Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-05-11

low to nearly white in color, with a coarse
but straight grain. 1t is more resinous
than the eastern white pine, but less so
soft and easily worked, and would make
excellent finishing lumber were it not for
the abundance Of small though hard
knots. and for its tendency to warp and
check with seasoning Without doubt the
best Use of lodGepole pine at present, and
the one to which IL is most largely put,
is for railroad ties and mine props: but
to be utilized with the greatest profit for
these purposes the timber must first be
subjected to preventative treatment. The
Bureau of Forestry has for some time
been conducting in Montana and Wyoming
exhaustive tests I'm seasoning and in pre-
servative treatment OF this pine and {,
comprehensive bulletin on the subject is
now in preparation.
During the season. of 1904 between
100000 and lao. 100, lodgepole ties were
cut most Of them were treated with pre-
servativcs The cut OF this season will
exceed this number. and without doubt
the use Of the lodgepole pine for ties will
increase yearly. Trees between II and
II IL inch in diameter breast high are
hewed; thosn larger are logged and sawed,
as the hey, rs refuse to work them. When
tree reaches II inches in diameter il is
mature for lies; this makes it possible
to remove quantity Of material from
the dense natural forests as soon as Il
number of the trees have reached that
size and thereby to stimulate the smaller
ones to IA more active growth. At the
same time new generation may be
started in the openings from the seed OF
the fclled trcos.
Great quantities of lodgpolc pine are
also used for props in the numerous mines
of the region where this tree grows. The
timber is cheap, and in its natural condi-
ton answers for temporary purposes in
mine development. when wei. seasoned
or treated with preservatives it may be
used for permanent construction. Miners
use poles as small as five inches in diam-
cter at the top and this demand for small
timber works another advantage to the
forest in that it offers n means of util-
izing the upper parts Of trees cut for
lumber, which in the ordinary way OF
logging are lcit on the ground to become
dry and increase the danger of fire. II
also makes possible the thinning of pole
stands which contain few or no trees
large enough for ties, hut which are &C
dense that the trees have almost stopped
growing.
Ey far the larger part of the merchant
able lodgepola area is within existing
or proposed Federal forest reserves. where
the numbering regulations which the Gov
eminent put into effect some time age
will protect and benefit the forests.
Other objects Of the Bureau OF For
estry in this study are to ascertain the
rate of growth OF the tree, and how II
may he increased to better existing lum'
bering regulations: to devise a system oil
fire protection: and to extend the com
mercial uses of the wood. A controlling
consideration in the need of maintaining
the forests on all the mountains they now
cover. and of causing them to spread
more widely. if possible. since the mos
important function they can perform Is
to safeguard the watersheds they include
This study will enable the Bureau &c
carry out more effectively the work OF
forest reserve management lately intrust
ed to 1t by Congress. The results OF the
study should also prove OF large value
to railroads and private owners, who hold
a great many odd sections of land nj
through the lodgepole region.