Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1913-05-13

among the most important In
the west. Approximately 15.-
100000 acres, one-flfth of the
state. Is timberland. most of which lies
In the highly elevated sections north
and east OF line extending across tina
state diagonally bisecting the opposite
northwestern and southeastern boun-
dairy corners.
Conifers or conebearing trees are
the predominant growths, the broad
leafed species being few In number
and of minor Importance. The yellow
pine. the Arizona white pine, the linn
Der or Rocky mountain white pine. the
bristle cone pine. the Englemann
spruce, the Douglas fir, the red FIR, the
white or silver FIR. the pinyon. the red
cedar or juniper, the oak and the
aspen are the principal tree families
represented.
The ubiquitous yellow pine Is by far
the most numerous and important eco
nomically. forming s5 per cent. OF the
merchantable timber supply. II Is by
nature cliff dweller. fiourishing best
on the high mountain slopes between
$500 and $500 feet above sea level OF
Arisona's forest trees 1t Is the noblest.
Viewed at full maturity in its native
haunts 1t Is good to look upon; its
fiawless cylindrical trunk towering $50
feet into the crystal blue, Its out
spreading top tossing, dancing. signing
gieefully In the amber sunlight like
thing intoxicated with the nectar OF
heaven.
Indigenous to about the same soil
conditions and altitndinal limitations
as the yellow pine, and ranking next
In importance for their timber In the
order named, are the Douglas FIR, En-
giemann spruce and white FIR. Their
scarcity, however, makes them unap
preciable factors In the trade in Ari-
IONA By reason Of the softness OF
their fiber or their desert or Alpine
characteristics the other trees named.
excepting the Timber or Rocky noun
tain white pine and the oak. which are
utilized In some instances, are rela-
lively unimportant from the lumber
mans standpoint
Billions Of Feet
An accurate estimate of the stand
ing timber In Arizona Ia very diff
cult matter to determine further than
the fact that 1t reaches formidable pro
portions, running into billions Of feet,
board measure, worth in the various
manners In which It may be turned to
account hundreds of millions OF dol
lars and constituting. in the aggre-
gate. a resource that in the fullness
Of time viii contribute to the welfare
Of the state beyond the most roseate
dreams Of the times.
Title to this sylvan Golconda is
vested in the United States govern
ment. which through the forest serv-
Ice is proving a wise landlord In that
its varied resources are being admin
istered In a manner that will benefit
the largest number OF users along all
lines where no serious or irreparable
injury ia liable to result Where
there Is no danger Of determination.
or where no damage to streams OF
vegetation may follow, the ripe timber
In offered for sale to the highest
reputable bidder. under conditions de-
signed to prevent monopoly Of the
lumber supply and to maintain the
continuity Of the forests. On account
of the lack Of adequate transportation
facilities adjacent TO the best tim
bered sections sales have not been
practical TO any great extent Mills at
Flagstaff and Williams. and two or
three other places near at hand. have
been In operation for a number of
years and have. except possibly In one
or two instances. depended largely on
the national forests for their timber
supply.
There being no navigable streams
Of any consequence In the forests Of
Arizona where the logs can be foated
down TO the mills at comparatively
small expense. the lumber concerns
must needs construct lines OF rail and
operate trains Of their own into the
sections TO be logged. the daily capac-
tiles OF the mills being such that less
substantial means Of transportation
are inadequate. As rule these roads