The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-10-04

Washington. ID. T.. Oct 3.-An In
teresting pamphlet giving the present
status Of national and state forestry
has been issued by the forestry bu
rcau Forestry, which few years
ago was little more than pharse,
IL Is declared. Il today vital issue
in national development, and is the
most important and far reaching &C.
onomic policy ever adopted By MAJ
ton II affects the every day life of
every man in his work. recreation,
home. and deals with the earning
power of his labor and the pnrchas-
ing power of what he earns.
The forest is one of the chief sup
porters Of the whole material fab
RE uf our civilization" H. one of the
epigrams Of the report. II means not
only permanent supply Of wood and
the life of all Industries depending up
on it. but also the control Of water
for human use. II is declared the con-
sumtion Of the forests yearly is three
and one half times AS much as is add
cd to them by new growth, and that
less than third Of the growing trees
felled by the lumbermen is ever used,
two thirds of the timber cut being
thus wasted. 1t is also stated that
one eleventh of the forests are swept
by fires every year and that on an
average since 1879 forest fires have
yearly cost s50,000.00 in timber and
30 lives. -fourths of all the for
rae Al.
wood are under private control.
The nation is also declared to be
losing control of the streams. 1t is
not use which destroys the forests,
but waste. destructive use, and in
excusablc neglect. The problem Is to
he solved only by wise use and pro-
lection. These will stimulate forest
growth that tho need wood may be
harvested without Duplicating the stock
and will keep intact the protective
cover at the stream sources.
The report then goes on to enum-
crate what the government and states
are doing To this end. Forest conser-
walton. 1t Is said. began in 1891 when
congress authorized the establishment
of national forests. which today cover
1s5. 900. 900 acres. including $4,000. 900
in Alaska and Porto Rico. 1t IL stated
that the object of the administration
of the national forests is to use them
in such way that they viii yield
all their resources to the fullest ex-
tent without exhauting them. for the
primary benefit of the home builder
the controlling policy being to serve
the public while conserving the forests
The work of the 1.i93 national for
est supervisors. iumhermen, rangers
and guards is then reviewed. All tim
Der in the forests which can be cut
safely and for which there is no act
ual need, is sold and anybody save
4 trespasser MA" ;,;;::--~''~~~ Monopo.
ly sales are not tolerated. Permits
without charge for SEQ worth of tim
Der during amy one year To persons
who may not reasonably he required
to purchase, are allowed, subject Ia
increase in eases of great and unusual
need or 10 assist public or benevolent
enterprises. Under these regulations
timber Is taken from every national
forest for fuel. fencing, and building
material required by settlers. for min
(
claims, and for such community uses
/ as the construction and maintenance
| Of schools. churches and bridges. More
! than 3o,714 such permits were used
/ in 1908. agregating about one fourth
/ OF all the timber cut from the national
! forests, The purpose Of the free use
| privilege Is To make the forests con-
] tribute most effectively to the pub
| lie welfare, The timber given To in
diyiduals l. for the development al
the country through settlement, but ii
IL not proposed IT, give timber to those
Who can buy.
Charge Is made for grazing on the
forests In the interest of the stock
men. The idea is To Protect and con
serve the forest land available for
grazing. benefit the livestock through
proper care and Improvement Of tht
grazing lands. and IL protect tho set
tier and home builder against unfair
competition in the use of the range
These lands have been occupied by
stnckmen since the first settlement al
the country but some portions hay.
been greatly oyerstucked and serious
damage has resulted. over grazing has
destroyed grass in localities and scri-
Gus erosion of soil has followed. II
Is To stop this damage and protect
the forests in "A way which will ac-
campftsh the objects for which they
are created. that grazing is regulated
] Cooperation from stockmen is sough,
To bring about good changes aud ey.
cry effort is made 10 use the ranges
tn the fullest extent compatible with
the protection of the forests. To CON
troastock and prevent diseases among
them from poisonous plants and stray
ing, fences are constructed in coop
Grafton with stockmeu, Under proper
! regulation i'll the nse of the ranges
the quality of the stock is improved
and the weight of the animals i'll
creased, The report also says tnat i'm,
proxement in the methods ri handling
stock results in II better use of the
forage and an increase in the num-
her of animals which may be grazed
In 1905 permits We're issued To -,
600 different stockmen, allowing l.
Ss0.aeD cattle aud horses and 100000
sheep and goats To be graZed on this
national forests. the revenue To tbs
Il