The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1907-11-28
INCREASING u.s.
NATIONAL FOREST
10000 ACRES NOW IN RESERVES
Eight Nurseries Now Maintained to
Grow Seedlings for Depleted
Forests.

"Within three decades after the
first federal recognition OF forestry,
and sixteen ycaIs from the date when
the first timber land reserve was
created, there have been established,
in the interest OF the whole people,
l50 million acres nf national forests,
effectively protected against fire and
tIespass, aud thror . open on advan-
tageous terms to The 4, 50 Of the pub
Iic." Thus reads tt, annual review
OF forest work In { lie year book of the
department II agriculture. Forests
have so large place in the national
life that In some measure every citl.
zen shares the benefits which attend
successful effort to preserve, restore,
or establish them. Yet 1t will always
be the western industries which will
most profit from the presence of tue
existing national forests, upon whose
esources-mainly wood, water and
range-they are largely dependent.
The govei nment always favors settlers
and home builders and prior users,
both by granting free use OF timber
and bylenooursging small sales. The
business of the national forests must
increase laI gely; for so vast are the
resources OF timber and minerals, and
the opportunities for various business
enterprises and for the development
Of power and irrigation, that the util-
ization of the forests can be said to
have only fairly begun.
Throughout the year marked pro-
gress has been made In securing the
most prompt, simple, and precise bus
mess methods, and in bringing the
forest officers IN the held aud,
through them, the public into closer
touch with the aims of the govern
ment In its forest policy. On January
/, 1906, the area of the national for
ests was 97,773,6l7 ceres, and on De-
cember 81. 1906, 127, l54, 37l acres; but
the receipts increased in greater pro-
portion-from S273, ego in 1905 to 81,
GOA, 1856 In 1906. In addition, $1,000
permittees (near by settlers and ranch
men) were granted timber free OF
charge to the value OF S75, 900.
"In disposing OF timber on the ma
tional forests, every effort has been
made to meet the local conditions in
each forest and In the different parts
OF each forest where the character OF
the timber and the market required
special consideration. This has been
done not only by varying the size OF
the trees which ale cut under the
sales In accordance with the kind Of
tim ber and the situation. but also by
supplying the needs of the people In
each vicinity with the particular kind
of timber required by them in their
industries.
"The institution of charge for
grazing In the forests, with the adop-
tion of regulations to prevent damage
| to the range, and with satisfactory al
lotments Of territory, both between
| the cattle owners and between indi-
yidual owners Of the same kind Of
stock, we're important accomplish
ments of the year.
"planting operations are at present
centered in eight nurseries within or
near as may different forests There
are now on hand toal OF 6, 00O, 0O0
seed ljng., and 750 acres were planted
In the spring OF 1907. Four OF the
nurseries have been established long
enough to grow seedlings of size for
planting.
"Better facilities for communica
tion, through public and private tele.
phone lines now being constructed,
aud the Improvement OF roads, will
be OF the greatest assistance in the
conduct of forest business, and espec
tally in the control OF fires. The use
of the forests by the public will also
be stimulated by thu marking of roads
and trails, giving the direction and
distance to the nearest town, ranch or
camping place.
"The record OF 1906 has confirmed
the business success Of the govern
ment policy, and thus given encour-
agement to the development of the
technical side Of forestry. When,
through studies now under way, 9
better knowledge of the growth and
habits of our western trees is secured
and the forests have been brought,
thl ough the utilization of ground at
J present unoccupied, to greatly in
creased productiveness, still larger
benefits may be expected.
The article, "progress Of Forestry
| In 1907 illustrated of which the
above is an extract, has been issued
together with directory of forest
, officers associations and schools III
, pamphlet form. 1t can be had upoI
application to the Forester, Forest
Service, Washington, ID. Z.