The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-16
FORESTRY IN
THE PHILIPPINES
Trained Lumbermen Sent to Take
Charge Of Department.
SOME CUTTING NECESSARY.
This VIII Be Done in Such Way as TO Pre-
serve Future Growth OF the Timber.
May Be Source Of Revenue for
the Government.
SOME CUTTING NECESSARY,
the Government
Especial Dispatch 10 The Times,


WASHINGTON, March 75.--Thc plvis-
tnn of Forestry OF the United States De-
partment OF Agriculture has selected
from it's working force two trained aiha-
bcrlrci, with some knowledge of forestry.
TO be sent TO the Philippine Islands IN
compliance, with a cable request OF the
Tai, Philippine Commission. The per-
sons selected Tor this work are MI Grant
Bruce formerly a State forester IN Ne"
York, and Mr.. Edward Hamilton. Both
Of these men are expert lumbermen with
some training in forestry, and have been
selected in view OF Their fitness Tor the
Philippine work
A bureau of forestry was established in
The Philippines in April. 1900, with Cap.
lain George z. Ahern. Ninth United
States Infantry. in charge. The work of
this bureau has convinced the Taft Com
mission, of the great importance of the
timber lands as a natural source OIL
wealth and of the necessity of putting
the bureau on substantial footing ana
handling these woodlands under scienI-
hc forest methods. Furthermore, 1t IS
evident that the cutting of timber under
proper regulations will provide large
and increasing annual revenue 10 the
Government.
FUTURE GROWTH.
IL has i,es.. found necessary to permit
the cutting of timber TO supply the pres
cnt pressing needs. but care has been
taken at the same time that the cutting
should he done in manner that would
work no injury to the future growth OF
the forests. These considerations led the
commission TO cable to Washington for
trained foresters TO assist in putting the
service on mere satisfactory footing.
Under the Spanish administration the
timber LANDS OF the Philippine Islands
were in charge of a department of for
estyy. wllic.. WAS organized in 1862. The
personnel o. this department was made
up of expert fcresters. rangers, clerks,
Granghtsmcn. etc, the higher officials
being selected from The Spanish corps of
engineers.
After Captain AheTn was appointed he
received authority 10 employ small
number of 5cresters, rangers and clerks;
by September his Office force had been,
doubled in order TO handle the work of
the bureau properly. The call for ac-
tiKity on The part Of those in Charge Of
the bureau OF forestry was emphasized
at once by The lumber famine in Manila
and other Important towns, owing To the
destruction of buildings in the war and
the increased demand for good dwelling
houses resulting from the large influx
Of Americans. For these reasons the fell
ing OF trees and the marketing of lumber
had TO begin soon after the establish
lnent of the bureau
LACK SUITABLE MEN.
The work OF. that bureau was confined
for some months 10 the Island of I.,1zon
Dut recently has been carried TO other
points in the Archipelago. The present
plan of the bureau is TO cover all the
important forests as the DEVELOPMENT of
The working force Will permit one great
drawback which is retardins the work of
the bureau is the lack of capable and
active subordinate officials. 1t is difficult
10 find men amiiiar with forest condi-
lions and L. uses of the woods Of The
Philippines, % are entirely satisfactory
in other : spects. 1t is believed the best
means OF securing a competent and eff
Gent force is to employ new men and
train them on the ground as speedily
as possible. In this work Messrs. Bruce
and Hamilton viii render valuable as
sistance.
The bureau was recently reorganized
SO as 10 consist of an officer in charge.
ar inspector. botanist, d chief clerE
and Stenographer. a Translator, law
clerk, a record clerk, ten assistant for
esters, and thirty rangers. 1t is phe in
iention OF the officer in charge TO work
up a forest service on the lines OF the
work carried on in the United States De-
,,eument of Agriculture though its Div
ton of timber viii he stopped. and the
will proceed under regulations
], oking TO the future yields Of the for
ests. The fire question Will also receive
close attention.
BAD ROADS
Captain Ahern. in a recent report. calls
attention 10 several obstacles in the way j
of immediate success in numbering in the |
Philippine Islands, the most serious !
drawbacks being lack OF good roads and !
skilled labor Forest roads and river |
drireways are almost unknown. and pres |
ent methods. OF numbering are SLOW and !
expensive. The natives. he finds. are not |
skilled workmen, and though receiving !!
Very low wages, their work is found 10y |
no means cheap when one considers the !
cost Of telling and hauling cubic foot OF !
timber to the shipping point.
The forest lands Of the Philippine |
Islands. it is estimated by Captain |
Ahern, cover iO,eo0o0o acres-larger III eN-
tent and greater in value than the for
ests of India. There are :;S5 species of 1
trees. and about fifty
more species as Yet unciassified. lnclud- |
ed in the above list are very hard woods,
capable OF making a beautiful polish;
woods that resist climatic influences and |
The attacks Of white ants: still Others