Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-01-04

NUMBERING IN
FOREST RESERVES
Millions Of Feet Of Lumber An.
nuslly Cut With Regard 10
Future Of Forest
THE GOVERNMENTS PURPOSE

10 withdraw from settlement, al
the government has done, some eS
coo, 900 acres Of land, But when ih'
character OF this land Is understood
and the purposes the reservation
will accomplish are known, II vii
b. generally recognized that the
area permanently reserved will
serve the public under forest cover
lts topography and soil unfit II for
agriculture, but II Is admirably suit
Cd 10 tree growth Wisely admin
istercd. Il win continuously furnish
m immense timber output, while
Its influence IN conserving The water
supply for vast dependent agricul'
tural areas win prove of inestima,
bic value.
without the establishment OF re-
serves, proper control Of The public
forests Il impossible, The present
free use OF timber IL being greatly
abused. and there is practically no
management OF these vast
and no income from them. unless
the timber and land are both sold
outright and together. After the
establishment OF q reserve settlers
within It's boundaries and those
living 10 its neighborhood are allow,
ed. within definite and reasonable
restrictions, free use Of timber ac-
tuaily necessary for their domestic
needs. The great change for the
better. however, is that the reserve
laws provide for tho sale of timber
IN small or large quantities to per
sons both In and outside the reserve.
Thus the forests can be made self
supporting. and through funds ere.
ated In this way they can be protect.
I'd from fire and be made more pro
ducsive and useful.
But In making these sales The flu.
ture Of the forest IL more consider.
cd than the nancy return from the
timber cut, Hence the sales are
strictly guarded by bonded contracts
between the individuals and the gov
eminent. The contracts specify
the amount of timber bought aud
the price to be paid. limit the AREA
and lime Of cutting. prescribe simple
and practical regulations TO quart
against fire. and cover NIL essential
relations between the contracting
pending the completion OF
he contract. No Trees can lie cut
those previously marked by
! government official. unaa, such
sontracts millions OF hoi.a foet of
are annually beng cut from
he reserves. to the improvement, 1T
heir condition.
II ts not the governments purpose /,
o maintain the reserve forests un.
oached, but 10 use and develop them. /,
numbering Is as necessary 10 J
productive forest as protection. ,
or ripe trees should be cut /
lot only for the same reason that
fheat or orr are, 10 save and nth !
10 the product. but also 10 promote .
eprod action. Agricultural crops /
sowing or planting each I
car. but forests. properly tAinned BY =
reproduce themselves and fur /.
Iish a continuous crop. Thas this !
FORK may be effectively accomplish,
4 there must he protection from Y
Tres, and proper conditions for tree !
rowth must be maintained. I'M. e
ortant among these conditions IL a
he demand Of trees for o and I
unlight- The young growth must i
z neither crowded nor shaded out
hts. for the best results In repro +
uction the mature and diseased tim :
er should be disposed OF as RAPIDLY
$ possible,
Laundering. However. as heretofcrel
pnducted, has bad little eoneorn for
he effec, Of IFS operations on the for.
The immediate purpose was
20 getting OUT the valuable
quickly, M little Or no at
'niion a given the aamaee ,ol
hung growth. necessarily resulting
reckless tree cutting Reserve
engagement viii stop reckless lum
The future welfare az the
lbIic forests depends on Wise reg.
alton Of numbering under UGH sx
II control IS only the trained for.
can exercise. This control
ist prevent injury 10 young growth
IN tree Telling, must provide forI
inning the forest so as best TO az
{ reproduction. must where ~neres.
y resort to tree planting to rebuild
J forest, and. most important oil
must prevent or quickly su~ppress
fires. None Of these ends can be
eessfully attained while the for
remain public lands under no ap
eat control. Putting thena un