The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-01-18
CHIEF OF FORESTRY
MAKES HIS REPORT

WASHINGTON Jan. Io.-LiStiHs
receipts and expenditures and explain
ing them in plain English much as
railroad president reports ito his board
of directors. Clifford P-nchot, forester
has Just made a retrospect of the worn
Of the United States forest service fol
the fiscal year 1908.
For the administration and protec-
ton of the national forests in II states
and territories and Alaskas, the gov
eminent spent $2,525, O9S.02, or about
one and one-half cents an acre. Per
manent Improvements, including the
construction of 3400 miles of trails
100 miles of wagon roads, 5000 miles
of telephone lines, $50 cabins and
barns. GO miles of pasture and drift
fences, $50 bridges, and 40 miles OF
fire lines cost $592,169.19. Telephone
wire to build approximately 400 miles
of additional lines was shipped to the
forester, but with the funds availabl>
Before the close of the year the work
of construction could not be completed
Some Of this work was done on each
Of the forests in the United States
Although many needed improve
;nents could net be undertaken, the
benefits of what has been accomplished
are seen in the more convenient and
economical manner in which the For
est officers are enabled to carry on
their work and in the opening up to
forest users of territory hitherto mac
cessible. The remaining $297,S4O.4O OF
the total of $3,416, 1O7.61, disbursed on
account of work OF the forest service
was Used in forest investigations cost
ing $235,S55 and in diffusion of for
est information and federal cOopera-
ton.
The forest service is one of the
branches of the government where
everything is not outgO. Last year the
receipts from sales of timber grazing
fees, and permits for special uses Of
forest resources amounted to $1,842.-
2S1.87, an increase of $271,222.4 over
the 1907 figures. The per acre receipts
from the national forests We're little
more than one cent, less than five
mills under the per acre cost of ad-
ministration and protection of the for
ests.
The amounts paid the states and ter
ritories to be expended for roads and
public schools from the years receipts.
amounted to $4447 ,063.79. Chiefly be-
cause of increasing the revenue to the
states from 10 per cent in 1907 to 25
per cent last year there was a total
increase Of $294.03162 in the amounts
payable to the states.
In addition, the national forests
yielded heavily to the public in free
use. There We're 30,714 permits granted
for the free use of timber by settlers,
schools and churches. during the year,
against 1899 in 1907 The number of
board feet used in this way by the
public amounted to 131 $50, 900, valued
at s16S, 10000. compared to $4,000, 600
feet. valued at $4,000 in 1907
The aggregate of free use Of the for
ests for grazing can not be exactly
known, since no permit is required to
be taken out, and there is therefore
no record preserved it. 1t adds perhaps
10 per cent to the amount of stock
carried by the forests. Settlers living
on or adjacent to the forests, and the
campers, and travellers in
them are allowed to Craze free up to 10
head of milk COWS, work animals, or
horses in use, and purchasers of tim
Der and StOckmen on the forests are