The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1908-02-12
The bureau
oFF0RESTRY
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.-In his annual report
for the last year Chief Forester Clifford
Pinchot said:
AT the end of the last fiscal year all
the national forests in the United
States and Alaska were under organ
lied administration. They comprise ISIS
administrative units. under the super
vision lie officers in charge Fifty
six new forests were put under admin
istration during the year.
The local administrative and protec-
tive force on the national forests on
June 80. 1907, was SO supervisors. IL
deputy supervisors. $50 rangers and
46f guards. Each field officer engaged
236 acres.
Aid in technical matters was given
to supervisors by twenty-five forest as
sistants end ten planting assistants
The transfer TO the local ofices Of
administrative details formerly han
died in Washington. together with the
routine work. arising from the larger
use or forest resources made II neces-
sary to increase the number of clerks
in-the Offices of supervisors from six
to twenty nine.
Protective measures against forest
hres on the national forests were
highly effective. says the report The
area burned over in the calendar year
1906 was restricted to l15.il6 acres
less than "a acres in 10000. as against
20 for the preceding year The num-
bers OF fires reported was 1,l53 and
the average turned area less than l02
acres. The estimated value Of the tim
s,,e-@
$l0l.2S2 for the preceding year The
cost OF fighting fires. exclusive of the
salaries OF forest officers. was sS.I6s-
This small damage from fires. many of
which were started from lightning and
other unavoidable causes. in immense
stretches OF mountain country. is evil
dence. continues the report. that the
measures adopted for detecting and ex-
tinsuishing fires on the national forests
are efficient II is certain. Mr.. Pin
chot adds. that loss by IRE can be vir-
tually eliminated II appropriations for
the forests provide adequate means Of
communication and sufficient protec-
tive force
The national forests will be reds
tricted during the year 1905 with a
view to their more economical admin
istration and to making the headquar-
>
districiins will involve the creation OF
many new administrative units The
forests will be divided by water sheds
and natural boundaries. rather than by
legal subdivisions.
The work planned included the con-
struciioa of over $500 miles of tele-
phone line. 5000 miles OF trail. 200
mAes OF road. $50 bridges. 500 miles OF
drift and boundary fences AMI 500 cab
ms and harrs The large number Of
forests upon which the work will be
carried Sn simultaneously will make
necessary 4 large increase in the 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 eN-
pended IN cooperation with the state
to build road from Boise TO Atlanta,
and So 90 TO open a wagon road from
Harpster TO Elk City and to construct
the cid and well known Salmon river
trail About 1000 will be spent in re-
opening and repairing the Lolo military
trail. which many years ago made &C
ceSsfble a 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 cooperation with counties will
be undertaken in Colorado, Oregon and
idaho and possibly other states
An annual statement was prepared
for the accom- ting o1icers 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 AMI territories in which the for
ests are situated for the benefit OF pub
lie schools and public roads
The amounts to be paid 10 the states
and territories. as shown by the state
nent are as follows