Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1907-06-21
THE POLICY OF THE
FOREST SERVICE
Superintendent Anderson Gives
Valuable Information Regard
ins Forest r eserves.

| 0Iduts ASS SOumcTCidl SiuU, 0rduts
Pass, Ore.
Gentlemen; To your request that
give you an outline of the policy of the
Forest. Service for publication in the
local papers
appreciate the favor and the spirit
in which the request was made, but at
can go but lightly into the subjects
interesting to Southern Oregon people.
will be pleased to give.iuformation at
greater length to individuals inter
ested in any particular line.
All agricultural land included in
the National Forests (surveyed or un-
surveyed) is subject to homestead en-
try under act of June II, 1905. This
covers any land that could be taken
under the original Homestead Act
without committing perjury. The act
permitting such settlement was passed
at the request of the Forester. and oc-
cupation of the land encouraged by
every forest official.
The settler is given free use from
the National Forests Of all timber to
be used for Improvement Of his land,
for fuel, or any other non. commercial
purpose. Prospectors are also given
! all necessary timber to be used in de-
velopment work il they have not q
sufficient supply on their claims.
Mature timber is for sale to lumber
manufacturers under contract that
they use all parts OF the tree that is
merchantable, and hande 1t az nearly
as possible without destruction Of
the growing crop. The contract pre-
vents large interests from holding this
timber for speculation by providing
continuous cutting or a forfeiture of
the contract. 1t is to the advantage
of small mill owner, because he can
contract up to FIVE years supply,
and pay for each years cutting, thus
tying up" only the money repre-
senting one years supply OF timber.
The price of stumpage is fixed by the
distance from market, difficulty of
logging. price of lumber and any
other local conditions that affect the
lumberman's profit. The land is not
sold. but is protected to provide for a
future crop. Contrary to the general
impression, the regulations for out
ting are not unreasonable, and the
mills within 20 miles of Grants Pass
which l have examined are cutting
very close to Government rules.
No mines or other private lands
within the National Forests are in-
tertered with in any way. The miner
is spared the fear that some conscience
less timber locator will locate ten
ueI foot" on his claim under the pro.
visions of the Timber & Stone Act.
as is being done outside the forests in
Josephine and Jackson Counties. This
abuse has become so. rank that in some
districts the miners are kept busy con .
testing timber entI les on land that has
been mined continuously for years.
A charge is made for stock grazing Oh
the forests The settler regularly u. ling
the range has preference, aud foreign
stock is not allowed on the. range until
local stock is amply provided for.
Southwestern Oregonstook interests are
not large enough to thoroughly
appreciate the Importance Of the
grazing regulations, i. u, the bodies
OF grazing land are mot great enough
to have attracted the attention OF
outside stockmen TO the detrimeut oI
the men; bot the range wars of late
years resulting from the stteppt to
crowd oct local stockmen il sufficient
evidence that government protect ion
to small stockmen could not come too
soon The local benefits to the
stock men are many, however. He is
protected from outside stock. trails
are opened to allow the more conyeu.
lent movement Of the stock. each
ranger is supplied with copy OF the
various brands and marks, ths name
OF the owner and location of his
range. If stock is.found at a-distapce
from the range it is reported by the
ranger, and the owners notified through
this office. This makes it practically
impossible for cattle to b4 lost by
straying or by being driven from thsi,
range by rustlers.
In the fight made by the enemies ol
the Forest Service last winter in tn,
q. s Senate every possible criticism
was made; the whole system was dis
cussed thoroughly and the 6ght backe,
by some Of the strongest corporation
interests in the United States bot de
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