The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1900-11-08
THE FORESTRY DEPARTMENT.
Provides for the Distribu-
ton OF Timber.

1t is only within the past few years
that forestry has been recognized as
profession in the United States. 1t
acquired this dignity with the gradua-
tion of Mr.. Clifford Pinchot from Yale
college in 1889. for Mr. Pinchot was the
first American to devote keen intelli-
gence and liberal education to a solu-
ton of the problem of the distribution
and disposition of the timber of this
country. He came naturally by his in
terest in forestry. His father, Mr..
James w. Pinchot, of Grey Towers,
Milford, Pa, has for years encouraged
in every possible way the intelligent
conservation of the forests. writes J..
d. Whelpley, in Harper's Weekly.
The Pinchot family founded and do
mated S150. 600 TO the Yale forest school,
and the summer school in this branch
of college work is held a t Mr.. Pinchot's
place in Connecticut. When Mr.. Gift
ford Pinchot graduated from Yale the
value of his services was at once rec
ognized in number of directions. He
worked out forestry plan for Bilt-
more, the great North Carolina estate
of the Vanderbilts. He was made a
member of the national forestry com
mission, and undertook for the gov
eminent special study of the forest
reserves. The permanent need of his
services by the government was quick
ly recognized. and July /. 1898, he was
annniDt oil nhiaf fOp Of TTnitaI
States
The division of forestry is one branch
of the department of agriculture. 1t
was established potentially, but not
actually, in 1876, by the appointment
of DR.. Franklin b. Hough. of New Y DIRK
to prepare a report on various forest
matters under the direction of the
commissioner of agriculture. The po-
sition of chief forester was created by
act of congress ten years later.
Cooperation with other government
bodies interested in forestry is q
marked feature of the work of the di-
vision. 1t has assisted and been as
sisted very greatly by the forest di-
vision of the United States geological
survey. which is engaged in mapping
and describing the forest reserves, and
it has undertaken. "a the request of the
secretary of the interior, the prepare
ton of working plans for the $4,000, GOO
acres of national forest reserves, al
though, owing to the unfortunate sep
aration of government forest work into
three parts, it has nothing to Go with
their administration. Applications
for positions as student assistants have
been received from more than $50 men
for this summers work. OF these less
than 60 were selected for appointment.
The total force of the division in office
and field It present is nearly 100
The work of the forestry experts is
most practical. American plans had
to be devised, for conditions are differ
ent in this country from those prevail
ing in any other. In Germany, for in
stance, where a great deal of atten-
ton is paid to forestry. labor is cheap
and wood is dear. In the United States
labor is high and wood is cheap Lum-
bermen have been shown they were
losing seven per cent. of their product
by cutting high stumps. The system
has in consequence been changed near
ly everywhere.
The forestry division has cooperated
with several important railroad sys-
TENS in introducing a novel feature Of
economy. 1t is proposed that these
railroads shall raise tie and pole tim
Der on large scale on their nonutilized
right of way. This action is due to the
failure of the natural supply of this
material in all except the recently set
tied portions of the United States.
About 100000 acres of timber are
consumed annually by railroads in
building and repairing, and at the pres
ent rate of timber depletion the in
creased cost of such material will soon
be serious factor in railroad econ
omy. The Santa Fe system has already
tried the experiment suggested, and the
results obtained have done much to
stimulate interest. This road planted
1880 acres in catalpus Is years ago.
The total expense was SIPS, 900, but it is
estimated that in ten years more this
tract will have produced So, $50, 600
worth of poles, etc.
One purpose of the division is to dem
onstrate the value of tree plantations
to land owners, especially those in the
treeless regions of the west. The offer
to give advice and furnish working
plans to persons desiring to plant for
est trees. made last year by the di-
vision, has met with immediate re-
spouse from the farmers of the coun-
try. Nearly $50 applications have been
received, and 40 were furnished with
plans in time for use this spring. A still
larger number have written for advice
in cases where personal inspection by
experts was net needed. The treeless
states were quickest to avail them
selves of the offer. Kansas leading wit h
40 applications.
Gypsy Moth Hunt Suspended.
The Massachusetts, legislature, which