Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1913-06-07

. M uANOuChCdg nav
among the most important in
~ the west. Approximately 15.-
100000 acres. one-fifth Of the
state, is timberland, most of which lies
In the highly elevated sections north
and east of line extending across the
state diagonally bisecting the opposite
northwestern and southeastern boun-
dary corners.
Conifers or cone-hearing 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 95 per cent. OF the
merchantable timber supply. 1t Is by
nature cliff dweller. flourishing best
on the high mountain slopes between
G, 500 and $500 feet above sea level OF
Arizona's forest trees it is the noblest
Viewed at full maturity In it's native
haunts 1t is good to look upon; its
Hawless cylindrical trunk towering l50
feet into the crystal blue, It's out
spreading top tossing. dancing sighine
gleefully In the amber sunlight like
thing intoxicated with the nectar OF
heaven.
Indigenous TO about the same soil
conditions and altitudinal limitations
as the yellow pine. and ranking next
In Importance for their timber In the
order named, are the Douglas FIR, En-
glemann spruce and white fir. Their
scarcity, however, makes them unap
preciable factors in the trade in Ari
zona. 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 Is very dill
cult matter to determine further than
the fact that It reaches formidable pro-
portions. running into billions Of feet,
board measure, worth In the various
manners in which 1t may be turned to
account hundreds of millions OF dol
lars and constituting. in the aggre-
gate, resource that In the fullness
of time will 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
n ment, which through the forest serv-
4 Ice is proving wise landlord In that
4 It's varied resources are being admin.
\ lstered in manner that will benefi,
\ the largest number OF users along all
. lines where no serious or irreparable
injury is liable to result. Where
n there is no danger of extermination.
#or where no damage to streams OF
Negotiation may follow, the ripe timber
His offered for sale to the highest
Reputable bidder, under conditions de-
y lEsigned to prevent monopoly OF the
Number 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 OF
three other places near at hand. have
been in operation for a number OF
years and have, except possibly in one
pr two instances. depended largely on
the national forests for their timber
supply
There being no navigable streams
pf any consequences in the forests Of
arizona where the logs can be iioated
down to the mills at comparatively
small expense. the lumber concerns
must needs construct lines OF rail and
Soperate trains OF their own into the
\ §ions to be logged. the daily capac
w tiles of the mills being such that less
substantial means Of transportation
are inadequate Az a rule these roadi