The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-04-07
: dlG DEMAND FOR
LODGEPOLE PINE
Railroads Prefer This for Tie
Lumber Over Any Other
Wood.
GOVERNMENT PLANNING
TO IMPROVE FORESTS
Much Lumber Can Be Spared
Without Destroying Water
shed Value.
Special TO Tho Tribune.

Special TO Tho Tribune
WASHINGTON, D. c., April 6.-The
demand for lodgepole pine ties by the
Western railroads, which prefer them
to any other because OF the case with
which they take preservatives. has
greatly increased the market value OF
the Rocky Mountain forests In northern
Colorado. Wyoming, eastern Idaho ana
southern Montana, where lodgepole
pine is the predominant tree.
Under Government Control.
These forests are largely within the
existing or proposed National forest re-
serves, and are consequently under Gov
ernment control so that the forest serr-
ice has felt the need OF preparing plans
TO permit the sale of such mature tim
Der in them as may be safely spared.
During the past year working plan
was completed for about $4,000 acres
In the Wyoming division Of the Medi-
cine Bow reserve
Must Save Watersheds.
1t 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 1t. Through
out the region the control of stream
flow by the forest cover is the prime
=
which is of high Importance, Will not
be hampered by the disposal OF reserve
timber, since all the mining claims To-
Gated In or near the tract include tim
Der sufficient for the needs OF the own
ers. The present moderate grazing OF
cattle is carried on without risk 10 re-
production OF the forest.
Largest Known Body.
The Medicine Bow reserve contains
the largest continuous body of lodgepole
pine to be found In the Rocky noun
tains. 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 II was
definitely known that all the timber
which could safely be removed would
find a ready sale, Measurements in the
woods and careful studies of the rate
of past growth and of the forests pow
er of self-renewal furnished data from
which the Government foresters calcu-
lated what the forest can be expected
to yield and what per cent can be cut
safely now.
Can Spare Large Amount.
1t was found that 165 900 900 feet
B. NJ. OF lodgepole pine could be taken
out, and yet leave a large percentage
for future crops. Special studies were
made of the injury to which the forest
Is lldUle 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 economics
might not be instituted as we'll as to
NIX upon a fair stumpage price.
To Protect From Fire.
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 OPEN
ings ready for burning; stipulates that
all timber to be removed shall be
marked in advance by the forest off,
GERS, 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.
To Improve Timber.
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.