mountains CO New York, near Lower sar-
anac and Is kept primarily as a game
preserve. The working plan VIII provide
FOR the removal OF al timber which can
b. spared without inqurtug the forest
Ealrcme Bruce VIII soon ho appointed %
a prominent position IN the division o..
forestry. For several years Mr.. Bruce has
held an important position IN tho lumber
business. and is well known Throughout
che Adirondack region His selection for
apfnintmcut "a due solely 90 his excep-
tionh qualifications 81 al numbering mat
tiers the policy Of the lewiston being 70
buila NJ a stan % practical men lie viii
be employed chicfy IN preparing working
plans fnr tho forrest reserves and the large
Eastern tracts under government super
vision.
Two agents OF the division % forestry
teft Washington recently 20 organize an
Investigation q commercial trees which
Will be carried GA in Western Washing
ron this sumulcc. They viii oe }0lned In
n few weeks by about twenty assistants
The chief object Will "a 20 determine the
rate OF growth and the stand 7sr acre %