The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-10-13
SELLING TIMBER.

SELLING TIMBER.
The Forester Prepares Plans for
LAUNDERING on Federal For.
est Reserves.
The new rules for the national for
est reserves. announced by the Sec
retary of agriculture on July l. were
made to give freer use of the re-
serves to the residents of the states
in which they are situated. Exper-
ience has already shown that they
are welcomed.
The west understands what this
means better than does the east.
From the first the east has believed
in the reserves and declared that
there could not be too many of them; /;
but in the west the first effect OF
their proclamation was widespread
alarm. 1t was feared that the re-
serves would check the development
of the region, would burden neigh
boring communities with taxes, and
would prevent the taking for local
needs of the timber which lay close
at hand. Both in west and in the
east the wrong idea prevailed that a
reserved forest was not for use.
A forest reserve is meant to yield
up its wealth, as farm does, or a
stream which turns the wheels OF
many mills. In the long run it
should both guard and increase the
resources of the country in which it
lies.
The mere creation of forest re-
serves, without provision for their
administration, was therefore both
Intellectual and annoying to local in
terests dependent upon their resourc-
es. Consequently the secretary of the
interior, in 1896, requested the Ma
tional Academy of Sciences to rec
ommend a national forest policy.
This resulted in the passage of the
act of June 4, 1897, under which.
with several subsequent amendments
forest reserves are now administered
On the theory that the manage
ment of land. not of forests, was
chiefly involved, this law gave the
secretary of the interior authorit.
over the reserves, and provided thai
their surveying. mapping, and gen
eral classification should be done by
the United States Geological Survey
and the execution of administrative
work by the General Land office.
The result was not satisfactory.
The technical and complex problems
arising from the necessary use Of
forest and range soon demanded the
introduction of scientific methods
and a technically trained force,
which could not be provided under
the existing system. The advice and
services of the bureau Of forestry
were found necessary, but, under the
law, could be but imperfectly util-
lied. The necessity of consolidating
the various branches of government
work became apparent and was urged
upon congress by the president and
all the executive officers concerned.
Finally, the act Of February I, 1905,
transferred to the secretary Of agri=
culture entire jurisdiction over the
forest reserves except in matters of
surveying and passage of title.
Scientific forestry means wise use
not the locking up of forest wealth
but putting it to profit under well
known laws which control the right
utilization of the forest, 1t is just
, because second crop IL desirable
that the first crop calls for the for.
!. ester's az, and the forester's skill is
/, again needed In the reservation ol
seed trees and, above all, in protect
ing 1t from fire.
So when the reserves were trans
ferred to the care of the forest ser
vice. In the department of agricul
ture, work was at once begun tt
bring the forests into larger use, tt
develop their resources both for th'
needs of settlers and for the goo<
of the forest itself. The Office wa
moved nearer to the applicant; tina
is, more authority was given to th'
forest officers on the reserves, so tina
settlers entitled to the free use o
timber. as we'll as those wishing t.
purchase timber In small quantities
might be served on the spot. withou
delay, Whenever timber is wante'
on q larger seale, experts are AZ
signed to report on the adyisabilit
of sale. and where large transac
tions are in due course completed
the timber is removed under con
tracts. which provide for secon
crop by fixing a diameter llMlt, h
careful logging methods, and burr
: ing the slash to prevent fires, Twer
ty-two forest assistants. assigned a
> technical assistants to forest super
visors, are at present engaged in tn
{ making of working plans. Fores
inspectors inspect and report upo
all the work done on the reserves.
: Egyptian Deal Closed.
e The deal for the Egyptian grou
e of elaimg by the Western Hxplaratip
9 company is now closed, every d