The log cabin Democrat., 1909-10-11

set dSI0e Dy the forest SerV
 ice for the purpose of hiring
 hunters to destroy predatory
 animals upon the national forests in district one. This is an in. crease of s600 over the amount which was appropriated for this purpose last year
 Forest service hunters are usually assigned to their work early in the spring since they can do more effec. tive work in destroying predatory an finals at this season than al any other time Of the year because this is the breeding season, and a whole family Gf wolves or coyotes can be easily de stroyed when the dens are once To- cated
 During the past spring hunters were employed for period of one to three months upon the Helena, Absaroka. Jefferson. Gallatin Custer, and Bit terroot National Forests in Montana, and the Nez Perce forest in Idaho. and succeeded in killing II bears, A wolves, 152 coyotes, 4G wild cats, and A CT was Andrew Peterson, of the lief ferson forest, who, in two months, captured ten wolves, 34 coyotes, and six wildcats
 Bears are numerous upon the Bit terroot National Forest. and in the season of 1908, killed 27 head of cattle and horses. hunter was placed on this forest last spring and succeeded in killing six bears. one of which was a large grizzly
 The governments work in poisoning prairie dogs on infested stock ranges in district one. has had results this year, which forest officers have de- cided warrant its continuance in 1910. For two years, systematic efforts up- on an extensive scale have been made by the forest service in cooperation with the stockmen. to rid the National Forest Ranges in Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico of these pests but this work was not undertaken in the northwest until the spring of 1909
 Eastern Montana and the Dakotas
 
 of this district The national forest areas of these regions are compara- lively small, but in some instances the colonies or towns Of these an- finals cover an area of several hun dred acres and the native forage plants have been greatly injured, while some range areas outside the forests have been practically dev- astated
 In the spring of the present year, small allotments of funds were made to the supervisors of the Custer and of starting this work. The funds were for the most part expended in pur- chasing strychnine and other drugs used in preparing grain for bait, while the grain was furnished by the set tiers
 The poisoned grain. usually wheat. was distributed at the holes through out the dog towns. both by forest offi- cers and by forest users. More time was consumed in perfecting the plan of cooperation than had been antici- pated and much of the bait was put out too late to obtain the best results. though several large dog towns were entirely cleaned up. Experience has proven that the grain should be put out very early in the spring-in fact, iust as soon as the animals appear from their winter Quarters-for the hn nh n hpfOTl green grass becomes available.
 "A very few years ago forest con seryation' was little more than phrase: today fl is a vital issue in our national development says Treadwel Cleveland, Jr., in circu- lar on the status of forestry in this country. which has just been issued by the United States forest service. Tn connection with the general plan to conserve all natural resources. II Is the most important and far-reachlng economic policy ever adopted and pur- sued by any nation.
 .'The forest is one of the chief sup ports of the whole material fabric O. our civilization The forest means not only A permanent supply of wood and the life of all the industries which de- pend upon 1t, but also the control Of the waters for human use. There IS only barrenness in the future of the nation which has lost the use Of wood and the control of water.
 ."The sort of use that was made of nat ural resources during the pioneering stage. while right enough at the time. is far too wasteful to be carried on in to the new industrial era. In order to know how 10 use thing, however, 1t is necessary first to find out how much of 1t there is to use, and taking stock of our forest resources has led 10 startling results.