The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-04-09
RESERVE TIMBER SALES.
Plan to Meet Demand for Ties in Wy
 sNn~

Oming.
 Washington, April 6.-The demand for lodgepole pine ties by the western railroads, which prefer them to any other because of the ease with which they take preservatives, has greatly increased the market value of the Rocky Mountain forests in northern Colorado, Wyoming, eastern Idaho, and southern Montana, where lodgepole pine is the predominant tree. These forests are largely within existing or propos- ed National forest reserves. and are consequently under Government control, so that the Forest Service has felt the need of preparing plans to permit the sale of such mature timber in them as may be safely spared. During the past year a working plan was complet- ed for about 46,000 acres in the Wy oming Division of the Medicine Bow Reserve.
 It was found in the first place that the protective value of the forest as cover for the watersheds is so great that any utilization of the timber crop must be subordinated to it. Through out the region the control of stream flow by the forest cover is the prime consideration.
 The mining industry. which is of high importance, will not be hampered by the disposal of reserve timber, since all the mining claims located in or near the tract include timber sufficient for the needs of the owners. The pres ent moderate grazing of cattle is car rial on without risk to reproduction of the forest.
 The Medicine Bow Forest Reserve contains the largest continuous body of lodgepole pine to be found in the Rocky Mountains. The timber on the tract for which the plan was made is accessible; tie cutting has been carried on in the reserve for some years; and it was definitely known that all the timber which could safely be remov- ed would find ready sale. Measure ments in the woods and careful stud ies of the rate of past growth and of the forests power of selfrenewal fur nished data from which the Govern ment foresters calculated what the for est can be expected to yield and what per cent can be cut safely now. It was found that 165, 5,000.000 feet B. M. of lodgepole pine could be taken out and yet leave a large percentage for fu- ture crops. Special studies were made of the injury to which the forest is liable from insect attack and fungus, from windfall and fire. Local market conditions and the methods and cost of numbering were investigated to see whether improvements and economies m1SnL not De lnStlLuteu' dS "eli oS eo fix upon a fair stumpage price.
 The completed plan provides for bet ter protection of the forest from fire, including effective measures for com pact ,piling of debris and brush in opening ready for burning; stipulates that all timber to be removed shall be marked in advance by the forest of- fcers, who will be furnished with a full set of instructions to govern all steps in the logging operations; and requires that all merchantable parts of the trees be used.
 Similar working plans will be pre- pared for available bodies of timber on other reserves, making possible the utilization of these vast forests under a system of scientific management which will perpetuate and improve the stand and. above all. safeguard the forest cover on watersheds.