The Washington times., 1903-02-04
FIRST YEARS WORK Of
BUREAU OF FORESTRY
Public Interest in the Work
Increasing.

The Department Of Agriculture has
issued an interesting report by Clifford
Pinchot, the forester, which reviews the
work of the past year in this department,
and outlines plans for the future. Mr..
PiuchOt says:
In its first year as a bureau, the
former Division of Forestry has rapidly
assumed the character and functions of
its new position With the increased ca
pacity to do its work, the bureau has
gained in stability and effectiveness, and
in the character and value Of its results.
While from the lack Of American fores-
ters It yet falls below a high standard
OF equipment in trained men. a larger
proportion of educated foresters than
ever before was engaged in its work.
both in the Office and in the field. The
organization Of work made possible by
the change from division to a bureau
has been Of capital value throughout the
year.
The progress Of public interest In
forestry in the course Of the year far
more than kept pace with the growth
Of the bureau The demands for advice
and assistance Increase from month to
month. and continue to outstTip the abiI-
ity OF the bureau TO meet them.
IN the Southern States there has been
a rapid awakening TO the advantages Of
practical forestry, and a growing appre-
citation OF the opportunity open to pri-
vate forest owners through the offer Of
cooperation made by the bureau in cir
cular No, q. which gives the terms on
which farmers, Iumbermen. and others
may cooperate with the bureau In hand
ling their forest lands Wood lots. not
exceeding 200 acres, are studied without
cost to the owner, but in the prepara-
ti9n of detailed working plans for lar
ger tracts the bureau and the owner
share the expenses of the work. the
former paying the salaries of its men.
and the latter their travelling and field
expenses
An important piece of work which
viii be taken up as rapidly as the force
and appropriation Of the bureau will per
nit has arisen through the request by
the Secretary of War upon the Secre-
tary OF Agriculture for technical advice
governing the handling Of military wood
and timber reservations These are
eight in number, and comprise a total
area Of 1IT,46S acres.
a preliminary examination has al
ready been made of the West Point Mill
tary Academy Reservation Of 1000 acres
stocked with secoud-growth hardwoods.
and a detailed working plan has been
recommended, and field work will soon
begin. An excellent opportunity is Of
feTed for Trimmings which viii material
y improve the character Of the forest.
and at the same time yield a supply Of
drewood for the use cf the Academy
The work in cooperative planting is
giving highly satisfactory results. and
viii continue unchanged. Increased at
tentiOn viii also be paid TO protective
planting, especially IN the Eastern
States.
Preparations for extensive planting
on the Dismal River and NiObrara for
est reserves in Nebraska viii be pushed
forward as rapidly as possible. Seed
beds and nurseries are being put in read
mess = large collection OF seed will
be made tins fall. and nursery work
viii begin. Examinations viii be made
Of other forest reserves. notably those
Ia Oklahoma. Colorado, Arizona, and
Southern California. 10 determine the
advisabuity Of systematic planting
Careful studies viii be made in
Oklahoma and Arizona in the course Of
the year TO fnd methods of extending
the present forest stand by improving
the conditions for natural reproduction
In both regions field parties are already
at work
The reclamation Of sand dunes. both
aICns the coast and in the interior, is
one CT the large problems before this
bureau. Two field parties, one on the
Atlantic coast and one on the Columbia
river. viii continue to investigate this
problem IN the present season
The total expenditures in the year
by the division of forest management
were $53 3,s4T.S9. or POI per cent OF the
total appropriation of the bureau
"Of the Sl3. .325 contributed by owners
as their share of the expenses in the
preparation OF working plans, begun or
continued in the year 1912. 59160 had
been expended at the end Of the fiscal
year"