The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1908-04-16
A CHANCE YOUNG MAN?
Foresters Examinations Will be Held
Next Week in Several States.

Can you throw q diamond hitch? If
you can't you are probably something
OF a tenderfoot, and as such would I'M
doubtly be well entertained and very
much enlightened if you could attend
one of those examinations to be held
next Thursday, Friday and Saturday In
seventeen of the western states. These
examinations are for the purpose of
| finding three hundred or more men
each qualified to fill position as For
est ranger.
National forests are still new in the
United States, and the management
OF their vast resources is very difficult
task The business connected with
these forests is transacted on the
ground. The local officers consist of q
the business and being located at some
nearby town. and his field force of
rangers living at nonts throughout the
forests. The national forest are vast
estates worth many millions of dollars
and upon the rangers in large
measure devolve the duties of safe
guarding the most valuable heritage of
the people Al present there are not
half enough rangers to properly protect
the forests and Uncle Sam is eager to
recruit the little army to It's completed
strength He wants the hardest and
most fearless riders, the best shots, the
quickest and most accurate umbermen
and the most trustworthy young men
In the country.
Applicants should have a fair kuowl
edge of reading. writing and arithmetic
for the forest ranger is required to scale
timber, draw up agreements. make out
reports, etc., hut the man who is lit
tie short ON hook learning and away
ahead of the others in throwing q dia-
mond hitch or in following a blind trail
is the man who will have the call with
the Civil Service Commission when
final Judgment is rendered.
The duties of the rangers and super
visors are numerous. They hear com
plants, and settle difficulties whenever
possible without applying to the main
Office at Washington. They sell timber,
grant nermits to cut down trees for the
development of mining claims and for
domestic uses. They give permission
to Craze q limited number CT cattle and
sheep, TO build fences, to use the land
necessary for the erection of stores.
residences and hotels for the construc-
ton of wagon roads, trails, canals, res
ervoirs, telephone lines, etc. They
must guard against fires, and see that
all the uses of the forests resources are
made within the law. This matter is
sometimes difficult in country where
men are pro verbally short on temper
AMI quick on the trigger.
The first day of the examination will
be given to educational tests, and it is
safe to predict that many a COW punch
er, who will shine in the field examipa
ton, will emerge from the first days
trial with INK stained fingers and eyes
full of despair.
The second day the horses will be
brought out, and at an early hour, the
forestry expert in the lead. they will
hit the trail for the tall timber where
the real test will begin. Here the CON
testants will be given axes and will
have chance to show tn cir skill in
cutting and sealing timber They
will then be given work in following
blind trails, for the man who rides the
range must be able to read wilderness
signs like book. A long hard ride
through the mountains, testing the en-
durance of the men on rough riding
will probably end the days work ex-
cept of course pitching camp, and
notes will be made of the manner in
which each man makes fires and pre-
pares his resting place.
hS piiiid Jay accuracy VI buG
men will be tested in judging distances.
This is the most important part of the
work, as a forest ranger is often re-
CURED to estimate distances with no
other facility than his eye or the length
Of his stride. Another important ac-
which the ranger must
possess is that of packing, and usually
q small pack animal is brought out and
each, candidate told to go ahead in his
turn and show what he can do in the
way of putting lood on the horses
back. 1t is revelation to an Eastern.
or to witness the dexterity with which
the average ranger puts on the blanket,
The little pack saddle, and then slows
away the bags of feed, the tarpaulin,
the shovel and AK and ties the whole