The silver state news. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1907-1909, 1909-06-05
DUTIES OF FOREST
OFFICIALS
Especial to silver state News

executive torct oI the iofSSl scfNiCc
from Washington into the field, and the
division of the western country into
six forest districts, each in charge of
a district forester, the practical man
agement of Uncle sam forests on a
business basis is being pushed forward
even more effectively than heretofore.
Only the general administrative heads
of the service and the men engaged in
government forestry work in the east
ern part of the country retain their
headquarters in Washington.
For the better administration of the
1874, 500, 900 acres of national forest
land, this vast territory is divided in
90 149 national forests, each in charge
of a forest supervisor. In all eases,
the supervisor is selected for his wide
practical knowledge of the west, and
of numbering and grazing particularly.
He may or may not be a trained for
ester. If not a trained forester himself,
he has such a man to assist him. Ii
is the business of the forest supervisor
and his technical alds to bring their
forest gradually TO a condition of
maximum produetiveness. To do this
requires a great deal of detail study
and skillful planning, Each step, from
the care and protection of the young
growth to the numbering of the mature
forest must be carefully considered
and as carefully executed If the forest
is to go on producing trees indefinitely.
For each of tn many lines of work
to be carried on in the forest, men with
special experience are required. Those
who prepare and tend the nurseries
must be experienced in raising and ear
ing for young trees. The lumberman,
who cruises and estimates timber, helps
to plan logging operations, and sees
that the scaling is correctly done aud
that the rules for logging are properly
observed, must be an experienced and
capable woodsman. The forest ranger
patrols his district of the forest ito see
that fire and trespass are prevented,
that the range is not o~vergraxed, that
logging regulations are enforced, and
that the privileges granted by permit
for tn use of tn various forest resources
are not abused; he also must be hard
headed, practical. and thoroughly hon
est, an able bodied citizen of the west,
with plenty of experience in all the
problems with which he may have TO
deal. The trained foresters are usual
ly forest school graduates. Their
training is somewhat parallel 10 that of
the civil engineer. but particular atten-
tion is paid to the study Of botany, TO
the life and growth of forests and to
all that affects their development and
usefulness. In addition TO his scientific
training the American trained forester
must have abundant practical expert
enc in the woods, on the range and in
the hills, for he must have a thorough
understanding of all conditions be-
fore attempting 10 work cut a system
of good business management Of any
forest.
For the general administration Of the
national forests, the western half of the
United States is divided into six dis
tricts with headquarters at Missoula.
Montana; Denver. Colorado; Albuquer-
que, New Mexico; Ogden. Utah; San
Francisco, California, and Portland
Oregon.
The object of the forest service is TO
foster proper use of the forest resources
Of the country, including private snd
state, as well as national forests. Upon
the latter every resource is for use in
the best interests of all citizens of the
United States. Every water power site,
every piece Of mineral land. every bit
Of grazing land or coed agricultural
land is for use, provided il Is not re
qaired for public purposes. The re
mainder OF the land which is forest is
o fcourse put 10 the best use by the
practice OF forestry when it is made -
produce as much timber as possible
In order that the administration may
he most effective the various Offices
have been established at Washington
and at the district headquarters, each
in charge Of trained and experienced
men directing s~peeisnzed lines of
work
The Office of operation attends in
each district to the protection and ad-
ministrasion of she national forests and
employs engineers, expert miners and
to investigate claims, make
surveys and maps and supervise the
building of telephone lines, trails,
roads. bridges, ranger stations and 9th
or permanent improvements
The eeiee Of grazing looks after the
range.eoopersses in the enforcement Of
quarantine regulations and issues per
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