Rocky Ford enterprise., 1908-02-14
The BUREAU
OF FORESTRY
FiFTY.sIx NEW FORESTS PLACED
IN ITS CHARGE LAST
YEAR.
NO EXTENSIVE FIRES
FORESTER PINcHoT's REPORT
TELLS OF THE WORK DONE
AND PLANNED.

Washington. his annual report
for the last year Chief Forester Clifford
PinchOt said:
Al the end OF the last fiscal year all
the national forests In the United
States and Alaska were under organ
ixed administration. They comprise ls3
administrative units. under the super
vision iIs officers In charge. Fifty.
six new forests were put under admin
| istrution during the year.
The local administrative and protec-
tive force on the national forests on
June 30. 1907. WAS SO supervisors. IL
deputy supervisors. $50 rangers ana
IGi guards Each fcid ofiic.r engaged
In patrol covered on the average lS:.'
235 acres.
Aid In technical matters WAS given
to supervisors by twenty-five forest M
sisiants ynd ten planting assistants.
The transfer to the local otficcx OF
administrative details formerly han
died In Washington. together win the
routine work arising from the larger
use OF forest resources made II neccS-
sary to Increase the number OF clerks
In the Offices Of supervisors from SIX
10 twcnty.ninc.
Protective measures against forest
nrcs on tho national forests were
highly effective. says the report The
area burned over In the calendar year
1906 wns restricted to llb.atG acres
less than ~ acres In 10000. Nh against
&c for the prcccdin. year. The mum.
bcrr OF nres reported was 1.l33 and
the average burned area less than 10:
acres. The estimated value OF the tim.
bcr destroyed was $7G.is3. as against
3ioi.:s for the prcccdin. year. Ihc
cost Of Avhiins Ares. exclusive OF the
salaries Of forest officers. was 3s.16s.
This small damage from nrcs. many OF
which were started from lightning and
other unavoidable causes. In Immense
stretches Of mountain country. In cvi'
dcncc. continues the report. that tho
measures adopted for detecting and ex.
tInruishIng fires on the national forests
arc efficient. Il In certain. Mr.. Pin.
chot adds. that loss by nre can bc xir.
tuaiiy eliminated II appropriations for
the forests provide adequate means OF
communication and sufficient protec'
tive force.
The national forests will be rcdis.
trictcd during tho year 1905 with
view to their more economical admin.
isiraiion and to making the hcadquar'
tcrx more accessible to users. This re.
dIstricting will involve the creation OF
many now administrative units. Tho
forests will be divided by water sheds
and natural boundaries. rather than BY
legal subdivisions.
The work planned included tho con.
striiction OF over $500 miles OF tclc.
phone line, 5000 miles OF trail. 200
miles Of road. $50 bridges. 500 miles OF
drift and boundary fences and 500 cab.
ins and barns. The large number OF
forests upon which the work will bc
carried IN simultaneously will mako
necessary large increase In tho force
OF supervising engineers.
| A number OF roads will be built In CO
operation with states and counties. In
Idaho. for instance, $4,000 will be cx-
pended IN cooperation with the state
TO build n road from Boise to Atlanta,
and 5000 to open wagon road from
Harpstcr to Elk City and to construct
the old and well known Salmon river
trail. About $4,000 will be spent In re-
opening and repairing the Lolo military
trail, which many years ago made nc
cessible n country rich In possibilities.
and which will shorten the route be.
tween the eastern and western por-
tons Of the state by many miles. Road
work In CO operation with counties will
be undertaken in Colorado. Oregon and
IdunO ana possibly otneT sAteo.
An annual statement was prepared
for the accounting officers Of the treas.
ury showing receipts from sales OF
products on the different national for
ests. This statement Is used by the
secretary OF the treasury in determin.
Ing the ten per cent. required by law
to be deducted and turned over to the
states and territories In which tho for
ests are situated for the benefit Of pub
lie schools and public roads.
The amounts to be paid to the states
and territories. as shown by the state.
| ment are as follows: