Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-07-26
MORE RANGERS
JEMEz RESERVE
Supervisor Kneipp
Tells Of Proposed
improvements.
SMALL TREE NURSERIES,
To Be Started to Replace
Forests--.Ranges in Fine
Condition.

Everything is in splendid condi.
ton. Rains have been abundant and
the grass is looking fine. The cat
tie ranges are in excellent condition
and the sheep ranges are better now
than they have been for years."
Such is the gratifying information
that is brought back by Supervisor
Leon F. Kneipp, who returned yester-
day afternoon from an inspection tour
Of the Jemez Forest Reserve. Mr.
Kneipp was interviewed this morning
by a New Mexican reporter at his Of
flee in the federal building. Continu
ing he said:
"One feature of my trip which was
a source of great satisfaction was
explaining to the residents the new
law which permits Of location on agri-
cultural lands inside the government
forest reserves under the homestead
act. Everywhere | went there was
great rejoicing among the people set
tied on the Jemez reserve. explain
ed the rules and regulations OF the
law so often that found myself talk
ing about it in my sleep. The titles
to these claims were heretofore rather
shaky but the settlers will not have
any difficulty in proving up on their
homesteads under the new law now
that the tracts have been surveyed.
Increase Force of Rangers.
Mr.. Kneipp stated that the force OF
rangers will be increased on the Jemez
Reserve. At present there are nine
rangers employed there, but hence
forth fourteen will be allowed in the
summer time and ten during the win
ter months. Four vacancies remain
ed to be filled to bring the ranger
force up to the full quota Of fourteen,
and these additional rangers will be
nut on as soon as good men can be
secured for the positions. The ranger
force on the Pecos Reserve, which IS
also under the supervision OF Mr.
Kneipp, will still remain at four.
SnaI, Nurseries Of Forest Trees.
Small forest nurseries are to be es-
tablished at the headquarters OF each
ranger ON the forest reserves, accord
ing to instructions recently issued py
the forestry bureau. 1t Is undersoooa
that these nurseries are to be estaD-
lished for the purpose OF securing
supply of trees to take the place or
the matured and fire killed timber
The forest nurseries will be started
as rapidly as possible, where suitable
ground is available and seedlings can
be planted to advantage. Each nur-
sery will be under the care OF the local
ranger. The nurseries need not be
more than few rods in extent but
must be on fertile, workable soil,
which can be irrigated If necessary
Mr.. Kneipp has been ordered to com
munlcate with his rangers and ascer-
tain the number of available sites in
the two reserves under his jurisdlc-
tion.
To Take Better Care Of Reserves.
A strong effort is also belng made to
improve the standard of the technical
management of the forest reserves.
Protection of the forests against fires
is the first and most pressing need,
but it is intended that active measures
to improve the condition and character
Of the existing forests on the re-
serves shall be enforced where lum-
bering is done. improvement in the
composition of the forest will be Sc
cured by so managing as to increase
the proportion and yield of the better
kinds of timber. Areas now barren
will be planted as rapidly as possible,
particularly on draining basins which
furnish water for irrigation and do
mestic use. Species not growing nat
,lrally in a region but which may be
raised with success and profit, will
eventually be introduced artificially.
Intensive methods of forest manage
ment to be increasingly successful
must be based upon accurate knowl-
edge of the silvical characteristics and
requirements of native forest trees and
Of local conditions of soil and climate
In relation to their forest growth. Such
knowledge is acquired only gradually
and with the utmost care In order
to secure such knowledge 1t has been
decided by the forestry service to
start at once a careful study of the
needs and life habits of the most i'm
portant forest trees covering the
points suggested.
Bids were advertised Ito be opened
In Washington today for the sale Of
four million feet of matured timber in
the Jemez reserve In the vicinity OF
Bland This timber will be available
for a number Of commercial purposes,
but principally as railroad ties and
telegraph or telephone poles.