Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-07-31
BUREAU OF FORESTRY
GROWING IMPORTANCE OF FOR
EST WORK RECOGNIZED.
GOVERNMENT Is GIVING EVERY EN-
CoURAGEMENT TO THE DEPART
MENT-MUCH ALREADY
ACCOMPLISHED.

Oh the nrst OF July the DIVISION OF
feres'r y and three other scientific di-
visions OF the United States department
OF agriculture, were advanced to bureaus.
This WAS provided for by the last session
Of Congress, which appropriated for the
expense of the bureau of forestry during
it's first year Sls5,44O. The appropriation
for the division OF forestry during the
yesr just ended was SSs,520. For the year
1s9S-99 1t was SIS, 500.
These figures show how rapidly the for
est work OF the government has expand
ed OF late, and also how well it has COM
mended itself to Congress. There was
time when the practical value OF the
scientific investigations carried on by the
government was not fully understood;
and farmers were inclined to think that
the money spent on experiment stations
and chemical laboratories was OF little
benefit to them. Now the case is very
different.
The improvements In agriculture due to
the work OF the department have in
creased the value of the farm products OF
the country by many millions OF dollars
annually. AS this kind Of work has
proved its practical utility, Congress has
shown itself generous toward it. The
readiness with which Congress has in
creased the appropriations for the division
of forestry is the best evidence that
forestry has proved its Importance from a
business standpoint.
The change from division to bureau,
and the larger appropriation, will make
possible both an improved Office organ
ization and more extended field work.
The bureau will be provided with much
larger Office force and will be organized
in three divisions. But field work, not
office work, is what the bureau exists for.
This work has been going on during
the last year from Maine to California
and from Georgia to Washington. 1t
includes the study Of forests and forest
conditions and problems all over the
country, the giving of advice to owners Of
forest lands, and the supervising OF con-
servative numbering operations which
illustrate forest management on business
principles. This work can now be greatly
extended.
otNNNtSN~
have applied for this advice, which in
every case requires personal examination,
and about 177,000 acres have been put
under management. This LAND Is Ill
many tracts, large and small, and is
owned by individuals, clubs aud cor
porations. Several state governments
also have asked the aid of the bureau
But the greatest demand is that Of the
department of the interior OF the ma
tional government, which has asked Tor
working plans for all the forest reserves
with the enormous total area OF about
1900, 600 acres.
The bureau OF forestry Ia made up OF
the division of forest management, the
division OF forest investigation, ana the
division of records. Each of these con-
tinues, With enlarged facilities, wors
which was in progress under the old oil
vision OF forestry.
The division of forest management h
in charge of Overton W. Price, the formel
superintendent of working plans. Wher
the owner tprivate or puolle) OF Woou
land wishes to consider the possibilities
of his property II handled as a constant
source of timber supply, the tract mus
be examined by an expert to ascertain th'
condition of the standing timber, I'M
prospects of reproduction, the facilities
Tor marketing, the best method OF mar
vesting the present crop so as to secure
the largest present and future yield, ant
tbe likelihood OF success under manage
ment. A preliminary report is theh 'laoe
II the owner decides on management
working plan follows. This Involves
careful study OF the rate OF growth Vi III
different kinds of marketable TIMBER .n'
computation OF the proper interVai DC
tween cuttings and OF the amour.
timber to be harvested, and' II aesireu
the recommendation OF the necessary rug
Nations to enable the work TO go on un
tHfGf